In the summer of the eleventh year of Jianshuo, three sizable buildings were erected in the western part of Zhang Village. Each building had three stories, constructed with concrete and red bricks, the exteriors plastered with white lime and fitted with transparent glass windows. The three buildings were arranged in a triangular pattern around a plaza in front.

Overseen by Ning Yi, the buildings were quite unlike the dwellings of this era, even the glass windows alone possessed considerable value. Perhaps with a touch of dark humor, the three buildings were simply named "Zhang Village Building Number One," "Number Two," and "Number Three."

The buildings were open to the public. Building Number One showcased various current scientific and technological achievements, along with demonstrations of their principles. Building Number Two housed a collection of books and extensive debate records from the Huaxia Army, documenting the evolution of their ideology, as well as a memorial hall commemorating significant events along their journey. Building Number Three was a work building, originally intended for the Huaxia Army's Commerce Department, displaying relatively mature commercial products, but its purpose was slightly modified at this time.

The Huaxia Army's journey had been extremely difficult, and commercial means had played a significant role in sustaining them. On the other hand, in shaping the Huaxia Army's ideology, while "equality" was a foundational principle, promoting the spirit of contract and guiding the industrial revolution and the budding of capitalism based on the study of natural science were also essential paths to take in the real world.

Based on these ideas, after leaving Liangshan, establishing such an exhibition hall and memorial hall to introduce the Huaxia Army's outline to others became a very necessary thing. The Commerce Department could also rely on such displays to attract more business, while simultaneously making the Huaxia Army's image public to the outside world.

After leaving the Liangshan area, the entire Huaxia Army system was extremely busy. Taking over various regions, expanding and training the army, coupled with the necessary infrastructure construction in various places, delayed the construction of these "face-saving" projects. In the design and construction of these three buildings, Ning Yi did not consider the transition of aesthetics, directly adopting the simple, grand, and practical style of later generations. With his background as an unscrupulous real estate developer, the construction project proceeded smoothly. Upon completion, the buildings had a distinct "future" impact.

However, by the summer of this year, when the three buildings were completed and the exhibition halls filled, the Jurchen threat was imminent. The buildings, originally intended to emphasize commerce, first turned towards political propaganda.

To counter the Jurchen arrival, the entire Huaxia Army in the Chengdu Plain was advancing. Regions that had not been occupied by the Huaxia Army, led by Zizhou, along with a dozen small and medium-sized towns north of the Fourth Route of Sichuan, had all received the Huaxia Army's ultimatum.

At this time, although no large-scale battles had yet occurred in the eyes of the outside world, the atmosphere was far from gentle. The Huaxia Army's elite forces were divided into several groups, pressing forward while also employing persuasion and lobbying. Between July and August, these towns surrendered one after another. In this context, no one believed that the Huaxia Army would continue to show mercy to the stubborn. Everyone understood that if they continued to play the hardliner, the Huaxia Army would mercilessly trample everything before the Jurchens arrived.

Apart from a few predictable small-scale resistances, with the surrender of Zizhou in August, the Fourth Route of Sichuan, except for the essential exit of Jiange, had largely entered the Huaxia Army's territory, and the handover of various powers and affairs was proceeding intensely.

However, the Huaxia Army did not adopt a one-size-fits-all, complete replacement policy for the officials originally responsible for governing various regions. After simple written tests and intention assessments, some qualified officials who did not have significant resistance to the Huaxia Army gradually entered the training phase.

The entire training process was quite simple, taking place in several locations centered on Zhang Village. First, they toured the general outline of these three buildings in Zhang Village, then successively visited factories, government offices, urban areas, and military camps for on-site comparison. Next, they returned to Zhang Village for another round of macro introductions, where they could ask questions or request reference materials from the buildings. Finally, they took a simple written test.

The entire process took about seven days, aiming to allow these officials to understand the basic ideological framework, governance operations, and future expectations of the Huaxia Army. It did not matter if they did not completely agree with the general direction, as long as they could understand and cooperate. Once they entered the system, there would naturally be a large number of learning, supervision, recognition, and cleaning mechanisms in the future.

The late autumn sun still shone brightly. Standing in the exhibition hall on the second floor of Building Number One, Liao Qibin still couldn't help but cast his gaze towards the window beside him. Glass bottles and such things already existed in the market, but they were quite precious. Later, the Huaxia Army improved this material, making its color more translucent. They even coated mercury behind the crystal-clear glass to make mirrors. Because this material was fragile and transportation was difficult in the mountainous Fourth Route of Sichuan, the superior glass mirrors produced by the Black Flag were always prized possessions in the eyes of wealthy families. In recent years, some places had even become accustomed to using them as essential items in weddings.

But here, such translucent and fragile glass was directly used to make windows. The external sunlight, trees, distant river, and nearby pedestrians were all clearly visible, which made Liao Qibin, who had previously served as the magistrate of Qi County in Zizhou, feel a sense of luxury.

However, after arriving in Zhang Village for six days, due to this tour, Liao Qibin felt some more complex emotions in addition to the initial sense of luxury.

"...Still returning to papermaking. When you all came on the first day, you only knew a rough idea. After these few days of walking around, you all have a clear understanding, so this matter is much simpler. In this room, the improvements and efficiency of papermaking are recorded edition by edition. At the same time, everyone has also seen the steps to improve the papermaking methods of the previous hundreds of years...We specifically marked the years...Up to now, we have increased the efficiency of papermaking twelvefold. This is only the improvement in more than ten years, and it is still continuing...But before that, the improvement process of papermaking lasted for hundreds of years, and it did not have as much diversity as our ten years..."

"...This is not an accumulation in the market that has reached a certain level of explosion. All this progress only happened within the Huaxia Army. This is the power of *gewu* (study of natural science)..."

Liao Qibin turned his gaze back to the speaker in front of the crowd. That person was sitting in a wheelchair, his face did not look old, but his hair was already half white. Liao Qibin did not dare to neglect this person's identity. His name was Qin Shaoyu, and he was a member of the Qin family who had almost followed Qin Si'yuan to his death. When the Qiang people came, his legs were broken, and he only survived because of the Huaxia Army. Now he manages these three buildings, which are the face of the Huaxia Army. Every batch of people who return to Zhang Village on the sixth day will be led by him for explanation, and he will answer some people's questions in person.

More than ten years had passed since Ning Yi angrily killed Zhou Zhe. In these ten years, although Ning Yi was regarded by the Wu Dynasty as a traitor nailed to the pillar of shame, the criticism of Qin Si'yuan's merits and demerits had been constantly changing. In recent years, due to Zhou Yong's control of power, his pair of children guided public opinion, and in fact, they had largely affirmed Qin Si'yuan's achievements.

That elderly prime minister took on the responsibility of resisting the Jurchens and saving the world. His eldest son, Qin Shaohe, was loyal and unyielding in defending Taiyuan, and he was also a hero. However, after such a difficult defeat of the Jurchens, the treacherous officials in power in the Jinghan Dynasty, out of fear of Qin Si'yuan, joined forces to frame the loyal, and the emperor was blinded by the treacherous officials, and what he did was also wrong.

Such public opinion restored much of Qin Si'yuan's reputation, but of course, even so, Ning Yi had no ruler and no father, and in the Wu Dynasty's public opinion, he was still a heinous traitor. When people talked about it, they only said that he should have dealt with treacherous officials such as Cai Jing and Tong Guan in the court, but he should never have committed regicide, and so on.

In this way, Qin Shaoyu became the best candidate for interacting with people from the Wu Dynasty. When Cheng Zhouhai came to negotiate in the past, he pulled in Song Yongping, and Ning Yi pulled Qin Shaoyu to argue with him. At this time and place, Qin Shaoyu's identity could naturally also deter everyone. After he introduced papermaking to everyone, he introduced the development of the glass industry, and then there were ships, bridges, roads, cement, steel, and various facilities and raw material research.

After finishing the second floor, the end of the building was a spacious hydraulic elevator. Qin Shaoyu was sitting in a wheelchair and could only go up and down using this facility similar to later generations' "elevators." When someone wanted to help him push the wheelchair, he waved his hand and refused. All actions were on his own.

"Back then...it was also in the last few years of the Jinghan Dynasty. When my uncle was reinstated as prime minister, I went to the capital and mixed with a group of playboys. If there are friends who have been to the capital back then, they may still remember a young rascal in Bianliang called 'Hua Hua Tai Sui'. At that time, I had no ambition and wanted to follow him to run rampant in the capital, but soon after, Ning Yi arrived in the capital, and my uncle asked me to receive him..."

"...The current Mr. Ning in everyone's mouth was also a wonderful person back then. As a *Son-in-Law*, he was kind to others, but even 'Hua Hua Tai Sui' could not get any advantage in front of him. Later, many things happened, and I learned something from him. In the eleventh year of Jinghan, the Right Prime Minister's Office presided over disaster relief in the north, and Mr. Ning Yi came up with a plan to mobilize a large number of merchants from various places to sell in the disaster area and suppress food prices...The scene at that time was really exciting..."

"I have average talent. Don't look at me being old with half white hair. In fact, it is because of insufficient talent. Everyone who comes into contact with you from the Wu Dynasty are all dragons and phoenixes among people. I dare not neglect them. I just need to learn more things and spend more time..."

"In the Huaxia Army, the equality that you are talking about is actually quite simple. Everyone has seen it. Papermaking and printing, after understanding the *gewu* way, the efficiency has now increased more than ten times. Other industries, and even planting, fishing, and hunting, also have constantly improving methods. Raising chickens on farms, the supply of eggs and chicken has greatly increased...Everything has a way to improve. In the past, it was extremely difficult for you to study and become superior people. Some people understand the truth, and some people don't. Therefore, the saints said that the people can be made to follow it, but they cannot be made to know it. Just because it is impossible for everyone to know it."

"But now, everyone has seen that we may have the opportunity to let everyone in the world read books one day. After reading books, everyone will have the hope of understanding the truth. At that time, although it is difficult for people to be completely equal, the distance can be expected to be shortened."

Qin Shaoyu pushed the wheelchair forward on his own. Someone asked, "If everyone becomes an official, who will farm?"

Hearing this question, Qin Shaoyu was not flustered, and the movements on his hands did not slow down. He smiled and said, "If everyone can study, the world will definitely have another face. Officials are no longer superior, but just equal government affairs personnel. Some people fish and hunt, some people farm, some people do business, some people teach. At that time, there will naturally be people who are good at management and good at planning who will transfer to management positions. As you have seen in the past few days, the government affairs personnel in my Huaxia Army are strictly prohibited from being verbally fierce and bossy to the people under them. This is based on this principle."

"Of course, regarding this matter, there have also been many discussions in the Huaxia Army. There are a large number of discussions over the years in Building Number Two. Mr. Ning has also made several explanations and assumptions. Those who are interested can borrow them for discussion."

Qin Shaoyu smiled: "Of course, the world is difficult, and the road ahead is not easy. Based on the development of *gewu* studies, many things over time will be earth-shattering. Even the many ideas in Building Number Two are only accumulated in ten years, and they are not necessarily the answer. If you have more ideas after reading them, the Huaxia Army will conduct such discussions regularly. If you have profound views, they will even be passed on to Mr. Ning for personal answers and even debates...Next, let's take a look at some ideas and results on plant selection and breeding..."

Everyone had already entered and visited these three buildings in Zhang Village on the first day they arrived. For many theories that they did not understand at the time, after the subsequent days of visits and explanations, they actually had a rough outline in their minds. When they turned back on this sixth day, after Qin Shaoyu connected and explained, the current and future picture of the entire Huaxia Army was gradually drawn, and the shock in everyone's heart slowly deepened.

After Qin Shaoyu said that a large amount of information was stored in Building Number Two, everyone no longer raised some superficial questions. Soon after, everyone turned to Building Number Two. The first floor preserved the Huaxia Army's past achievements and construction history - in fact, it also displayed things related to Qin Si'yuan when he was prime minister, and even Qin Si'yuan's death and the Wu Dynasty's situation afterwards, Ning Yi's regicide, etc. Many details were disclosed in detail, of course, Qin Shaoyu politely avoided this part for the time being.

He walked while pushing his wheelchair, saying, "During the first few receptions, people kept asking why the Huaxia Army was blowing these things so beautifully, and many things can only be seen in these beautiful houses, including the glass window panes and the steel used to build these three buildings, after all, not everyone can afford them...But here, I hope everyone can pay attention. My Huaxia Army has been struggling in the worst environment for more than ten years..."

"We developed and built with Qingmu Village in Xiaocang River...Soon after, the Western Xia came. We defeated the Western Xia in the northwest, and later resisted the attacks of nearly a million troops from the entire Central Plains, including the Jurchens...We killed Lou Shi, killed Ci Bushi, and transferred from the northwest to Liangshan. Similarly, we opened a very difficult road in the mountains..."

"In such an environment, we still maintain the development of so many things. When we left Liangshan and arrived here, how long has it been? Has the situation stabilized for even a year? Friends, the Jurchens are coming. They conquered the Central Plains and Jiangnan, defeated the entire Wu Dynasty, and are coming to the southwest. Imagine what you will be like if the Jurchens conquer the Shu region..."

Qin Shaoyu pushed the wheelchair through a historical scroll: "And consider these development ideas. If we defeat the Jurchens, if we are allowed in a larger place - not as remote as Xiaocang River, not as barren as He Deng San County - like this area of the Chengdu Plain, we don't even need a larger area! If we develop for three years, develop for five years, what will it look like? Think about it, by then, who in the world can stop the people of Huaxia from restoring our Han Chinese clothing - I believe this is also the vision that my uncle dreamed of back then..."

Sunlight shone in from outside the window. After everyone finished visiting Building Number Two, it was noon. Qin Shaoyu led the original twenty or so Wu Dynasty officials to the cafeteria for lunch. Lunch was a simple but delicious buffet. After lunch, Liao Qibin walked outside to bask in the sun. His mind was still a bit chaotic. He reached the position of county magistrate through formal channels. Naturally, he was also a dragon and phoenix among people. A few days were enough for him to see a general outline, but it still took time to digest this shock.

Before long, some officials and clerks came out and spoke to him in low voices. What they talked about most was the upcoming war. The core of the war was in Jiange or Zizhou, whether the Huaxia Army could hold on, or whether the Jurchens would eventually win the world. These questions were the most important topics of discussion.

During this period, everyone also talked about Mr. Ning. From this plaza, they could see the side of the courtyard where Mr. Ning lived, and it was said that Mr. Ning was still in Zhang Village at this time. Then someone talked about the transportation in Zhang Village and the transportation in this area of the Chengdu Plain.

"...Since the Huaxia Army entered Chengdu, they have been repairing roads with disaster relief and convenient business in mind. Now, with Zhang Village as the center, the main post roads have been renovated, and they are well-connected. Mr. Ning is sitting in Zhang Village, which is the best choice. When the war starts, even if some people in the rear have ulterior motives, the reaction here will be the fastest. Haven't you seen that this place was still a wasteland a few years ago, and now four bridges have been built..."

During the discussion, everyone inevitably praised these things. Even those who came here and, after a few days of visiting, no longer understood the Huaxia Army would certainly not say so at the moment. As long as they didn't become an official of the Huaxia Army in the end, even if they were monitored for a while, they would eventually be able to escape. Moreover, if they didn't talk about ideals and only talked about methods, Ning Yi's ability to create such a foundation was really admirable.

After discussing like this for a while, Qin Shaoyu came over from not far away and participated in the small-scale discussion. He smiled and enjoyed the late autumn sun with his uneven white hair.

He smiled and brought up this topic that everyone was concerned about: "You were talking about Mr. Ning earlier? It's a pity that you can't see him today."

Everyone was surprised: "Could it be that we still have the possibility of seeing Mr. Ning?" Some people's minds even moved, if they really had the opportunity to see that person, they would take a risk...

But Qin Shaoyu smiled and said: "Everything here has been arranged properly, and the war is ahead...He set off for the front line of Zizhou yesterday."

Qin Shaoyu's words were calm. Liao Qibin heard these words, recalled the肅殺 (肅殺 is a kind of solemn and stern atmosphere) and the figures of the 虎賁之士 (虎賁之士 refers to brave warriors) in the Huaxia Army barracks he had visited in the past few days, and his heart was shocked. After a long time, he said in a low voice: "Mr. Ning...Going to the front line? If the Jurchens attack and surround Zizhou...The Fourth Route of Sichuan is a thousand miles away...I'm afraid the response will be insufficient..."

They had not completely joined the Huaxia Army at this time. Although Liao Qibin knew that it was not appropriate to ask about this matter in detail, he still couldn't help but say it slowly. Qin Shaoyu squinted his eyes and looked at him: "It's okay."

He said: "As long as the Fourth Route of Sichuan is still there and the Huaxia Army is still there, Zong Han...can't surround Zizhou."

**************

Ning Yi left Zhang Village on the afternoon of September 23. On September 24, he was almost about to arrive in Zizhou.

Blocking Wanyan Zonghan's army and determining the battlefield as much as possible on the hundred-kilometer road between Jiange and Zizhou was a pre-determined plan. Of course, the most ideal development was to block the enemy in Jiange. If Jiange could not surrender or could not be captured, then the front line would be set in Zizhou.

Although it was said that the area south of Zizhou and the Chengdu area had been the Huaxia Army's territory for two years, the fact was that the Chengdu Plain was boundless beyond Zizhou. If Wanyan Zonghan was defeated head-on at that time, his hundreds of thousands of troops, led by famous Jurchen generals who still had excellent command ability, would easily turn into a messy situation, or even rely on their troop advantage to occupy various small cities and drive the people around to fight, or even do things like breaching the Dujiangyan Dam. In the case of the Huaxia Army's tight troops, it would eventually be beaten to a pulp.

Ning Yi's departure was because two messages came one after another on the 23rd.

One of them was that a rescue operation in the Jiangnan area, closely related to Si Zhongxian of the Lobbying Department, was declared a failure.

The other was a well-planned assassination attempt that broke out in Zizhou and extended to Ning Ji's side. Ning Ji was once captured by the other party's assassins.

It wasn't until he was taken to the outskirts of Zizhou by the assassins that this thirteen-year-old Ning family member cut open the rope with a short knife hidden in his sleeve and suddenly launched an attack. Before the reinforcements arrived, he chased and killed the assassins all the way, killing six people by various means.

Ning Yi hid it from Xiao Chan and set off for Zizhou that day.