Chapter 102

Hearing these words, Ye Tao was utterly astonished. He truly couldn't comprehend the hardships of the Dai family beneath their glossy exterior, just like the vast majority of people in this world.

And within Dai Yun's words lay many layers of meaning. The Dai family's independent support of Yun Province had lasted so long that everyone had become somewhat numb to it. Precisely because of this, for the Dai family to make such a decision, the situation in Yun Province must have been dire. That was the first point.

Since the Dai family was resolved to have all their able-bodied members perish alongside the enemy, then Dai Yun, currently in Danyang, was very likely to be the future head of the Dai family, even if she was just a little girl now. This was the second point.

Whether donating horses or building a mansion, the Dai family was, in reality, leaving a fallback for themselves; one could say they were transferring assets. When the able-bodied members of the Dai family all died on the battlefield, when all the Dai family's widows, widowers, elderly, and children asked for was a place to take refuge, a place where they could live off their accumulated wealth, no one could refuse such a request. Using five thousand horses to establish a forward position, winning the goodwill of some people, was just a very preliminary step... even if this gesture was so grand that it made many people green with envy. This was the third point.

Ye Tao sighed and said, "I don't know what to say in this situation. In any case, it's not for me to speak rashly. I've taken your request to heart, Miss. In the planning of the new district, I have some say, and I will definitely secure a good place for you, and I will definitely make this residence worthy of the Dai family."

Dai Yun nodded. Just as she was about to politely express her gratitude, Ye Tao spoke again, "I don't understand what the Dai family has been through, but I admire the Dai family and your determination. However, in any case, the situation hasn't deteriorated to that point yet. Before that day arrives, Dai Yun, you are still a young girl who can enjoy life. And I believe that perhaps you, or perhaps someone else, will find a different path for the Dai family, a better path than the one you described."

For Ye Tao, who had no position to comfort the young Dai Yun, to say this much was already quite difficult. Dai Yun smiled faintly, a flash of gratitude in her eyes. Slightly composing herself, Dai Yun turned to discuss some affairs of the Meng Xue Jun (Fierce Blood Army) with Ye Tao. The entire set of visual identification system for the Meng Xue Jun (Fierce Blood Army) that Ye Tao had designed was quite to Dai Yun's liking. The Fire Kylin Army's symbol was complex and formal, with two long swords crossed in front of a shield emblazoned with a Kylin head. In comparison, the Meng Xue Jun (Fierce Blood Army)'s symbol was much simpler and bolder, looking like a horseshoe filled with saw teeth. After a few glances, almost anyone could scribble out something similar.

Of course, Ye Tao couldn't reveal the truth: The Fire Kylin Army's symbol needed to be modified because everyone was still relatively unfamiliar with the image of lions; the Meng Xue Jun (Fierce Blood Army)'s symbol was simply plagiarized from the Horde symbol in World of Warcraft.

During the conversation, Dai Yun very keenly pointed out the greatest advantages and disadvantages of the current army-building process: "... Young Master Ye, now, various regulations have been successively issued. In reality, looking at these two armies together, it's possible that this is an army that implements competition to the core as never before. There's competition at every level, internal competitions, and comparisons of training results between the two armies, various confrontations, and exercises. With these, coupled with reasonable rewards, such an army cannot but be elite. However, the biggest problem lies here. In such an army, it's absolutely forbidden to openly say that this army will not go to the battlefield. Otherwise, so much competition would be reduced to mere formalities, completely turning into a game. Since the imperial court has allowed the creation of the army, regardless of the nominal reason, the Fire Kylin Army and the Meng Xue Jun (Fierce Blood Army) must aim for real battlefields. At that time, those who are afraid of death and don't want to really go to the battlefield can be eliminated, but the army must be able to win, to die... From the looks of it now, from the people I've chosen, I'm afraid that if there were such an opportunity, everyone would go crazy."

Dai Yun's words made Ye Tao nod inwardly. Imagine if the training methods that everyone was working together to develop could be implemented, and in one or two years, with the systems of the two armies perfected and the officers fully equipped, it would be a waste of resources if such an army didn't go to the battlefield. Such a decision didn't have to come from him, but it was possible to control the direction of the discourse in training and daily management.

After Dai Yun left, Tan Weixin and Tan Weiming, who had been hiding in the small reference room separated from Ye Tao's studio, came out. They had heard the entire conversation. At this moment, although Tan Weixin still maintained her usual calm demeanor, Tan Weiming was already somewhat worried. Clearly, the situation of the Dai family and Yun Province that Dai Yun had spoken of earlier made him a little uneasy.

"I hope that was just the old people of the Dai family speaking out of temporary fatigue and impulse, but it seems that what Dai Yun said may be true." Hiding in the compartment for a while, long enough for a pot of tea Tan Weixin had placed on the small table to cool down. Although the weather was getting warmer, Tan Weixin still preferred hot tea. While watching her younger brother pour her tea, Tan Weixin pondered and said.

"What would happen if Yun Province didn't have the Dai family?... Would Yun Province be merged into my Dongping?" Tan Weiming asked.

"If Yun Province were merged into Dongping, Dongping would have to support more than 100,000 border cavalry to cope with the annual harassment of the northern barbarians. Moreover, without Yun Province, there would be no buffer for the resources of several countries. Do you think that, given our relationship with Xiling and Beiliao, those specialties on the market are directly traded normally? They are either smuggled or pass through Yun Province. Smuggling can solve the problem temporarily, but the quantity of goods is ultimately limited. Yun Province is useful at this time." Tan Weixin shook her head as she spoke, "I took it for granted. I thought that Yun Province's many transit businesses every year must be extremely prosperous, but I didn't expect them to have so many difficulties. It seems that those spies in Yun Province aren't very useful."

Tan Weiming suddenly asked, "Isn't Dai Yun a senior disciple of Lian Ye Jian (Lotus Leaf Sword) Peng Ji? Although we were in the compartment, we were just not speaking, not deliberately holding our breath. Didn't she know we were here?"

Tan Weixin and Ye Tao exchanged a smile and immediately understood. What Dai Yun needed was to bring her words to someone whose words carried weight. As for how to bring them, and through whom, it didn't matter. Dai Yun thought that since she was in Ye Tao's studio and Ye Tao didn't introduce them, their identities must be important and distinguished, but she didn't expect that she could directly convey her opinions to the ears of Tan Weiming and Tan Weixin at the same time.

"Forget it, anyway, Dai Yun has said what she wanted to say. You and Father can discuss this matter. I estimate that everyone will have a headache." Tan Weixin lightly said, leaving her younger brother, who was still waiting for her opinion, dumbfounded.

After Dai Yun had that rather intimate conversation with Ye Tao, Dai Yun felt that she had suddenly entered a circle, a circle she had never expected before.

From this day on, she learned that besides various machines, Ye's Workshop had so many tricks. Ye's Workshop was trying to develop not only various crafts but also many things related to daily life, clothing, food, housing, and transportation, as well as many fun gadgets. The various methods and tools for storing things were amazing. Ye's IKEA followed the strategy of turning the house upside down and producing everything that would fall from the ceiling. The understanding and imagination of life from another time and space had long shocked and influenced this world countless times, and this influence was still expanding, deepening, and continuing.

What was even more peculiar was that Dai Yun quickly became one of the few testers of the Spirit Illusion Chess, which had been revised several times but had never been popularized, and which was possibly more complex than the Army Chess grand strategy game. In that magnificent world constructed with imagination, there were dragons and magic, and unimaginable types of soldiers and skills. Pioneers, including Tan Weixin and Tan Weiming, had even used air-land integrated tactics in the game...

Dai Yun, who didn't think she had a deep friendship with Her Highness Princess Zhaohua, began to receive trial products of things that were about to be launched on the market from some industries operated by the Inner Bureau. For example, dried meat and meat floss from the "Mei Zhen Xiang" (Beautiful and Fragrant), which was being prepared. Although the entire process was researched with the assistance of Ye Tao, the operation of the industry was entirely handled by the Inner Bureau, which had already tasted the sweetness of the food and chain catering industries. The delicious dried meat was priced extremely low, and the meat floss would become the main breakfast food paired with pan-fried buns and white porridge in the Feng Yu Sheng Jian (Abundant and Prosperous Pan-fried Buns), which had already been spread out in several major cities in Dongping. There was also news that a series of industries related to daily life jointly run by Ye Tao and Tan Weixin were being prepared one after another. Industries that slightly improved the existing processes, such as cloth, wool, spices, printing and dyeing, papermaking, and printing, would sooner or later achieve one thing: every household would have products related to Ye's and the Inner Bureau.

Tan Weixin's business acumen could be seen in these details. As communication increased, Dai Yun learned more things. For example, the Federal Express, which had now become synonymous with reliability, stability, and speed, was actually an industry of the Inner Bureau. This most advanced logistics company of this era, composed of retired veterans, ordered 1,200 horses from Dai Yun in one go. At Tan Weixin's suggestion, a manager from Federal Express visited Dai Yun, and Dai Yun also cooperated by having her old family member Dai Shizong help Federal Express set up a passenger and cargo route from Danyang to Suian City, where Yunhai Manor was located, and then to Huining City, the largest and most important city in Yun Province. With thorough preparation, the first operation set the fastest record of 18 days for cargo transportation and 22 days for passenger transportation. This speed was comparable to the 400-li express couriers who often traveled this road to transmit various intelligence. What was even more interesting was that the net profit of this route, settled every three months, allowed the Dai family to share 15%.

What Dai Yun needed to worry about was how to transfer the Dai family's assets to Dongping in various ways and be recognized and protected. Although this 15% profit wasn't much, it wasn't a bad thing to have more money. This 15% profit actually represented the Dai family's cooperation with the upper echelons of Dongping on another level, which was the key. Vaguely, Dai Yun seemed to see another path.

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