98 The Light Spear

Zhan Xiaobai entrusted Jian Ba with the task of procuring raw materials and instructed Li Asan to provide health potions and weapons. Jian Ba dispatched dozens of his most trusted men to villages within a thirty-mile radius to begin the procurement. By the time they finished coordinating the mission, it was already late.

These procurement efforts would take several days to show results; there was no room for haste. That evening, Yiqi Yuntian, leader of the Yiqi Gang, hosted a welcoming feast at the tavern, which Zhan Xiaobai and several elders attended. Over a few small dishes, they discussed the latest news from Wuwei. When Zhan Xiaobai mentioned that a player had already learned a general’s ultimate skill, the group was greatly astonished, even expressing a desire to meet this individual to see just how formidable he truly was.

The gathering was pleasant, and the night passed without incident.

At dawn the next day, Zhan Xiaobai rose early, intending to attend to the stack of pending matters from the past few days. As he stepped out of his quarters, he happened to run into Li Asan in the courtyard. Li Asan hurried over and said, "My Lord, I have yet to report on the village's status to you. Do you have a moment?"

Zhan Xiaobai smiled. "Yes. I was just about to find the disabled veteran and the carpenter to figure out how to use the Level 10 weapon synthesis blueprint, so we can start producing Level 10 light spears as soon as possible. Why don’t we discuss it as we walk?"

Li Asan agreed. They exited the administrative courtyard and headed toward the artisan district. Though it was still early, many players were already active within the village.

Walking beside Zhan Xiaobai, Li Asan reported, "There are two matters I must report. First, the grain harvest and expenditures for February. By the end of the month, our village harvested 7,312 jin of grain. Additionally, we had 2,000 jin remaining from the mountain stronghold. After deducting several hundred jin for consumption, as well as the 500 jin sent to the horse bandits and 1,500 jin to Jiang Village, we have approximately 7,000 jin remaining. This is sufficient for the villagers' consumption in March, leaving a surplus of about 1,300 jin. However, once we upgrade to a medium-sized village, if the population surges to 500, this surplus will be nowhere near enough. Furthermore, the yield of small fish in the nearby creek is very limited. Therefore, I suggest we do not immediately recruit new NPC villagers upon upgrading to a medium village, but wait until our grain reserves are more substantial."

Zhan Xiaobai nodded; the grain issue was a headache. Without increasing crop yields, population expansion would remain difficult.

"I have my own plans regarding that. Please, continue."

Li Asan quickly added, "The second matter concerns our taxes, trade balance, and various products. We currently have four categories: potions, woodwork, ironware, and poultry. Woodwork and poultry are primarily for self-sufficiency. The +5 HP potions, iron weapons, wooden shields (+1 defense), and the martial arts school are the pillars of our external trade and generate significant revenue. Expenditures mainly consist of wages for villagers and fees paid to players. Our fiscal status is healthy, with copper reserves holding steady at around 4 strings, and increasing slowly every day..."

Li Asan detailed every aspect of the trade data.

After listening, Zhan Xiaobai said with satisfaction, "You have done well. It has been hard on you lately, balancing village administration with potion making."

Li Asan chuckled. "With you as our leader, setting the example and leading from the front, how could I dare to slack off? You are a man of great ambition, and I will certainly assist you in managing the village to lay the foundation for your future grand cause."

Zhan Xiaobai shook his head and smiled. A grand cause? Indeed, the ambition to contend for the Three Kingdoms was grand, but it required careful, steady development; one wrong step could lead to total failure.

Zhan Xiaobai led the old village chief to the carpenter's workshop to find the carpenter. Then, he brought them to the martial arts school to find the disabled veteran, who was teaching basic swordsmanship to players. He asked the veteran to pause his instruction, and the four of them went to the blacksmith’s courtyard to study the Level 10 weapon synthesis blueprint.

Zhan Xiaobai showed the blueprint to the veteran and the carpenter, asking, "Can this weapon be crafted?"

The disabled veteran took the blueprint as if it were a treasure, inspecting it closely. The carpenter was equally amazed and quickly took it from the veteran to examine it. The two argued and debated for a long while before reaching a conclusion.

The veteran sighed and respectfully returned the blueprint to Zhan Xiaobai. "My Lord, this is the first time either of us has seen such a blueprint. I was a blacksmith by trade, but I only knew how to forge farm tools. It was only in the army that I learned to craft Level 10 iron swords, Level 10 iron knives, and Level 20 iron spears. I know nothing about woodworking. The carpenter here only knows rough carpentry. Whether we can craft a weapon that synthesizes iron and wood remains to be seen. Please give us a moment; we shall begin immediately."

Zhan Xiaobai smiled. "Good, I will stay and watch how you do it."

The veteran and the carpenter set to work. The veteran took a piece of low-quality iron, heated it in the forge, and hammered out the two-foot-long, flat, double-edged light spearhead shown in the blueprint. The carpenter returned to his workshop for tools and a long piece of hardwood, which he fashioned into the thirteen-foot spear shaft depicted in the design.

Both tasks were relatively simple, and since they were merely testing for feasibility rather than seeking perfection, they finished without much strain. The veteran cooled the light spearhead in cold water.

Zhan Xiaobai personally picked up the head and the shaft, trying to assemble them. But as soon as he let go, the two pieces fell apart. Pondering for a moment, he muttered to himself, "Are wood and iron not recognized as a single unit by the system? Perhaps only the crafters can join them. You two try."

Both the veteran and the carpenter tried, but the pieces still would not hold together. They shook their heads in shame.

Zhan Xiaobai was puzzled. "What is going on? How is the Level 10 weapon synthesis blueprint supposed to be used?"

Li Asan, who had been watching anxiously from the side, stepped forward. "My Lord, if I am not mistaken, this likely requires someone who is proficient in both carpentry and blacksmithing to synthesize such a weapon."

Zhan Xiaobai asked, "Someone who has mastered both skills? Where can we find such talent?"

Realizing he could be of great service, Li Asan excitedly smiled. "My Lord may have forgotten that when an artisan's skill reaches an advanced level, they are permitted to take on apprentices. Both the veteran and the carpenter are now advanced artisans. Finding someone to learn both woodworking and blacksmithing is easy. Each advanced artisan is allowed to take three apprentices and pass on all their knowledge. Therefore, we can add three to six new artisans to our village. As for whether we choose three or six, it is a significant matter, so I dare not decide on my own. I leave it to you, My Lord."

Zhan Xiaobai was overjoyed. "Excellent! Asan, find three suitable NPC villagers immediately... no, make it five. Two for woodworking, two for blacksmithing, and one to learn both—that would be the most appropriate combination!"

Li Asan happily went off to recruit the NPC villagers for apprenticeship. Before long, he returned with five young villagers. "My Lord, I have found these five to have the greatest potential."

Zhan Xiaobai personally presided over a simple apprenticeship ceremony.

The five villagers bowed to the disabled veteran and the carpenter, their statuses changing from peasants to apprentice carpenters and apprentice blacksmiths, respectively, as they received training in all the skills of their masters. Naturally, these skills were at the introductory level. One of them was trained in both crafts.

Zhan Xiaobai handed the Level 10 spear blueprint to this individual and instructed him to synthesize the weapon.

With a chime, the blueprint vanished instantly.

As the two pieces were joined, a light spear appeared in the hands of the dual-class artisan. A system notification appeared for the artisan: "Acquired Light Spear Synthesis Skill."

Light Spear: Usable by Level 10 characters, +1 Attack, +1 Piercing. Over thirteen feet long, a medium-weight, two-handed polearm for infantry, weighing about 10 jin. Effective against: Light Cavalry. (Bonus effect: +1 Piercing Attack.)