Ye Tiancheng never dreamed that he would encounter a problem he couldn't solve at this moment. The soldiers' eyes showed incomprehension, and they desperately wanted to know how Ye Tiancheng had made the herbs disappear. Ye Tiancheng didn't tell them, and they didn't dare to ask, as if they were very worried.
If he didn't tell them, they would keep staring at him. If he told them, he would have no secrets. In this vast and terrifying world, having a secret was like holding a trump card, something that absolutely could not be easily revealed to others. Ye Tiancheng was determined to keep it hidden.
Naturally, he would not easily reveal his secrets to others. Therefore, even if these people racked their brains to pry out the secrets of Moon City, he would not tell them. He felt very awkward. From their expectant gazes, it was clear that everyone was filled with anticipation.
"I certainly won't tell you anything. Stop imagining things."
Ye Tiancheng looked at their expressions, which clearly conveyed his meaning. No matter how much they wanted to know, he would refuse to answer.
"We've gathered so many herbs, are we opening a medical clinic?"
A warrior finally couldn't stand it and asked.
"Do you think I'm the kind of person who would be a doctor?"
In his previous life, he had been a doctor for so long that he no longer wished to be one. If he had the chance to reincarnate, he would certainly not choose this profession again. He wanted to live with a different identity. Because the battle to attack Caishi City was imminent, preparations had to be made. He couldn't let the injured soldiers be unable to receive treatment.
"Mm."
Ye Tiancheng pondered for a moment, looking at the magnificent sunrise in the sky. His strange expression left those around him bewildered. Everyone wondered what his expression represented. All they heard was a muffled sound.
Because he felt he should return, he stopped collecting herbs. These herbs were enough for a battle. Upon returning, he would grind the herbs into powder and, using his techniques from that world, make them into pills. Later, he would make them into ointments, which would be convenient to carry and also very easy to apply to wounds or take when injured.
Returning to Duogongna City-State.
It was already noon, and everyone felt hungry.
The meal was ready and waiting for them. Si Yiran was in charge of logistics.
This girl should have been idle, but she didn't want to be decadent. People with nothing to do would feel very bored. Having something to do made her feel less empty, so she asked for a task and wanted to be in charge of logistics. This girl loved cooking very much; if she didn't cook for a day, she felt uncomfortable all over. So, she had prepared the meal early and was waiting for Ye Tiancheng and his group to return. When she saw Ye Tiancheng and the others return safely, she was as happy as a hopping sparrow.
Seeing her so happy, Ye Tiancheng reached out and pinched her little face.
This girl was too cute; it was impossible not to pinch her.
"Touching me like that, it's so annoying."
Although she said this with her mouth, her heart was filled with sweetness.
"In the coming month, we need to prepare a lot of supplies. As long as we can capture Caishi City, Shuixiang City will be within our grasp."
This was Ye Tiancheng's plan. There would definitely be many unexpected events and minor incidents, but as long as the general strategic direction was set, it had to be carried out without compromise.
In his heart, nothing could be compromised. He believed that if it should be this way, it must be this way.
No matter what, in his heart, once something became a task to be done, he would never give up.
"Everyone, eat. Don't just stand around. We have things to do in the afternoon."
He said to everyone at this moment, hoping that these people would remember their positions and the tasks they had to perform, and not forget that they still carried a mission.
In this barbaric era, if you lacked the ability to survive, you would quickly be devoured by others, and no one would even pity you. Everyone was desperately trying to survive, finding any means possible, whether overt or covert. Under the premise of survival, any means could be used, because there was no one to manage them, and no reason to control their conscience.
Those who wanted to survive would naturally not let various things dictate their fate. They were very firm and persistent, and acted decisively in everything they did. After eating, these people naturally went to work.
Without the four great families, only one person existed in Duogongna City-State now. His will dictated everyone. Ye Tiancheng had completely reclaimed the surrounding land and planted tubers.
The cassava had a very short growth cycle, yielding a harvest in just two months. Because the original land was very fertile, it required almost no fertilizer for the cassava to grow very large. Each tuber weighed about five to six pounds. Such enormous tubers were not delicious, to say the least.
Of course not. These plants experienced their growth period in the original land, and this land was very fertile and soft, hence each plant was huge and full of sugar.
These people went out in the afternoon to harvest cassava.
When they returned in the evening, they washed the cassava clean and dried the moisture.
Ye Tiancheng had them cut the cassava into small pieces, place them on the mud, and bake them with charcoal from below. After three days and three nights of baking, the cassava was first cooked and then dried.
With these items, they could be used as rations for battle. Moreover, cassava contained many nutrients beneficial to the body. Therefore, in a state of severe sugar deficiency, chewing on a piece of dried cassava would replenish a large amount of sugar, thus restoring physical strength very quickly.
As combat rations, they were undeniably ideal, and the yield of cassava was very high, much higher than rice and wheat.
Increasing yield meant reducing famine.
The young man wanted to join Ye Tiancheng's team, but after he took control of Duogongna City-State, he felt ashamed to see him.
Therefore, he did not look for Ye Tiancheng but continued to roast sweet potatoes like an ordinary citizen and continued his small business in Duogongna City-State.
As he was roasting sweet potatoes, a familiar figure stood opposite him. The person looked at him with a smile and said nothing.
"Ye Tiancheng?"
The young man glanced at him strangely and then ignored him, continuing to focus on roasting his sweet potatoes.
"Your sweet potatoes are made very well. I'm short of someone to make sweet potatoes. I want you to help me."
Ye Tiancheng said after standing for a while.
"I think you've found the wrong person. I'm used to a carefree life and don't like living under a ruler like a tiger. Please spare me."
The young man gave Ye Tiancheng no room to think and flatly refused his request.
"Talking like this isn't being a friend. If Duogongna City-State continues to be fragmented like before, it will sooner or later become food for others. Are you willing to see such a result? Nothing is ever as perfect as you imagine; there will always be some regrets."
Ye Tiancheng said with a smile.
"These grand principles you speak of are too profound for a commoner like me. My mind can't comprehend them."
His meaning was a complete refusal, giving Ye Tiancheng no opportunity to think.
Even so, Ye Tiancheng didn't think too much. Sometimes thinking too much often meant more complicated things awaited him.
Therefore, don't think too much; let everything take its course, naturally and spontaneously.
"You really are not likable."
Xiao Huzizi was helpless. He wanted to say something more intense, but he couldn't bring himself to say it, so he chose silence.
For most people, silence represented everything they had to say. But Ye Tiancheng completely ignored his silence, wanting him to understand his feelings even more. What he wanted to express had been expressed; the only thing he could do was wait. See who could endure this infinite silence.
Xiao Huzizi finally couldn't bear Ye Tiancheng's waiting. He said with great dejection.
"I know what you're thinking, but I've said what I wanted to say. Why trouble me?"
"Because we knew each other before, I understand you very well. My goal and determination are to get you to help me. If you don't agree, I'll just wait here until you do."
Ye Tiancheng was forcing him.
"You really have no sense. If you gain control of the entire continent in the future, won't you boil me and eat me?"
"If you have the ability to rebel at that time, perhaps I would. As a king, one must speak of those who threaten his descendants. If I were you, I would also choose to do so, because people are selfish and consider their own interests first."
"If you say that, who would dare to follow you to conquer the world?"
"Those who desire wealth and status will naturally follow. I don't believe you want to roast and sell sweet potatoes your entire life."
Ye Tiancheng felt that people were not fools; everyone would learn many ways to protect themselves in this world. After that, if they didn't know when to advance or retreat, they would naturally become the souls of the king's sword. Extreme monarchs like Zhu Yuanzhang were rare; most people still valued human relationships and would not go to such extremes.
"If you can help me sell all these sweet potatoes, then I might consider going with you."
Xiao Huzizi suddenly said.
"What's so difficult about that?"
Ye Tiancheng stood beside him and then called out loudly.
Those people who were hurrying along immediately stopped and looked towards Ye Tiancheng. These common people rarely saw the city lord. Seeing him, they all gathered around.
"You're cheating."
"So what if I'm cheating? Didn't you ask me to sell all these sweet potatoes? What does it matter how I sell them?"
Ye Tiancheng retorted.
Xiao Huzizi was instantly choked, speechless. The city lord was selling sweet potatoes, and everyone found it very strange. Of course, they bought a lot. Anyway, these paper tickets would depreciate if not used, so they might as well buy as much as they could. Living in the present and enjoying the moment came first.
Because Ye Tiancheng was the city lord, these sweet potatoes were quickly snatched up by people.
Ye Tiancheng smiled at Xiao Huzizi, who shrugged helplessly. It was time for him to fulfill his promise. If he delayed any further, it would seem meaningless.
Ye Tiancheng patted Xiao Huzizi's shoulder, looked at the blue sky, and said meaningfully.
"Every dynasty has its cycles. Even if I kill all of you founding heroes, it won't stop the collapse of this dynasty. When a dynasty reaches its end, it will naturally collapse, and a new person will take over. That's why I won't be like those extreme kings who kill all their founding heroes."
"I hope you will do as you say. I don't want my descendants to serve a king whose butcher's knife has been wielded against them."
"As long as your descendants behave themselves, they will certainly not be in trouble. Generally speaking, those prodigal sons deserve to have their heads chopped off, because they bring it upon themselves."
Ye Tiancheng's implication was that they should discipline their descendants, or they would face consequences.
"Alright, alright. Everything you say is right, and we are all wrong."
"Naturally. As the city lord, I am above ten thousand people. My will is the will of the entire city. I have absolute authority, and no one can refute it."