His Majesty is plotting a rebellion? Quickly, summon the Imperial Advisor!

"System, my charm value has exceeded 200, but it doesn't seem to be of much use?"

Xu Bing's gaze focused on the "Charm" category. He frowned slightly, pondered for a few seconds, and couldn't help but ask himself a question.

Whether you are an ordinary person or a Qi cultivator, the maximum charm value is 100.

It's said to be one hundred.

In fact, 80 or 90 is already top-tier. Those who can reach this score have almost perfected their facial features and physique, making them extremely rare.

Most people are around forty or fifty years old.

Those over sixty can be considered handsome and pleasing to the eye.

His perfect mortal body is destined to have no upper limit, causing his charm value to keep rising.

While his charm level may be increasing, his appearance can never change.

The nose is still the same nose, and the eyes are still the same eyes.

He was puzzled as to where this charm value of over 100 would manifest itself.

[The continuous increase in charm will primarily manifest in the atmosphere, the aura emanating from one's body, and other aspects.]

The system provides the answer.

Xu Bing pinched his chin and nodded secretly.

That's... somewhat reasonable.

To be honest, Xu Bing still felt that a charm level of around 80 was sufficient.

He would rather increase his prestige than his charm.

……

"Receive the spell!"

【Ding! 】

[Congratulations, host! You have acquired the spell: Fireball]

Fireball is the most basic spell for Qi cultivators, but for Xu Bing, who lacks offensive spells, it is a lifesaver.

Wind Blade Technique, Fireball Technique, Invisibility Technique, and the Eye of Insight...

Xu Bing's cultivation of Qi has reached a basic level. He's just lacking in footwork and defensive techniques.

He looked out the window at the falling snow.

He silently clenched his fist.

We're finally starting to get back on track, little by little.

However, he still has a long way to go; his goal is to build an immortal kingdom.

Moreover, it is an unparalleled immortal kingdom!

However, it's too early to talk about these things now. For him, there's only one thing to do right now.

Let the people have enough to eat, and let the Great Xi be free from war.

and also……

Make the Empress obedient.

……

"Your Majesty, that's how it was during the day."

Song Si and Ji Yuan recounted the events of the day.

She has now become Ji Yuan's informant.

It was also the only way for Ji Yuan, who was bound and unable to move, to learn about news from the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion.

"Trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust?"

"He certainly has great courage, but... why didn't I notice it before?"

Ji Yuan muttered to himself.

Listening to the various events happening in the mansion, her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat.

Moreover, Xu Bing hasn't come to see her in the past few days, which should have made her happy, since she always gets humiliated every time Xu Bing comes.

But this sudden neglect made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

In addition, there were Song Si's daily reports.

This made her even more curious about the man she clearly hated and was somewhat afraid of.

……

Time flies.

This week has already passed.

The snow in Daehee is getting heavier, and the weather is getting colder.

The farmers of Da Xi mostly work in the spring and summer and rest in the autumn and winter.

Because of limited soil fertility, most places only harvest grains once a year.

Productivity was already low.

They also face layers of taxation.

Life was tough.

For most people, there is no winter without hunger.

However, the work in Tan Village never stopped.

Under the aura of Xu Bing, those two thousand acres of farmland could still grow normally even in the cold winter.

Counting the days, the two thousand mu of farmland in Tan Village have been sown for half a month. The millet in the fields is growing well and full of vitality, showing no signs of decline despite the cold weather.

When Xu Binglai came to inspect the fields, there were many farmers dressed in their clothes, working hard and singing folk songs.

Upon seeing this, Xu Bing frowned, called over a farmer, and asked them why they didn't wear more clothes, as the weather was rather cold.

The farmer replied that he was afraid of getting his clothes dirty.

Xu Bing nodded upon hearing this and silently made a mental note of it.

He continued to inspect the fields.

Farmers were busy in the fields, and several wooden houses had been built nearby. Women were cooking and starting fires inside, while children were helping out.

Some of the older ones were busy with miscellaneous tasks.

For farmers, as long as they can have enough to eat every day, they are willing to do anything.

"They are such simple and honest people."

Xu Bing inspected the area and gained some insights.

Perhaps these farmers are genuinely grateful to Xu Bing, because Tan Village's harvest this year was not good, and they were supposed to go hungry this winter.

When Xu Bing arrived, he not only brought bedding, but also provided them with fine grains.

White rice!

We only get to eat this once a year during the Lunar New Year.

Now we eat every day, all we can eat!

It is precisely because I feel indebted that I work even harder and more diligently in order to repay them.

However, Xu Bing felt that he had failed these people.

It's really tough to have to work in the fields in the dead of winter.

The grains in the fields of Tan Village were not yet ripe. Xu Bing went to check on the upstream water source and, after confirming that everything was alright, headed towards Tan Tan Mountain.

Large quantities of iron ore were mined and piled on the ground, covered with a layer of snow.

Although he did not weigh it specifically, Xu Bing estimated that he currently had about 700,000 jin of iron ore, which would amount to 420,000 jin if all of it were smelted into pig iron.

A complete set of Level 1 armor can cover 80% of the body.

It weighs approximately 20 kilograms.

Taking into account the losses during the forging process, it takes at least 30 kilograms of pig iron, or 60 jin, to forge a set of first-class armor.

At that time, Xu Bing's thousand private soldiers, each equipped with a set of iron, would have 60,000 catties of pig iron.

Currently, iron ore production is still sufficient.

However, for now, let's not forget that Xu Bing also mastered the iron smelting process.

If this process is used, pig iron can be refined into refined iron.

It takes ten pounds of pig iron to forge one pound of refined iron!

If we were to forge first-class armor from refined iron, it would require a full 600,000 catties of pig iron for a thousand people.

However, it takes time to forge pig iron into refined iron, and Xu Bing does not plan to touch this module at present. He needs to improve the strength of the army as quickly as possible, and then gradually refine it.

His current plan is to first ensure that all private soldiers have armor, and then gradually upgrade their equipment.

Seeing that the iron ore reserves were temporarily sufficient, Xu Bing ordered the men in charge of mining at Tantan Mountain to temporarily stop the mining work and put it on hold.

A man's face turned pale, and he knelt down before Xu Bing, "Grand Preceptor, you don't want us anymore?"

As soon as these words came out.

The nearly one hundred men all looked terrified, their smiles frozen in place.

Work at sunrise, and rest at sunset.

Every meal consisted of plain white rice.

During breaks, I chatted with my coworkers; there were no arrogant supervisors, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Where can you find such a great job?

It's like a paradise!

Their faces were ashen, as if they were about to return to the past, enduring the bitter cold and the worst winter.

Watching family members starve or freeze to death.

Xu Bing chuckled and said, "Don't worry, your treatment will remain the same. You can rest for a few days and then go do other work."

The words fell.

The hundred or so men in charge of the mining all burst out laughing.

As long as there's work to do and food to eat, that's enough.

Feeling the simple and honest folk customs of Tan Village, Xu Bing was also tempted.

Perhaps... he could set up a school in Tan Village.

Let some gentlemen come over and impart some principles of life and simple knowledge.

If possible, we can also find some craftsmen and teach them a few skills.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Xu Bing left Tan Village and headed towards Futian.

The two locations are neither too far apart nor too close, and are connected by a secret passage.

It has the feel of a secret base for Xu Bing.

And it really was his secret base.

The yield of the nine mu was normal. The ten mu of land, which was covered by advanced agricultural products, matured twice, with a yield of "700 jin" per mu. The remaining thirty mu matured only once, with a yield of "600 jin" per mu.

The total is 265 shi of rice.

Xu Bing's rice granary now holds a total of 560 shi (a unit of dry measure) of rice.

It's already quite a fortune.

Xu Bing's lips curled up slightly; this joy of a bountiful harvest was something others could hardly comprehend.

"Lord Gongzhong, how are the defenses of Tancun and Futian progressing?"

Xu Bing looked at Gong Zhonghou, who had grown much stronger, and slowly asked.

At this time, Gong Zhonghou was much stronger than before, both in complexion and physique.

But the more this is the case, the more...

The more she looked at the man before her, the more she feared him as if he were a god.

He wished he could turn himself into dust.

It's a complete and utter admiration.