What surprised Xiangbei was that the person welcoming them from inside was Tong Biao! Amidst the recent busyness, she realized it had been a long time since she last saw him, ever since she heard he joined the army. Excitedly, she grabbed his arm and led him into the lobby.
Tong Biao could only manage to look back at Cheng Mo awkwardly as they walked inside. Fortunately, the prince was simply smiling indulgently at them, not minding as he carried down a few personal belongings from the carriage.
With the arrival of the two big bosses, everyone came over to pay their respects. There were only about ten young people present, and after exchanging greetings, they all went downstairs to get busy.
After the staff left, Tong Biao took the initiative to introduce the overall situation there:
"Miss Bei, this shop specializes in sericulture and textile production. The field behind has just been plowed, and the mulberry trees haven't been planted yet. There are no residents in the village for the time being. I'm mainly here to train some newcomers. The North and South Supermarkets have just opened for business, focusing on the trade of raw silk and cloth, as well as providing some simple roadside meals. We'll expand the business next spring. Due to the limited number of passersby and a small number of cattle in this area, the amount of sewage produced that can be used for biogas is not large, so the biogas produced is mainly used for lighting in the bathrooms and lobby here."
"Your management approach is very correct. The QingXi River bifurcates into two branches east and west of Zebei Town, and then flowing south. After reaching your area, it gradually slows down and then divides into two sides. In this way, it forms a large fertile plain sandwiched in the middle of the Qing Xi River. In the future, by diverting water here to form ponds, planting mulberry trees on the pond bases, building embankments and roads, and opening up farmland for planting rice and fruits, it will soon become the most suitable place for habitation." Xiangbei outlined her rough plan for the future of the area.
Cheng Mo was intrigued by Xiangbei's words and asked, "Tong Biao, I remember you went to learn skills from Uncle Hai, so are you back at the Tong family now?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Uncle Hai taught me a lot about logistics and supply support. Uncle Shan enrolled me in the Hai Department, making me a member of the Guard Troops of Cheng family. I came here because the war is imminent. Uncle Shan said that Your Highness might need the nearby traveler lodges. Since this place is not yet fully developed and lacks manpower, it would be a waste to stay here. So, he asked me to bring some palace guards here for training and defense, ready to be deployed at any time."
Cheng Mo was pleased with Tong Biao's arrangement. With a clear idea in mind after listening to Xiangbei's speech earlier, he immediately made a decision:
"Good, very good! Tong Biao, the army's main force will soon be heading south. I hereby appoint you as the vanguard centurion of the logistics Battalion for the Southern Frontier Expedition to Suppress Bandits. You will be fully responsible for constructing the army's front-line assembly camp here. Your subordinates and another engineer troops will arrive here for base construction within three days."
"Yes, Your Highness! Tong Biao obeys."
"Oh, by the way, Xiao Bei, look, the area here is spacious and flat, and the mulberry trees haven't been planted yet. It would be most convenient and simple to set up camp for the troops. However, after the war," Cheng Mo smiled at Xiangbei as if coaxing a little girl out to catch the wolf grandmother who wanted to eat her, deliberately prolonging his words to let Xiangbei take over.
But she didn't make Cheng Mo wait long before she picked up.
"After the war, you're saying the planning drawings will have to wait for me to come up with, right? And you've thought about this vast fertile land. Just one village from the same city traveler inn wouldn't be enough, so His Highness thought a bit more and suggested building a city? Or maybe a town or something?"
"Hehe, Xiao Bei is indeed clever, your suggestion is excellent!"
"Ah Mo, are you trying to use up all my energy?" Xiangbei pretended to be angry, teasing Cheng Mo.
"The capable ones should do more. You're like a little fairy, my angel specially helping Brother Mo with strategy and guiding the country. But don't worry, Brother Mo won't drain you. You need to save your energy to manage me when you become the queen." Cheng Mo wasn't joking with her, but he took the opportunity to confess his feelings.
"Are you also suggesting that since it's a blessed place, we should reward some deserving soldiers and build some housing for their families?" Xiangbei stared at Cheng Mo imperiously, seeing through his little tricks.
"Hehe, look at you, Xiao Bei, can't you be a little less smart?" Cheng Mo offered his flattering smile in a very sycophantic manner.
"You know, your image is shattered! Look at you, no longer the aloof prince from the past. I can't be bothered to banter with you anymore." Xiangbei restrained her playful expression and said seriously, "I was thinking, why don't we just build a southern frontier Military dependents resettlement village here? Give the members of the Cheng family guard a place to settle down, and also relocate the families of the officers and soldiers from the northern army who are coming here. Let them take root in the coastal defense. What do you think, Ah Mo?"
"A Military dependents resettlement village? Hold on, Xiangbei, I didn't quite understand. Are you suggesting giving all the soldiers a place to build their homes here?" Cheng Mo's eyes widened suddenly. He had never thought about it, but at that moment, he could already see the future scene, a border garrison!
"Oh, you never thought about it? Well, that's what I meant. It's actually a bit similar to the backstreets of the East Street in Zebei Town, just larger and with better facilities for the military families."
"The Southern Frontier Army has the Qiao family navy, the local garrison, the northern army that I've taken over this time, and the Cheng family guards. The best way to unite them and make them feel at ease settling down here is to make them treat this place as their home. Xiangbei, your idea of a Military dependents resettlement village, or more like a stronghold in my mind, can achieve that." Cheng Mo had always thought the most about how to bring these people together, twist them into a rope, and become a truly formidable force for the future. With this stronghold, having a home here where they could rest or spend holidays without traveling thousands of miles to enjoy home-cooked meals, wouldn't that be heartwarming? The mulberry forests, fruits, silk weaving, and farming and fishing here could provide every family with a prosperous and stable income, isn't that tempting?"