Mingshan and Minghe are also paying attention to the situation here, curious to know if Yu Su will agree.
Yu Su smiles and says to Jisheng, "Since you are willing to offer a higher price, I have no reason to refuse."
Jisheng and the others are overjoyed. Jisheng quickly says, "Thank you, Lord Yu Su!"
Nearby villages around Daji Village also show some joy at the prospect. Being close to Daji Village, they would benefit if the road construction goes through.
Yu Su replies, "No need to thank me. You pay, we work – it's a fair deal."
Jisheng adds, "Without Yu Village's construction team, even if we have the money, we can't afford to build this road."
Seeing the success with Daji Village, other wealthier medium-sized villages start expressing their desire to build roads, hoping Yu Village will make a similar deal with them.
Yu Su responds, "Since everyone wants roads, I happen to have a detailed map that you can use as a reference."
Looking at Land Leader Lu Yan, Yu Su instructs him to bring out the map they prepared earlier.
This map, created over the past three months, details the locations of all villages, the terrain, and proposed road routes in the eastern plains. It even includes suitable routes for road construction.
Minghe, looking at the comprehensive map, is silently impressed. Yu Village's knowledge of the eastern plains surpasses their own, despite living there for years.
Yu Su seems well-prepared, having this map ready for today's discussion.
While others are amazed, Yu Su says, "This is a map of the eastern plains, with proposed routes for constructing smooth roads connecting each village."
He continues, "This brings me to my second purpose today – discussing a major business deal."
Three days later, Yu Su finalizes a substantial deal between Yu Village and the various villages in the eastern plains.
Simultaneously, negotiations with Daji Village regarding grain, advanced farming tools, and cultivation methods are also settled.
Returning to Yu Village, Yu Su coincidentally meets the second merchant convoy, traveling back to Yu Village together.
"Brother!" Yu Zhou greets Yu Su happily, noticeably darker but taller after the journey.
Yu Su invites him to sit in front, and they ride together on a horse.
Yu Zhou shares his experiences during these months. Due to the conflict between Mang Village and Daji Village, the second merchant convoy deviated from its original plan and headed south.
In these few months, they explored many places.
Yu Su hears about villages not marked on the map, located at the southernmost part of the plains.
"The southernmost area has a large mountain range. People say it's deep, and following the river south takes over a day to cross. If you keep going southeast, you might reach the seaside, but it's hard to verify." Jian Yunchuan mentions.
Considering the currency, money shells, circulating in the plains and the various villages having pearls and coral, Yu Su speculates this information might be accurate.
"Has anyone from the south been to the seaside?"
"No, it's just a rumor passed down through generations."
Yu Su contemplates visiting to verify the information.
Back in Yu Village, Yu Su gathers the village leaders for a meeting in the council chamber.
"...The rewards for helping them with the roads are all settled. Take a look."
Village leaders stare wide-eyed at the substantial rewards written on the parchment.
"So much money! Lord Yu Su, are they really willing to pay this much to have us build roads for them?"
"Why not? Roads are more valuable than money."
Some astute people in the eastern villages could discern the value, just like those in Iron Village and the Barbarian Forest.
Yu Kun agrees with Yu Su's perspective, considering the changes in the village over the past few years.
"When do we start?"
"In three days. My father, Yu Meng, and Yu Shan will lead three road construction teams. The construction will progress simultaneously. The villages in the east will send people to assist; we won't need to send too many."
The main force of the construction teams consists of Jian Yunchuan, Yu Meng, and Yu Shan, who can manipulate earth as practitioners.
With six practitioners possessing Earth Spirit roots in the village, five of them being above the fifth level of Qi Refining, the construction teams, led by Jian Yunchuan, Yu Meng, and Yu Shan, will proceed concurrently, speeding up the construction.
By the end of this year, the primary roads should be completed.
"In addition, villages like Daji have discussed several major deals with us, such as grains, tools, horse gear, and carriages. Our main task now is to prepare the goods they need."
Excitement erupts in the council chamber. Yu Su simplifies the work arrangements, allowing them to manage the rest themselves.
"Adjourned."
Hearing the word "adjourned," people in the council chamber can't stay seated any longer, rushing out as if fearing they might miss out on making money.
"Cough, Lord Yu Su, should we call back those people from the western wilderness and let them help?" Yu Kun suggests.
Yu Su doesn't make an immediate decision, saying, "I'll go to the western wilderness and take a look first."
Arriving in the western wilderness, Yu Su realizes that placing over two thousand people from outside villages in the wilderness for cultivation was the right decision.
In just a few months, they have already cleared the land near the cave. The area where Lu Yan found the reeds has been transformed into neatly arranged fields.
Even Yu Su is surprised at the speed of their progress.
"Lord Yu Su," Yu Feng approaches with a thick book, recording information on over two thousand people, "we've recorded their performances during this time."
Yu Su took the information and quickly read through all of it with his powerful divine sense.
His initial focus was on the information of the over a thousand young and middle-aged individuals. To his satisfaction, the situation was much better than he had anticipated. Of the over a thousand people, aside from a dozen with defects, all had passed the assessment.
This was a very high success rate.
Yu Su expressed his satisfaction, "For those over a thousand who passed the test, there's no need for them to continue participating in cultivation. Lead them to the warrior camp and let Yu Hong train them."
Yu Feng nodded and asked, "What about the dozen or so with defects?"
Yu Su's eyes turned slightly cold, "Those with severe moral flaws will be dealt with, and the rest can continue with cultivation."
Yu Feng acknowledged, "Understood."
The remaining over a thousand people were refugees taken in over the past half-year.
From the recorded information, around a thousand had passed the review.
"For those who passed, officially register their information. Let them become villagers of Yu Village, and expel the remaining one hundred or so deceitful individuals from Yu Village."
"Yes."
After recording all this, Yu Feng addressed Yu Su, "The group that signed contracts in winter is approaching the end of their contracted period. Many of them don't want to leave; they wish to stay in Yu Village. What are your thoughts?"
"Why don't they want to leave?"
"Most of them cite the destruction of their home villages; returning means having no home. Another part believes that living in Yu Village would be better and doesn't want to return to their original villages."
Yu Su pondered, "For those whose villages were destroyed, and their character is sound, they can stay. Those whose villages are intact won't be accepted; they should return."
"Understood. Besides the over a thousand entering the warrior camp, should the others continue with cultivation?"
After a moment of consideration, Yu Su replied, "Select over a hundred skilled individuals to return to the villages and assist in making farming and horse equipment. The rest can stay here temporarily. Instead of continuing cultivation, focus on maintaining these fields. Let's sow the seeds collected by the merchant convoy and see the results."
Having noted everything, Yu Feng immediately went to make the arrangements.
A few days later, Yu Feng finalized all the arrangements and announced the news to the over two thousand people.
Upon learning they could join the warrior camp, Xia Bai and the others were extremely excited. The refugees granted permission to join Yu Village were also thrilled.
The only unhappy ones were those who didn't pass the assessment.
"We work just as hard every day, why didn't we pass?"
"Yeah, where are we lacking compared to them?"
Over two hundred individuals who didn't pass gathered together, surrounding Yu Feng with anger.
Yu Feng's expression turned cold as he swept his gaze around, saying, "I haven't disclosed the unethical things you've done to save face for you. But if you want to cause trouble, don't blame me for being impolite."
Releasing the aura of an eighth-level Qi Refining practitioner, those over two hundred people were immediately oppressed, gasping for breath and showing fear.