Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Inside Gaoyang Tower

In just one day, the once dilapidated Gaoyang Tower was transformed into a brand new look. While not luxurious, it was immaculately clean, with bright and spotless windows. Broken doors and windows had been temporarily reinforced with wooden battens, and the floor had been swept clean of dust. The hundred or so newly arrived men, after all, were military families, and military discipline and efficiency were ingrained in their bones. They worked with swiftness and efficiency, without a trace of dragging their feet.

Zhang Jingwei stood in the second-floor hallway, flipping through the thick roster Ding Xu had presented. The pages rustled, densely packed with names, ages, places of origin, and specialties. He frowned slightly, pondering, "Over a hundred people... Ding Xu is a down-to-earth man with a ruthless streak, but I'm afraid he's not up to the task of managing this alone."

Wang Ergou, standing nearby, immediately chimed in, his tone filled with the familiarity of his time at the Marquis' Mansion. "Don't worry, Young Master! Having more people isn't a problem; the key is using the right people. Back when I was at the Marquis' Mansion, I also commanded hundreds of secret guards. The method is simple. From these hundred or so, pick out a few who are quick-witted, obedient, and capable, and have them each take charge of a specific area. From there, layer by layer, it'll be easier to manage."

Zhang Jingwei closed the roster and nodded, "That's right. Go, call Dahai and Fang Yue."

"Yes." Wang Ergou responded and went down.

A short while later, Liang Dahai and Fang Yue arrived one after the other. Liang Dahai still looked like a slovenly craftsman, his hands greasy; Fang Yue was much calmer, his eyes scanning the orderly scene inside the building sharply.

"Master!" "Sir!"

Zhang Jingwei pointed to the massive Gaoyang Building and said to the two, "From now on, this is your territory. Listen, the above-ground area, including the building, the courtyard, and any sheds that may be added later, will all be under your management, Dahai. The underground area," he paused, looking at Wang Ergou, "will be under the management of Ergou."

When Wang Ergou heard this, his face immediately fell and he muttered, "Master, why isn't he in charge of the underground? His pile of iron lumps are clanging and it's just right to be placed underground, so it won't disturb anyone. My... my business..."

Zhang Jingwei interrupted him, his tone unquestionable: "How many of your 'businesses' can be put on the table? Dahai needs to develop those ingenious devices, which require light and ventilation, which is much more convenient above ground. The secret underground is just what you need. It's settled!"

Wang Ergou looked reluctant, but he knew it was pointless to argue, so he just drooped his head and replied, "...Yes, Master."

Zhang Jingwei ignored him and turned to Fang Yue. "Fang Yue, even though this building has been cleaned up, I'm still not at ease. You need to reinforce it thoroughly. The walls and foundation need to be solid. Also," he cast his eyes towards the open space outside the building, with a longer-term plan in mind, "if possible, I'd like to double the size of this workshop. How long do you think it will take?"

Fang Yue didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the window and carefully examined the structure of the building. He then looked at the men in the open space below who were busy but occasionally looked over curiously. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Sir, can I deploy all these people in the building?"

"Of course you can!" Zhang Jingwei affirmed. "Among them, some have served in the military and know how to build, some are original craftsmen, and most are strong men. Now, they have plenty of strength and a heart of gratitude, so feel free to use them!"

Fang Yue's eyes flashed with understanding. He turned around and bowed, his tone firm: "If we have enough manpower and materials, one month will be enough!"

Zhang Jingwei waved his hand. "No need to rush. I'll give you two months. Make sure everything is secure and stable for me! If you need money, go directly to the Gaoyang branch of the military bank. I've already given them the heads-up."

"Yes! I obey your command!" Fang Yue responded in a deep voice, and his eyes were already thinking about how to allocate manpower and materials.

"Ding Xu!" Zhang Jingwei shouted.

Ding Xu, who had been waiting not far away, immediately trotted over and bowed, saying, "Master!"

Zhang Jingwei pulled him aside and said in a very low voice with a serious expression: "I have an important matter now and I need you to do it immediately. Go to the city and find an inconspicuous pharmacy and secretly buy a dose of...abortion pills. Then, quietly send it to my house and give it to Qian Ming, and tell him that it is what I wanted. Remember, you must not let anyone know, especially my wife!" He deliberately emphasized the words "secretly" and "quietly".

There was no extra expression on Ding Xu's face, as if he had just received an ordinary errand order. He immediately clasped his fists and said, "Yes! Master, don't worry, Ding Xu understands!" After saying that, he turned around and hurried downstairs to make arrangements.

Wang Ergou, who was standing by, heard everything clearly. His eyes widened in surprise. He leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Master? What...what do you want that thing for? If...if Madam knew about this, she would definitely..."

Liang Dahai, who was standing next to him, chuckled and nudged Wang Ergou with his elbow, as if to say, "You're too out of touch with the news." "You've been busy outside the city these days, so you didn't even know about all the excitement going on in the city? That mistress of the young master, that... what's her name? Yes, Wei Jiajia! She's pregnant! She's even making a scene at the mansion! Tsk tsk, the young master is having a headache!"

Zhang Jingwei's face darkened instantly, and he glared at Liang Dahai fiercely: "You're the only one who talks too much, right? It seems the R&D funding we gave you is too generous! Okay, I'll deduct half of the money for the water pump!"

The smile on Liang Dahai's face froze instantly, turning into a mournful expression. He almost jumped up: "No, no, no! Master! I was wrong! I was so mean! I deserve a beating!" He slapped his mouth lightly, "That little bit of research and development funds is already tight. If you cut it in half, my water pump will really become a pie in the sky! Master, please forgive me this time!"

Zhang Jingwei looked at him playing tricks and snorted in annoyance, "No need to deduct money, I'll punish you by making you come up with a few more ideas to improve the efficiency of water pumping! Also, go to the human trafficking agency and pick out a few skilled and literate slaves to help you. My water conservancy project depends on your stuff, don't let me down!"

Liang Dahai felt as if he had been pardoned. He bowed repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, young master! Don't worry, young master!" After saying that, he was afraid that Zhang Jingwei would change his mind, so he ran away. He was probably really anxious to go to the human tooth clinic.

Zhang Jingwei looked at Liang Dahai's back and shook his head helplessly. His gaze once again turned to the busy figures downstairs and Ding Xu who was whispering about the reinforcement details with Fang Yue. His eyes became deep.