"Your Highness, you absolutely must not! The appointment of a Zhanshi Sheng should properly come from the recommendation of the Hanlin Academy. The Emperor's direct bestowal already violates ancestral institutions, and your direct awarding from the dais is even further deviation from established practice. I beg Your Highness to retract this order! I beg Your Highness to retract this order!"

Zhong Li led the charge, throwing himself onto the ground and weeping hysterically. Fang Pu and Yu Le felt the same way: they had clawed their way up for half a lifetime just to reach the second rank of Zhanshi. Now, some inexperienced youth was instantly appointed a third-rank Zhanshi, which already filled them with resentment. To have the Crown Prince immediately promote him to first-rank Zhanshi after hearing just one of his lectures was to utterly erase the merit and scholarship of their entire careers! Thus, the two did not hesitate to follow Zhong Li’s lead, but by then, the Crown Prince had already exited the Zhanshi Fu. No matter how much they cried out, it was useless.

The scene became rather awkward. My intention had been to assert some dominance over these old scholars, but I never expected Ma Xiaoda to grant me a promotion right there in the hall. This situation meant those old men would inevitably despise me even more. Seeing their faces now, wet with age and indignation, made that much clear.

I offered an apologetic smile. "Gentlemen, I assure you all, I have no intention of lingering in the Zhanshi Fu for long. Rest assured, I will petition His Highness the Crown Prince to rescind this official post shortly."

Linglong was immediately indignant. She turned to me, "Why should that be, Master? With your talent, even being a first-rank Zhanshi is an insult. What others think or feel is their own affair. This world is rife with jealous petty men. If we let such trivial matters weigh on our minds daily, how are we supposed to live?"

"You...!" Zhong Li struggled up from the ground. He was not young and could not kneel for long. Besides, the Crown Prince had left; kneeling served no purpose. He wanted to spit out a few sharp insults, but then he remembered the Crown Prince addressing this servant as Fourth Brother Xiao. What if this was some illegitimate child of the royal line? Wouldn't that earn him the death penalty? So, Zhong Li choked back the words forming on his lips.

The Registrar of the Ministry of Personnel, Niu, was momentarily unsure how to proceed. While the Crown Prince handing out Zhanshi appointments in the hall was not unprecedented, an immediate promotion was a first. He couldn't gauge whether this promotion would actually stand. He stepped forward toward me. "Scholar Zhao, please step aside and speak with me."

Niu escorted me to a side chamber. As for what the others thought, let them think what they wished. I was far too worried about Xu Chen to concern myself with them.

Niu bowed deeply. "Scholar Zhao's learning is truly astonishing. His Majesty’s sharp eye for talent deserves my utmost admiration."

I replied, "Lord Niu, please just say what you need to say."

Niu continued, "I shall set aside the messy squabbles among colleagues for now. His Highness the Crown Prince's promotion is a validation and praise for your lectures. However, this kind of advancement has no precedent in the Twin Cities Nation. Whether it is valid or not, I must report to His Majesty to know for certain. Therefore, Scholar Zhao, I ask for your patience for a few days. Once His Majesty gives his approval, your first-rank Zhanshi post will be secure, and no one can dispute it."

I thought Niu was going to say something substantial, but it was still about the promotion. I responded, "Lord Niu, I think there’s no need to mention this matter to His Majesty. His Highness the Crown Prince is young and perhaps acted on a whim, and might forget about it in a few days. I already hold several posts, and my time is exceedingly limited. I cannot come to the Zhanshi Fu every day either. It would be best to let this matter fade—the small concern becoming smaller—to avoid damaging collegial relationships."

Niu spoke with genuine sincerity. "Scholar Zhao's character is truly worthy of respect. It is embarrassing that those old men, who have lived most of their lives, lack even this much grace. To speak plainly, your lecture today alone is entirely worthy of the title of first-rank Zhanshi. Furthermore, the Crown Prince’s spoken word has already been recorded by the attendant officials. If I fail to report this to His Majesty, it would be my dereliction of duty. As for how His Majesty rules on it, that is not for us ministers to decide."

I cupped my hands in a formal gesture of departure. "If that is the regulation, then I shall trouble you, Lord Registrar. I also wish to inspect the Imperial Stables. May I take my leave now?"

Niu replied, "Certainly, certainly. Once the Crown Prince's class is dismissed, the scholars are free to go. Moreover, Scholar Zhao holds an imperial commission, so you are free to come and go as you please unless specifically summoned by His Highness."

That was good. I thought I was required to stay here preparing lessons daily. After bidding farewell to Niu, I couldn't be bothered to see those three old men again. I left the Zhanshi Fu directly with Linglong. The Imperial Stables were located in the Central City. The Emperor had specially built them near the inner city walls so he could visit daily. However, traveling from the East City wall base to the West City wall base took us a considerable amount of time. By the time we reached the Imperial Stables, it was nearly noon.

Linglong pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to wipe my sweat. I didn't take it, instead wiping my brow with my sleeve. "I am a grown man; a quick wipe with my sleeve will suffice. Don't soil your handkerchief. You look tired too; quickly wipe your own sweat."

Linglong's heart warmed. "Master, walking like this every day won't do. Perhaps we should ride horses?"

I said, "I’m afraid there are no rules for riding horses or pigs in the Central or Inner Cities. Let's not seek momentary pleasure and commit a taboo against the royal family."

Linglong showed concern. "But I fear if I let you walk like this, you won't manage. Sister Yun Yao said your body isn't what it used to be, and that you truly used to fly—without needing anti-gravity shoes at all. Linglong admires you immensely."

We had already entered the courtyard of the Imperial Stables. I laughed. "Heh heh, a true hero doesn't boast of past glories. Since the Emperor and the Crown Prince walk, so shall we. We can consider it exercise."

"Sir, you have arrived." Several stable hands, who were originally pig-rearing specialists, surrounded me under the lead of A’Mao and A’Gou, paying their respects.

I nodded and asked A’Mao and A’Gou, "How are things proceeding?"

A’Mao replied, "Sir, perhaps we should discuss this inside."

I surveyed the Imperial Stables. It wasn't very large, perhaps the area of a football field on Earth. The open-air stables were quite luxurious, but it was hard to tell if they were meant for horses or men. The original eleven horses were housed reasonably well, but the addition of seventy more now made the quarters look meager. Moreover, a much larger area was needed to stack fodder, and there wasn't even a proper place to exercise the horses.

Entering the Imperial Stables' office, A’Mao invited me to take the main seat. I didn't stand on ceremony and sat in the supervising official's chair. Linglong acted as if she were in her own home, pulling up a chair for A’Mao, while she stood behind me. She had likely sweated a bit from rushing earlier, and standing behind me now amplified her natural, delicate perfume, causing a slight distraction in my focus.

A’Mao said, "Sir, you know that we brothers are unfamiliar with horse rearing. But since you ordered us to come here and help, we are naturally doing our utmost. The Imperial Stables have over fifty servants, yet not a single one is proficient in horsemanship. These horses here are merely surviving, not being properly cared for."

"But if these warhorses are kept confined in the stables for too long, they might not die of hunger, but they certainly won't be fit for the battlefield. Land in the Central City is incredibly valuable, and stables of this size were only built by requisitioning private dwellings after the Emperor’s decree. Further expansion would be extremely difficult. Furthermore, the necessary fodder must be collected from outside the city every day; the transportation back and forth is immensely troublesome."

I asked, "You mean the Imperial Stables must be moved outside the city?"

A’Mao replied, "Sir, you see the situation clearly. Brother A’Gou and I discussed this, but since my brother dislikes speaking much, I am presenting this suggestion to you: if we are to develop the Imperial Stables, the location must change."

I chuckled. "The first thought I had upon seeing the situation here was the same. We aren't raising pets for the Emperor. Even if this number of warhorses can't charge into battle, they are the best means of communication as scouts and messengers. If I have a chance to see the Emperor, I will raise this matter with him. By the way, which department oversees us?"

A’Mao replied, "It is the Ministry of Rites. According to my investigation, the initial eleven warhorses sent by Prefect Wu were submitted to the Emperor through the Ministry of Rites, which then prompted the Emperor to order the Ministry of Rites to construct the Imperial Stables. However, although the Imperial Stables were favored by the Emperor, after a while, the novelty wore off and the Emperor stopped visiting often. Moreover, the smell of horse manure and droppings here is overwhelming. The residents of Twin Cities, being fastidious people, could not stand it. The first few supervising officials all used connections to transfer out. The Ministry of Rites couldn't find anyone willing to manage it and ended up pushing the Imperial Stables back to the Emperor. Unexpectedly, the Emperor handed this thankless task back to you, Sir. Given your abilities, even being a General would be an underutilization; I think the Emperor..."

I smiled and stopped A’Mao from continuing. "Brother A’Mao, we are brothers forged in the fight back in Feiyu County. The reason no one wants this job at the Imperial Stables is because they don't see any future prospects here..."

A’Mao looked puzzled. "Sir, what prospects are there here? Everyone knows that large-scale breeding of horses can eventually allow us to form our own cavalry, but that will likely take nearly ten years to breed enough warhorses. Who is willing to endure ten years of hardship here? Even if someone is willing to dedicate themselves silently, powerful figures in the future can easily steal the credit. That’s why people with foresight avoid this post, and those without foresight find it dirty and tiring and refuse to take it on. We four brothers feel this is unjust to you."

I said, "A’Mao, to tell you the truth, I hadn't planned on staying in the Twin Stars Realm for long, so I’ve been managing whatever I could handle and haven't made any long-term plans. I always assumed that finding my other five friends would mark the completion of my main mission. But now it seems the plan needs a slight revision. At the very least, my goal of leaving here quickly seems unattainable."

Linglong, standing behind me, suddenly smiled broadly. In truth, she fervently wished this man would never leave, so that as she grew older, she could...

A’Mao was confused. "Sir, aren't you also a person of the Twin Cities Nation? If you aren't staying here, where else would you go?"

I replied, "You wouldn't understand if I told you. I come from a very distant place, and one day I must return there, because my relatives are waiting for me to come home. However, given the current circumstances, finding the others smoothly seems very difficult..."

A’Mao exclaimed, "Sir, we are willing to help you search! Please assign us any task you require."

I said, "I appreciate the goodwill of you brothers, but surviving in troubled times is a challenge in itself, let alone searching for people. Therefore, we must first possess the strength to face any difficulty or challenge. Let me ask you: do you have the heart to follow me in achieving great things? If you few have the confidence, I guarantee that in the future, you will all be great generals commanding tens of thousands!"

A’Mao was overjoyed. "Please guide us, Sir! Since the battle against the bandits in Feiyu County, the four of us have trusted you implicitly and are willing to follow you for life. Sir possesses bravery and wisdom, and is deeply trusted by the Emperor and the Crown Prince. You will surely attain noble titles and kingship in the future; we are willing to help you achieve your grand enterprise. My thoughts are exactly the same as the other three."

I laughed. "What grand enterprise? I have no such ambition. I merely want to live better and more securely. You are not young anymore, yet you haven't found wives. Once you become generals and have money, you can marry several! As for being granted a noble title or kingship, I have no interest. My only requirement is to find my other four friends."

A’Mao also laughed. "Sir is indifferent to fame and profit, with lofty aspirations—we admire that. But you have several beautiful wives and concubines, and you also need money for living expenses. If we follow you and simply make a decent fortune, it would be enough to return to Feiyu County and live well. Of course, finding your four friends is our primary duty. But currently, Sir, what do you think our first step should be? We eagerly await your guidance."

I said, "Just as you mentioned earlier: move the Imperial Stables and establish a stable guard force."

"Move the Imperial Stables? Sir, I was just speaking my mind spontaneously earlier. Would the Emperor agree to move the Imperial Stables? And where would we move them? Outside the city? But is it safe outside the city?" A’Mao asked hesitantly.

I said, "There will surely be considerable resistance, but as long as we have confidence, no difficulty is insurmountable. Moreover, we have the Crown Prince backing us up. I will bring this matter up with him the next time I lecture at the Zhanshi Fu. I believe with his intellect, he will certainly agree."

A’Mao nodded. "The Crown Prince and you are like sworn brothers; he will surely listen to you. But this stable guard force...?"

I continued, "If we move the Imperial Stables, we must move them outside the city. Developing here in the city will easily draw attention and eventually cause us trouble. Even if the area outside the city is safe, we must claim it is unsafe. Otherwise, what justification would we have to establish a stable guard force? This guard force is ostensibly to protect the horses, but we must mold it into a strong unit. Without troops, without a unit, how can we aim for noble titles and kingships? Without official positions, how do we get money? Without money, how can we marry wives? Heh heh."

A’Mao exclaimed, "Sir is brilliant! I hear Grand Tutor Pang controls the army. Feiyu County requested reinforcements several times but never received approval. Given the court's situation, if we are to develop, we must organize our own troops. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun—you grasp this principle, Sir, don't you?"

This A’Mao was quite sharp. I pressed the advantage. "Precisely! A’Mao, you and A’Gou have some experience in intelligence work. Entrust the selection of the new site for the Imperial Stables outside the city to you two. This location must be hidden, easy to defend and hard to attack, and have ample water sources and pastureland. Since we are leaving the protection of high city walls, security must be the top priority. As for proposing the relocation of the Imperial Stables and the formation of a stable guard force to the Emperor, I will find an opportunity to mention it to the Crown Prince first. I trust he will support this plan."

A’Mao excitedly accepted the order and left. There are no absolutely ascetic people in this world. Talk of serving the country and the people is empty rhetoric; it’s more practical when linked to one's immediate self-interest. If one cannot eat properly, what is the point of worrying about the nation or defending the homeland? That's why I didn't use grand ideals to persuade A’Mao and the others to follow me, but rather used concrete benefits to bring everyone together. Moreover, after spending time together in Feiyu County and traveling to Twin Cities, these four men are entirely trustworthy and worthy of my reliance. Even without the lure of benefits, I believe they would follow me wholeheartedly. It’s just that I don't want to treat these four brothers poorly, so I offered promises first to reassure them.

"Master, your way of thinking is truly base and vile," Linglong suddenly said from behind me after A’Mao departed.

"What do you mean by that? I don't recall ever acting lewdly toward you."

Linglong blushed, thinking something she dared not speak aloud. He’s only thinking about marrying a harem and teaching everyone else to follow his example!

Linglong was referring to that. I smiled and didn't refute her. After glancing around my rather nice office, I said to Linglong, "Linglong, shall we go take a look at the ironworks factory this afternoon? I estimate the situation there won't be much better, otherwise Grand Tutor Pang wouldn't have so easily let the Emperor assign me the position of factory director."

Linglong moved behind me and began massaging my tight shoulders. "Master, after walking all morning, you should rest after lunch before going."

Linglong’s hands were delicate yet strong, and the massage made my whole body feel incredibly comfortable. If only I could take such an attentive little girl back to Earth. My wives, though numerous, are all desperately busy, and I can only see them at night. If I had such a pretty and charming little girl accompanying me during the day, heh, how many Earthlings would be consumed by envy.

"Linglong, you are so kind to me. How wonderful it would be if I had a little sister like you."

Linglong's heart soared when she heard the first sentence, but the second sentence made her snatch her hands away and stop working. "Who wants to be your little sister? If you want a little sister, go find one yourself! I'm leaving."

I hadn't expected such a fiery temper from the little girl. She was only twelve; if she isn't a little sister, can she be an older sister? Even if I wanted her to be a concubine, I'd have to wait until she grew up. Child molestation is a serious moral and legal transgression. Of course, there might not be many laws here, but I still have a moral code in my heart.

I grabbed Linglong's hand. "Don't go, Linglong. I was wrong, alright? If you're not my little sister, what should I call you?"

Linglong reluctantly pulled her hand away, stammering coyly, "You should remain my Master, and I shall remain your maid. As long as you don't send me away, I will stay by your side forever. I like taking care of you and protecting you..."

I felt lightheaded, as if I were about to fly, and instinctively reached out to grasp Linglong's small hand again. "Linglong, I feel so fortunate. You are too good to me. I know this Master title is fake, but if you are willing, I hope you can stay by my side to care for me every day. I can give you wealth—anything you want!"

Linglong struggled lightly but couldn't break free, so she resigned herself to it, her small hand trembling with nervousness. She chastised me, "How much could you possibly afford? Aren't you relying on me and Sister Yun Yao to manage that little bit of money you have? I warn you, we are running low! If you don't earn more soon, we'll starve!"

"Scholar Zhao, your meal is ready. Shall we bring it in?" A servant suddenly knocked, standing at the slightly ajar doorframe. However, when he saw the situation inside, he regretted it immensely. The newly appointed supervisor of the Imperial Stables was intimately close with his young attendant, holding hands and being affectionate. Catching a glimpse of his new superior’s private moments might earn him harsh treatment later.

Linglong’s face flushed deeply, and she yanked her hand free, glaring fiercely at me. I smiled at the slightly stunned servant. "No need. We will go out and eat with everyone else."

In truth, the previous supervisors never ate here; the smell was too strong. Who could stomach it? But my arrival coincided perfectly with mealtime. A’Gou had ordered the kitchen to prepare food for us since I hadn't left. While it was 'specially prepared,' it only meant two extra dishes.

The fifty-plus people ate squatting in the courtyard. The Imperial Stables had been built in too much haste; the stables were luxurious and spacious, but the needs of the stable hands were forgotten. The servants had places to sleep, but no dedicated dining hall. Each person received a basin of food and a large bowl of rice, and then they squatted on the ground—which served as the dining area.

Having trained in the wilderness during my military days, I wasn't bothered by this. Linglong, originally a hunter, wasn't concerned either, despite her young age preventing her from hunting deep in the mountains frequently; life in the wilderness was harsh. I carried two large bowls of rice, and Linglong carried a basin of vegetables. We found a shady spot and squatted down.

Linglong picked up her rice and said to me, "Master, eat more. I won't touch half of mine; I'll give it to you later."

I laughed, "Eat your fill! If you can’t finish, I’ll eat the rest."

Linglong looked embarrassed. "How dare I let Master eat my leftovers? Food a woman has touched is dirty."

I was genuinely hungry after walking all morning, so I shoveled rice into my mouth. "Pah! Who says food a girl has touched is dirty? I say it smells fragrant! Heh heh. Are you worried about kissing indirectly?"

The moment I said that, Linglong was so embarrassed she wanted to burrow into the ground. Realizing I had spoken wrongly, I quickly explained, "Joking! I was joking! Eat."

Linglong’s mind seemed elsewhere. She carefully picked up grains of rice from one side of her bowl, occasionally stealing a glance at me, not even daring to take a single piece of vegetable.

Crunch! Just as I was enjoying my meal, a grain of sand nearly cracked my tooth. Damn it! What kind of work was the cook doing? Was this food trying to kill people? Just as I was about to flare up and summon the cook for a reprimand, I heard two stable hands nearby talking: "How many grains have you found today?"

The other replied, "Five grains. I still have half a bowl of rice left. Don't worry, I guarantee I'll complete the task, or else my half-month's wages will flow into your pocket."

"I've already eaten seven mouthfuls," he grumbled. "Damn it, this food isn't fit for humans. I’d rather graze with the horses than eat this mush."

The other spat on the ground. "Keep your voice down. Be grateful. I heard that in the villages bordering the Wanma Kingdom, places plundered by bandits eat even the bark off the trees. A little sand in the rice isn't the end of the world. Besides, our Supervising Official is eating heartily. He was personally appointed by the Emperor; if he can eat it, why can't you?"

"Heh, true enough. Still, our Supervising Official’s young attendant is truly handsome. When I passed by him earlier, I caught a delicate scent. Could it be that our Official..."

The second man kicked him sharply. "Shut your foul mouth! Criticizing a superior brings punishment. But I thought the attendant looked more like a girl, so very pretty."

I called out to Ah Gou, who was squatting nearby eating as well. "Bring the cook over here. I need to ask him something. Why is there sand mixed in the rice? Even if there isn't enough food, we shouldn't torment everyone like this."

Ah Gou replied instantly, "Sir, I can answer that for you. It’s not the cook’s fault. Although the Imperial Stable Bureau sounds glorious, the Ministry of Revenue barely values us. The grain allocated here is the lowest grade, full of dirt and grit. The cook usually spends the entire morning picking it out, but with fifty-odd mouths to feed, how can one person manage to clean it all thoroughly? Luckily, none of us are pampered young masters; we’re used to hardship. Having something to eat is enough."

I was so angry I nearly smashed my bowl, immediately cursing out loud. "Damn it, isn't this looking down on people? I’ll take this up with the Ministry of Revenue later."

Since everyone was squatting in the courtyard, we weren't far apart, and my exchange with Ah Gou had already drawn attention. My outburst made several laborers gather around. The man who had just found stones in his rice spoke up. "Sir, we appreciate your kind intentions, but who is the Ministry of Revenue? Wan Lichai, the Minister, is the sworn godson of Grand Tutor Pang. None of us can afford to offend them. Please don't risk antagonizing them for the sake of us worthless servants. Previous officials never ate here. You’re new and don’t know the situation. If you still wish to eat with us in the future, perhaps you could arrange for the kitchen to prepare separate meals for you."

The fellow who had wished to graze with the horses chimed in. "Yes, Sir. We are happy that you share our hardships, but everyone in Shuangcheng fears Wan Lichai. He controls the entire nation's finances. And at his age, in his forties, he still takes a godfather? If you stir up trouble with the Ministry over such a small matter, you might leave a bad impression on him. Even if he agreed to replace the poor rice with good grain, he would surely find a way to retaliate later. So, Sir, you absolutely must not."

I hadn't expected so many underlying complications, and these laborers weren't just mindless drones as I had imagined. I thought that first fellow only knew how to complain, but now he was analyzing the situation quite clearly. Hearing them, I said, "I understand your reminders, but I must correct one thing you said. You are not worthless servants; you are legitimate staff of the Imperial Stable Bureau! Think about it: where in the entire Shuangcheng Kingdom are there horses? Only here, in our Imperial Stable Bureau!

We are the only branch! This Bureau will be the origin of the Imperial Cavalry in the future. Without us, the stable hands who raise the horses, where will the horses come from? We are worthless? How can we be worthless if we are raising cavalry for the Emperor?"

The fifty-plus stable hands forgot about eating. They had all been resentful about being transferred here for such hard labor, but now, hearing the Official analyze the prospects, they were all incredibly excited. If the Imperial Stable Bureau flourished, they, the founding members, would become heroes.

These men weren't exactly sticklers for protocol anyway, and seeing that the Official had no airs and even ate the sandy rice with them made them even more casual. They formed a circle on the ground and began to chat.

I soon learned that these fifty-odd men had ten squad leaders. Their names were a chaotic jumble, so as their superior, I firmly renamed them: Ma Da, Ma Er, Ma San, Ma Si...

...all the way to Ma Shi. It was fortunate that names weren't taken too seriously here, otherwise having the surname 'Ma' would invite taboo concerning the Ma family dynasty.

These ten squad leaders were each responsible for feeding five or six horses. The fellow who wanted to eat grass was Ma Da, and the one eating with him was Ma Er. These two were experts when they were raising pigs, and although they were still getting used to the horse-raising trade and hadn't fully adapted, everyone admired their pig-rearing skills. Before long, they became the unofficial leaders of the group.

After grumbling about that shameless fellow Wan Lichai for a while, they started discussing street gossip. Because the area stank so badly, no one usually came near, so they weren't afraid of being overheard insulting people. As for the men inside, they had all sworn by the Emperor, so who would dare to inform?

I asked Linglong, "How much money do we have left at home?"

Linglong looked confused. "For what? We still have over two hundred iron coins, right?"

"Take a hundred of those and give them to Ah Gou. Have him improve everyone's living conditions. Food is life; eating sand all day isn't sustainable."

Linglong was reluctant but couldn't openly defy me in front of everyone, so she just nodded. Ah Gou exclaimed, "Sir, how can this be done?"

The surrounding squad leaders also protested. "Yes, Sir, using your own money to improve our lives... we... we feel too indebted."

Regarding money, I certainly needed it, and I planned to save more to search for the other four women. However, I knew these iron coins would soon be worth little more than scrap metal. Whether Emperor Mada would follow my suggestion to switch to diamonds as currency, I didn't know, but if the reports from Mada’s spies were true and the Jin Kingdom was actively minting iron coins, the devaluation of iron was inevitable. Spending it or converting it to physical goods sooner was safer. Furthermore, since the diamond cutting and polishing techniques were in my hands, if Mada adopted my proposal, wouldn't having limitless wealth be a certainty? Of course, right now I was still quite poor; I should set up a temporary clinic for a few more days.

I addressed the crowd. "Gentlemen, you work hard every day and eat rice mixed with sand. How can I, your superior, feel at ease? If your poor diet delays your horse care, I won't complete my duties. If I fail the Emperor's task, I will be punished by the Emperor. When the Emperor punishes me, no amount of money will help. Heh, you all understand this logic, I’m sure."

The men could no longer refuse. "Sir treats us so well; we will certainly do our best to raise the horses for you. Please rest assured, Sir."

Heh. Raising horses for me? The royal family wouldn't take kindly to hearing that. I remembered I had another stud farm managed by two wives. But I wouldn't see the imperial cavalry formed from those two farms, as I certainly wouldn't remain here for several years.

Linglong snatched the bowl from my hand and shoved her own rice into mine, speaking sharply. "Eat it. I picked out the sand for you."

The little girl had actually picked through the rice grain by grain while we were talking. She was annoyed that I was wasting money, hence the sharp tone, but I didn't mind. My heart felt warm as I accepted the bowl and started eating heartily.

Ah Gou naturally knew Linglong was a girl, so he paid no mind to our intimacy. The squad leaders and laborers, however, still assumed the two men had an ambiguous relationship. But at this point, they felt very favorably toward the Official, so everyone pretended not to notice and said nothing.

"Master, do you really not need to rest for a bit?" After eating, Linglong and I returned to the office, resolving to leave for the Iron Smelting Factory immediately.

"Resting for a little while won't help. Let’s leave early, or I fear we won't make it back to the inn before dusk."

Linglong finally broke into a smile. "Lean over the desk, and I'll massage your shoulders. It will help you recover faster. If you wear yourself out, Sister Yun Yao, Sister Zhou Ni, and Sister Susu will scold me."

Leaning over the desk while Linglong massaged my back with her slender feet would certainly be relaxing, but perhaps not. If I got too comfortable and fell asleep, it would delay us even more. "We'll do the massage back at the inn. Let's go check on the situation at the factory first. It wouldn't do for a newly appointed official not to visit his domain."

Linglong countered, "Didn't you send Ah San and Ah Si this morning? What could possibly go wrong with them there?"

I took Linglong’s hand and said, "Let's go. They don't understand the technical aspects."

Linglong was getting used to me holding her hand as she followed behind me. "Master, do you really understand smelting techniques?"

As we walked, I replied, "Of course. Not just smelting iron, but steel too. Eventually, we can forge swords just like my military saber."

My ambition was grand, but when we arrived at the Royal Iron Smelting Factory outside the inner city walls, we were dumbfounded. This was hardly an iron factory; at best, it was an overgrown lot. I thought we should set up the horse stables here; when the horses ran out of fodder, we could simply lead them into the yard to graze.

Land outside the inner city wasn't as expensive, so this courtyard was several times larger than the Imperial Stable Bureau. However, in the vast, empty yard, there was nothing but weeds and a few birds. We finally located Ah San and Ah Si in a few dilapidated buildings, where they were staring blankly at an old man.

"Sir, you're here. You see the situation for yourself. This isn't a Royal Iron Factory; it's clearly a Royal Grassland."

I was puzzled. "But... didn't the Emperor say they had already started researching smelting techniques? How did it end up like this?"

Ah San explained, "Sir, this is Elder Tie. He is the engineer of the Royal Iron Factory. Let him tell you the situation."

The old man, named Tie Zhen, was the chief engineer but was now relegated to a gatekeeper. "Sir, you wouldn't know. The court genuinely intended to refine iron and forge weapons themselves, but we face immense problems. First, we lack technical personnel. I shamefully admit that even as the factory’s technician, I know very little about iron smelting. Normally, we could explore and develop the techniques ourselves, but Shuangcheng lacks iron ore. Without raw materials, how can we explore? The Emperor ordered searches nationwide for ore, but after more than a year, there is still no news. Even a clever housewife can’t cook without rice. Thus, the Royal Iron Factory exists in name only. Sir, unless you can find iron ore, even a god descending wouldn't be able to refine any metal."

"Can't we buy some from the Jin Kingdom?" I asked.

Tie Zhen sighed. "The Jin Kingdom is just like the Wanma Kingdom; they guard their iron ore jealously. It took us immense effort just to acquire a sample."

My mind went blank. I had expected to refine some iron to forge horseshoes or something, but now there wasn't even bog iron to work with. What kind of factory director was I?