Chapter 39: New Construction
Far away to the southeast, a bustling city sprawled over ten kilometers in diameter, presenting a stark contrast to the Li Clan's city. This bustling trade hub was filled with carriages transporting goods, but amidst the vibrant facade, a darker reality lurked. Chained individuals with emaciated bodies and visible bones trudged through the streets, carrying heavy bags on their shoulders. The city's inhabitants looked upon them with disdain and indifference, as if their plight was of no concern.
At the heart of the city stood a grand mansion, the abode of its ruler. Seated on the second floor, a man in his forties gazed upon the city with a sinister smile. His sharp eyes resembled those of a snake, and his graceful demeanor masked an underlying darkness. His attention was caught by a paper, which soon ignited his fury, leading him to crush it in his hand.
"It appears that the Li Clan intends to expand into the oil industry. They should have stuck to their labor and martial arts businesses and not meddled in affairs beyond their expertise," the man sneered.
Contemplating Li Ming's sudden appearance and his role in the Li Clan's expansion, he concluded, "Who is this Li Ming? He emerged out of nowhere in the Li Clan, becoming the catalyst for their rapid growth. If he wished to engage in the oil business, he should have sought my clan's alliance. But since he refuses to do so, his fate is sealed. His competence in this industry will be his downfall. If he aspired to become a scholar, he should have sought a position at the court instead of aligning himself with the Li Clan. He only has himself to blame for making the wrong choice," the man arrogantly proclaimed, convinced of Li Ming's imminent demise.
Meanwhile, Li Ming and Li Xuan were busy overseeing the production preparations in the area. They needed to establish the foundation for the distillation process to commence the next day. Examining the blueprints, Li Ming nodded with a determined expression.
"It appears everything is in order for tomorrow. Shall we proceed to the second step?" Li Ming asked, seeking confirmation from Li Xuan.
"I have sent letters to various merchant families in the city, as well as to the Zhang Clan in the north. Once we obtain a sample of the new oil, we can initiate negotiations with them to secure additional funding," Li Xuan informed him.
"Very well. Do we anticipate any further assassination attempts?" Li Ming inquired.
"I don't believe so. We have identified the group responsible for the previous attack, and they originated from outside the city, likely affiliated with the Wu Clan. Based on the distance between us, we should enjoy a period of relative peace for the time being, approximately one week. It seems the Wu Clan has concealed their operatives in nearby cities. To prevent future incidents, we will bolster our guard presence," Li Xuan explained.
Li Ming's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "In that case, we need to expedite certain matters."
Curious about his plans, Li Xuan asked, "How do you propose we do that?"
"I mentioned previously that we would require horses, right?" Li Ming inquired.
"Yes, given the current circumstances, it should be feasible to borrow a few horses," Li Xuan affirmed, considering the possibility of persuading her father to provide the horses they needed.
"In that case, it's time for us to improve our drilling equipment," Li Ming declared, a smile playing on his lips. "Let us proceed to a drilling site."
Recalling their progress and the locations they had scouted, Li Xuan responded, "There is a site nearby where we can test the new technique. They should not have started drilling yet, so we can head there."
"Excellent," Li Ming replied, urging her to lead the way.
They hurried to the designated location, where the workers engaged in discussions about the drilling process. Having learned from the original drilling team, they sought guidance on how to proceed. Li Ming and Li Xuan arrived, catching the workers' attention.
"Miss Li," the workers greeted Li Xuan, unaware of Li Ming's identity.
Li Xuan addressed them, "Who is the leader here?"
Stepping forward, a middle-aged man raised his hand. "I am."
"I want you to construct something new. It's a bit different, but the principle remains similar," Li Xuan explained, handing him a paper containing Li Ming's design for a three-legged derrick.
The design was straightforward—a pyramid-shaped derrick constructed with three diagonal pillars. At the top, a pulley system was positioned to lower an iron cylinder capable of breaking the ground when dropped from the right spot. One of the pillars featured a ladder for access, allowing for adjustments or repairs as needed. Ultimately, people or horses would exert force to lift the system. While horses would eventually do the heavy lifting, they initially decided to test the method using people, leveraging their knowledge of martial arts and Qi to determine the technique's viability.
After carefully examining the design, the leader nodded. "Yes, the construction itself is simple. However, we will require a specific pulley. The weather should remain calm, as strong winds could compromise the construction. We should be fine as long as we anchor the wooden pillars slightly deeper into the ground."
Li Xuan asked, "How long do you estimate it will take to complete the construction?"
Hesitating for a moment, the leader responded, "To be honest, the construction itself won't take long, around two to three hours. However, we lack the necessary tools."
"In that case, return to the city and gather all the required tools to complete the construction. The city should have everything we need, right?" Li Xuan inquired.
"Yes, that shouldn't be a problem. As for the drilling cylinder, is the one we are using now suitable?" the leader asked, glancing at Li Ming.
Li Xuan exchanged a glance with Li Ming, unsure of the answer.
"It's not identical, but it is similar. You can use it for now, and once we assess its effectiveness, we can produce the correct version. The performance should not vary significantly," Li Ming clarified.
"Very well. We should be able to manage. The sun is not directly overhead, so I believe we can finish the construction before nightfall. What do you think, Miss Li?" the leader sought Li Xuan's opinion.
"You have my permission to do whatever is necessary," Li Xuan granted, waving her hand to signify her approval.
"Understood. We shall return and arrange for the required resources. Given the long logs needed, we will need a carriage for transportation," the leader informed her.
"Simply inform the Dragon House, and they will handle everything for you," Li Xuan instructed.
The middle-aged man respectfully clasped his hands, acknowledging her orders. He promptly led the workers back to the city, their initial disappointment fading as they realized they would be the first to employ this new drilling method. It demonstrated the trust Li Xuan placed in them.
Li Xuan turned to Li Ming and proposed, "Shall we head to the base and rest there?"
"Yes, there isn't much else to be done for now. I intend to map the area to fulfill my promise to the patriarch," Li Ming affirmed.
"Very well, let's proceed," Li Xuan agreed, and the two departed for their base, eager to recharge for the tasks ahead.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone