Chen Yu was quite familiar with Kailin’s temperament.
Since she had asked so mysteriously,
He believed the population increase during this period must have been a colossal number.
"Eighty thousand?"
Meeting Kailin’s expectant gaze, Chen Yu stated a number he thought was relatively conservative.
This was the art of language.
Kailin was already so expectant that the population growth would evidently be significant; Chen Yu estimated it to be around 100,000, but could he say that?
No!
It was akin to a student who performed poorly academically suddenly having an exceptional day and excitedly wanting to share their joy with their parents.
If the parents immediately mentioned a score of 100, how would the child feel?
Their mood for sharing would plummet instantly.
Over time, unable to receive emotional feedback from their parents, they would become weary of extensive communication, even hiding things worth sharing.
They would feel it was pointless to say anything!
Chen Yu treated Kailin this way; he wanted to provide emotional feedback so that she would be more willing to share the city’s development with him in the future, rather than their relationship becoming a rigid superior-subordinate dynamic.
"Heh, Camp Leader, try thinking higher."
Kailin's eyes shone with even greater anticipation.
"Ah? Eighty thousand isn't enough?" Chen Yu feigned surprise, frowning as he probed, "Don't tell me our city’s population has already surpassed ninety thousand?"
"Keep thinking!"
"This is already very high. It’s only been a few days, I really can't think of it. Why don't you just tell me?"
"One hundred thousand plus."
Kailin spread her ten fingers, her eyes brimming with unconcealable joy.
In just a few short days,
The city’s population had grown from over 50,000 to over 100,000. The average daily increase was about 10,000, an extremely terrifying number.
"So many."
Chen Yu exclaimed with disbelief.
"It’s all thanks to your excellent strategies, Camp Leader." Kailin looked at Chen Yu with adoration in her eyes. "It’s estimated that our city's population will break 200,000 soon, and then our city won’t be a city, but a Level 3 town!!!"
Town.
Hearing this word, Chen Yu also felt a surge of excitement.
This population number was almost equivalent to that of a small county town. Chen Yu had only been in the underground for a few months and was about to own a county town.
It was quite thrilling to think about!
"Did you hear that, Fang Xiu?" Chen Yu said softly, glancing sideways. "Our city will soon have a population of over 200,000. Your commercial district needs to speed up its expansion." wap.kanshuwu.net
"Camp Leader, you're truly a monster."
Fang Xiu, standing nearby, couldn't help but sigh.
How could development be like this?
The population increased by several thousand every day, and he was under immense pressure to manage the city’s construction. However, he could understand. He had also learned a lot about the underground from the city's beast-men during this time. Chen Yu's promotion of freedom and democracy was indeed a significant impact on the underground.
"Expanding the commercial district is simple; the residential district is the real problem,"
Fang Xiu couldn't help but press his forehead. "Our residential areas have been insufficient lately. We’ve built so many makeshift shelters. I have to… I’ll go supervise it."
"Fang Xiu, you've worked very hard."
Kailin sighed softly as she watched Fang Xiu’s retreating back.
"You have all worked hard," Chen Yu murmured solemnly. "The city's current scale is the result of all your diligent efforts."
"I haven't worked hard at all,"
Kailin smiled gracefully, her eyes full of light.
"I am fortunate to be able to follow the Camp Leader, witness and participate in all of this firsthand. Our city provides a warm home for refugees and slaves. Seeing displaced people find a haven here, I am happy even if I work harder and endure more hardship."
"Yes, it is truly a blessing to be able to provide a home for them,"
Chen Yu also sighed softly.
The desire to fight for this city stemmed from his witnessing the suffering slaves. From that moment, he knew he had to do something.
Although his strength was limited, he should still do what he could.
Now, this city had become a sanctuary for survivors, refugees, slaves, and natives. While Chen Yu felt immense relief, he also felt the heavy burden on his shoulders.
It was weighty, but not without happiness.
He felt he had done something meaningful. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the city's people, the smiles of fellow survivors, the light radiating from the faces of the slaves.
Everything was worth it.
"Kailin, since the commercial district can now be put into use, please start arranging for merchants to enter," Chen Yu said softly. "We will provide some vendors from within. It will be hard work, but please send people to publicize in surrounding cities to attract merchants to open shops in our city, strengthening our city’s vitality."
"No problem."
Kailin nodded slightly, her gaze deepening as she whispered.
"Then, when will we officially put it into use? This is the first time our city's commercial district is being used. I think we should have a ribbon-cutting ceremony, what do you think?"
"Good."
"Then I'll go make arrangements now."
After bidding farewell to Kailin, Chen Yu inspected the city a couple more times. Looking at the buildings that were rising, and the city dwellers who were sweating with smiles on their faces, he felt an unstoppable sense of contentment.
After wandering around, Chen Yu returned to the camp.
On the way back, Fang Xiu's words kept echoing in his mind.
It was indeed a problem.
The city's internal population growth was too rapid, putting immense pressure on the residential areas and greatly increasing construction pressure. Although new arrivals were all channeled into city construction, it was still a struggle.
"When the population exceeds 200,000, perhaps we should slow down a bit."
Sighing inwardly, Chen Yu habitually walked to the rattan chair and sat down. This was probably the place Chen Yu spent the most time, and many of the city's policies originated from here.
Currently, the city's population had surpassed that of a Level 1 city.
It was on the verge of becoming a Level 3 town.
If development continued smoothly, it might not be impossible to reach Level 2 town within half a year. It was time for Chen Yu to consider the certification process.
No matter how well his city developed, it was ultimately an isolated city.
He needed recognition from the kingdom.
This would also help avoid many conflicts. Currently, his enemies were small encampments, not worth mentioning. But a city like his, developing so rapidly without certification, could attract the attention of larger factions. How would he cope?
Leaning on a big tree for shade was beneficial; obtaining certification was indeed necessary.
But, no rush!
Joining the kingdom meant abiding by the kingdom's laws. Chen Yu still had too many things undone. At the very least, before joining the kingdom, shouldn't he plunder all the surrounding encampments he could?
Otherwise, wouldn't that be a huge loss?
Anyway, he was currently a wild city, a barbarian as it were, unrestrained by morality or law, doing as he pleased.
Everything would wait until Heiqiu and the others awakened.
Once they woke up, he would let them go out and snatch a good haul.
"Camp Leader, what has you so happy?" Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice drifted over. The voice sounded both familiar and unfamiliar.
He instinctively looked sideways, and then he saw Hei Lu's large eyes staring directly at him.
Instantly, Chen Yu’s eyes widened in a startled cry.
"You, when did you wake up?"