Law of the Devil

Du Wei was full of pride and ambition. After all, as a man, he suddenly had a province in his hands, a large territory, and thousands of people. With power in hand, it is inevitable that there will be a kind of pride that wants to do a big job.

However, he faced many problems.

In terms of finances, although Du Wei is not short of money now, but from the past, there are indeed a lot of places to spend money! Without the extortion from the Nanyang United Kingdom, it really wouldn't last long just relying on the income from the business in the imperial capital.

The geographical location of the Desa Province is considered to be the most frontier in the northwest of the empire.

The Kilimaro Mountains to the west of the Roland Great Lu are like a natural barrier, running through the Great Lu from north to south, stretching for thousands of miles.

This is the western barrier of the empire.

But just here in the northwest, there is a small "gap" in the Kilimaro Mountains.

This gap is the only one on the Kilimaro Mountains and is called the "Northwest Corridor".

This northwest corridor is also the only way for the empire to reach the deserts and grasslands in the northwest. The entire Northwest Corridor pierces the Kilimaro Mountains...not a narrow path, but a big gap.

This corridor is tens of kilometers long, the widest part is ten miles, and the narrowest part is the entrance of the corridor facing the desert in the northwest, which is also more than two miles wide.

It can be said that the Kilimaro Mountains blocked most of the wind and sand in the northwest for this continent, and also blocked the alien races on the grassland behind the desert.

And this gap is a strategic location!

When Du Wei first came to this world when he was young, he had read some geographical information. At that time, he naively felt that the situation in the Northwest was not difficult to solve.

As long as a city or a large military fortress is built on the location of the northwest corridor, some troops are stationed all year round, and this corridor is firmly controlled...then why worry?

But later, Du Wei realized that his thoughts were too naive!

Building a city wall on this gap, or a city like a military fortress... This kind of idea is really absurd. Because there's a big problem here: water!

People need water, horses need water!

Not to mention the big ones, even if you build a military fortress that can only accommodate 20,000 troops... Where will the daily water for 20,000 people come from?

There are no running water pipes in this world! The Northwest is an arid land, with few rivers and dry conditions for most of the year. It is only slightly relieved during the rainy season. In most places, only wells can be used to collect water.

What's more difficult is that the Northwest Corridor is a gap in the Kilimaro Mountains! Geologically speaking, there are layers of rock below the ground! Not to mention rivers, even if you want to dig a well to get groundwater, you can't do it!

If a military fortress is built here, the water for tens of thousands of soldiers can only be transported by carts and horses every day!

It is impossible for a person to not drink water for a day! Especially in such an arid region!

Drinking water for tens of thousands of people is transported by horses every day...it's scary to think about it!

It is simply impossible!

Therefore, building a defensive military fortress in the Northwest Corridor is simply empty talk.

The empire's approach is to establish several small-scale checkpoints along this corridor. In this way, once something happens, these checkpoints can serve as a warning. By the way, these checkpoints belong to the Northwest Army.

And out of this northwest corridor, there is a desert outside, and behind the desert is the alien race in the grassland.

And inside... is Du Wei's Desa province!

Du Wei knew very well that given the seemingly incompatible relationship between the Northwest Army and the Empire, and the fact that he just came to the Northwest, don't expect the checkpoints in the Northwest Corridor to protect him!

In fact, he has always suspected that the Northwest Army actually colluded with the aliens on the grassland and the horse thieves in the desert!

In this way, the province of Desa is almost unreservedly exposed to the minions of hostile forces! Although it was too barren before, neither horse thieves nor grassland aliens seemed to have much interest in this place.

But now that I am here, if I want to do something big, the first thing is to solve my own defense problem!

In Du Wei's view, the geographical location of the capital city of Giliar City made him dissatisfied. This city is far away from the northwest corridor and backed by mountains. It is safe, but neither the transportation hub nor the coverage of the entire Desa province is enough to take on the heavy responsibility of the capital city.

Now that the maintenance of this city has been given up, and a new city has been decided to be built, Du Wei searched on the map for a long time, and finally selected a place.

Loulan!

This name is the same as a legendary city in the Western Regions that Du Wei knew in his previous life, but the difference here is that Loulan is the name of a lake.

Loulan Lake.

Walking through the northwest corridor to the imperial capital, it is facing the main road that must pass through. This is a very good place. In the northwest region, it is very rare to have such a lake.

Yes, and the area of ​​the lake is not small, and the snow water flowing down from Mount Kilimaro all the year round replenishes the water source.

Many caravans going to and from the northwest will choose to pass by here, replenish the water source of the caravan in this lake, and then move on.

If there is a water source, there is no need to drink the somewhat bitter groundwater. According to Du Wei's previous knowledge, the reason why the groundwater in this area is bitter is that it often contains some harmful substances to the human body.

"We will build the new capital city here!" After Du Wei pointed out the location on the map, everyone in front of him frowned.

"My lord." The first person to speak was Philip, Du Wei's promising future staff member, who has become more and more confident: "My lord, with all due respect, if we build a new city, the cost will probably be a hundred dollars."

Astronomical figures..."

"Don't worry about finances." Du Wei said lightly: "Fortunately, everything is lacking here, but stones are the most indispensable. It is not difficult to use local materials.

If the city is built, it is estimated that we will need about 4 million gold coins, which already includes the cost of immigration and relocation after construction. In this ghost place in the northwest, everything is very cheap.

This is a good place. If it weren't for the financial constraints here in the northwest, I'm afraid a new city would have been built here long ago. "

"I don't doubt your wealth." Philip shook his head: "A few million gold coins, I believe you can afford it with your financial resources, but what I am worried about is a series of problems in the future..."

After speaking, Philip stood up, walked to the map, and pointed at it: "I have three concerns. First, if you can see that this place is a transportation hub, my lord, then others can see it too.

Come out, the Northwest Aliens, the Northwest Army, they are not stupid! Once a new city is built here, it will be a threat to them all, because the establishment of a new city by the Loulan Lake will allow you to travel to Northwest Desa.

The control of the province is strengthened... and the control of the water source, such a transportation hub, they will not be willing to be firmly grasped by you. Second... my lord, we have just arrived in the northwest.

The administration has not been completely mastered, and after the establishment of the new city, the problem of immigration and relocation will be a big problem. We are seriously short of manpower. The problem of relocation alone requires a large number of officials to work

, and we... what we lack most now is people! And the third..."

Philip said cautiously: "The problem of labor, my lord!" He sighed: "The population in the northwest is originally sparse, and our Desa Province has a population of less than 800,000. In my opinion, building

Such a city needs at least tens of thousands of workers! What about the time... Optimistically, it will take at least two years to complete. We can't recruit so much labor in the Northwest, and if we forcibly recruit

In other words, I'm afraid... such a heavy labor will cause civil disobedience, and we don't have enough energy. There are only a few thousand people, and it is difficult to control the entire province. In terms of food...we don't have any

Prepare food to feed tens of thousands of laborers. Don't forget that the Northwest is a food production area. "

Du Wei waited quietly for Philip to finish speaking. Du Wei was not angry that this guy opposed his plan. He felt that an excellent staff should think from different angles at all times

The problem, what he needs is not the kind of a sycophant.

"There are many questions, Philip, and you are right." Du Wei tapped his fingers on the map lightly: "But what if I tell you that I am going to create a miracle?"

Du Wei paused for a moment, looking at his team, including the loyal Robert Knight, General Longbottom, Lao Yan, George Busha, and a few disciples of Lan Hai.

"Three months!" Du Wei said with a smile: "I calculated that I need about 5,000 people, and 5,000 people are enough. After three months, you will see a new city appear in this place!"

Everyone was too shocked to speak.

Three months to build a new city? What a joke!

"Have you forgotten my other identity?" Du Wei smiled: "I am a magician, and magicians are usually called people who perform miracles."