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Chapter 1013: The Need for Self-Sufficiency

Wang Ji stood atop the towering city wall, gazing out at the rebel army camped beyond.

The rebels were positioned quite a distance away. Attacking forces typically held their ground about a *li* (roughly half a kilometer) from the city walls before commencing a full assault.

From his vantage point, Wang Ji could vaguely discern Li Daoxuan standing at the front of the rebel formation, and faintly see Zhao Bazong and others conversing with him. However, he couldn't make out a single word they said, nor could he distinguish any specific details of their interaction.

Then, he watched as seven rebel leaders, including Zhao Bazong, abruptly fanned out, forming a circle that enclosed Li Daoxuan in its center.

Wang Ji gasped, "Ah? The negotiations failed? They're going to fight! What a pity I can't see clearly..."

The battle began!

Zhao Bazong was the first to strike, landing a punch squarely on Li Daoxuan. But he immediately clutched his fist, staggering back several steps, his mouth twitching in agony.

Another general delivered a kick to Li Daoxuan's waist from behind. Yet, he too recoiled instantly, hopping backward on one leg, gasping through a twisted mouth, "Ow, so painful! This fellow's bones are hard as iron."

Two nearby generals rushed forward together, seizing both of Li Daoxuan's hands.

Both generals cried out, "Ah?"

Their gazes dropped, only to see that where Li Daoxuan's wrists had broken, there was no blood, no flesh. Instead, two dark, hollow openings appeared, uncannily resembling gun muzzles...

Li Daoxuan raised his "hands," now twin cannons, leveling them simultaneously at their faces.

The two generals shrieked in terror. Almost in unison, they snapped the severed palms they held back onto those dark holes, with a sickening *click*.

They were utterly paralyzed with fear, their legs turning to jelly.

"This fellow... he's not human!"

"What in the world, what kind of monster is this?"

"Something's wrong, this fight isn't right."

Li Daoxuan's head whipped around a full 180 degrees, his mouth curving into a wide grin as he faced the two generals behind him.

It was enough to drive a man insane with fright.

The seven men shrieked in unison, leaping far back, then swiftly drew their swords, holding them defensively across their chests.

Clearly, they hadn't drawn their blades to attack, but to protect themselves.

Their faces screamed, "Don't you dare come any closer!"

Li Daoxuan chuckled, "See? What did I tell you?"

The seven, thoroughly terrified, stammered, "You... what kind of demon are you?"

"Why must it be a demon? Can't it be a god?"

Li Daoxuan smiled, then turned to leave. "It's settled then. Wait two days. In two days, I'll bring you food and help resolve your overdue wages. Stop rebelling, just go back to guarding the border, and do whatever you're supposed to do."

Zhao Bazong and the others watched his retreating figure, a chill running down their spines.

After a long silence, one general whispered, "What do we do? Are we still attacking Yinchuan City?"

Zhao Bazong scoffed, "Attack, you must be joking! How can we attack when there's a monster like *that* inside the city? He's clearly invulnerable to swords and spears, his body is made of iron, and his arms are twin cannons. No matter how many soldiers we have, we can't kill him, but he could charge into our main camp at any moment and slaughter us all."

The generals were speechless.

Zhao Bazong finally gritted his teeth. "We retreat. We'll hide for two days, take precautions, and see if he truly keeps his promise."

As they deliberated, Li Daoxuan slowly walked back to the city gate.

He looked up and called out to the city wall, "Open the gate."

The city guards exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to do, until Wang Ji spoke. "Open the gate. The rebels no longer have any intention of attacking the city."

From the city wall, he had clearly seen the rebels abandoning half of their prepared siege equipment and beginning to withdraw.

It was quite obvious that the young hero's negotiations with the rebels had succeeded.

The city gates swung open, and Li Daoxuan returned to the city wall.

Wang Ji bowed deeply to him. "Thank you, young hero, for your courage in entering the enemy camp alone and single-handedly repelling three thousand foes."

"Enemy? I don't care for that descriptor," Li Daoxuan grumbled. "Those are clearly *my* troops. How did they become the enemy?"

Wang Ji was speechless.

Li Daoxuan continued, "Governor, I doubt you've forgotten why they're here, have you? Is it *their* fault?"

Wang Ji felt a flicker of awkwardness. "Well... in any case, I must still thank the young hero for saving my life."

"I didn't save *you*," Li Daoxuan stated, "but rather the countless common folk within Yinchuan City. If the border army truly broke in, they would inevitably lose themselves in the frenzy of battle and harm the civilians. I intervened because I didn't want to see innocent people caught in the crossfire, nor good men turn into monsters in their rage."

Wang Ji was once again left without words.

Alright, it was clear this man had no intention of letting him save face, hitting him with blunt remarks one after another.

A hint of injustice stung him. As a dignified provincial governor, he rarely suffered such outright disrespect. Yet, he dared not react, for he had already discerned that the young hero before him was unfathomably powerful.

He had witnessed the skirmish between the young hero and the seven rebel generals moments ago. Though too far to make out the exact moves, the outcome was undeniable.

Those seven generals, even working together, were no match for this young hero. That much was certain.

Li Daoxuan then said, "Now, it's time for the Governor and I to talk."

Wang Ji's spirits lifted. "May I ask what guidance the young hero has for me?"

Li Daoxuan replied, "In two days, a shipment of supplies will arrive. I can provide them to the border army free of charge to calm their unrest."

Wang Ji was overjoyed.

Li Daoxuan continued, "However, this is merely patching things up for you, a temporary solution. The moment I leave, you'll fall behind on their military pay again, and in a few months, they'll be back to besiege Yinchuan City."

Wang Ji stammered, "Uh, well..."

He understood this without Li Daoxuan even needing to say it!

His only recourse was to request money and supplies from the imperial court, but those in higher positions understood the court's current financial straits. Zhu Youjian simply couldn't produce the funds for him, and thus he, in turn, couldn't provide for the border army.

It was an intractable deadlock!

Just as Li Daoxuan had predicted, in a few months, these border troops would cause trouble again.

Wang Ji pleaded, "Young hero, save me!"

Li Daoxuan stated, "To solve this problem, the only way is for this region to develop self-sustaining capabilities. Don't always rely on the court to give you things; you must create your own industries, generate your own income, and then use that income to support the border army."

Wang Ji sighed deeply. "As a civil official, I naturally understand that principle. But what valuable products can this border region of Yinchuan produce? Other than cattle, sheep, and horses, what else is there?"

"Cattle, sheep, and horses are exactly right!" Li Daoxuan affirmed. "Intensify the development of animal husbandry."

Wang Ji countered, "But... developing animal husbandry makes us very vulnerable to raids from the Mongols. Unlike other industries, flocks of sheep grazing outside are extremely difficult to control. Once the Mongols attack, people can flee, but the sheep and cattle cannot. They will all be stolen by the Mongols. This industry simply cannot be developed."