CHAPTER 474: CHAPTER 386 KINGDOM OF SILVERMANE_1

Silver Mane announced his impending coronation by the nobles to the world. He also sent invitations to all allied noble territories, asking them to attend the ceremony.

Dawnspirit City was once again preparing for a celebration.

Conveniently, Silver Mane had hosted a wedding not long ago, so many items could be reused. After all, with only three days to prepare, there wasn’t much time for meticulous arrangements.

Silver Mane wasn’t concerned about these details. He only wanted to make the situation irreversible as quickly as possible, to prevent any interference or obstruction.

Meanwhile, Silver Mane’s former wife, Elina, arrived at Dawnspirit City upon learning this news.

Elina was the daughter of Marquis Delma, a very influential noble within the Gryphon Heart Empire and also the commander of one of the Empire’s main legions.

This marriage had been a political alliance, a means for the Empire to maintain stability in the Silvermane Principality.

But now, Silver Mane had higher ambitions. So, he ended his marriage with Elina to marry Karol, who could bring him more benefits.

When Elina came to offer her congratulations, Silver Mane had no choice but to welcome her into the palace.

Silver Mane feared Elina might cause trouble around Dawnspirit City, and also because she was the mother of many of his children.

Moreover, Silver Mane did have some affection for his former wife and felt a degree of guilt towards her.

With Elina’s entry into the palace, Yan Xing sensed a whiff of conspiracy.

It seems young Kaiya is about to make his move.

Yan Xing hadn’t told Karol about instigating Kaiya. Firstly, he didn’t know if Kaiya would ultimately dare to kill Silver Mane. Secondly, he didn’t want Karol, if she knew, to inadvertently reveal anything.

It all depends on Kaiya’s performance now. We just need to be calm spectators.

During these three days, Yan Xing met with visitors as usual and then held meetings to plan the establishment of the Eternal Highway Company.

After the rainy season, the Eternal Domain would launch a counter-offensive across the Wildwind Highlands. Highland City could be temporarily left to the Orcs, but Storm City absolutely had to be reclaimed.

Once the land routes were open, the Eternal Domain’s external trade would proceed via both air and land.

Bulk commodities like grain could then be transported from the Wildwind Highlands in large quantities by land.

Only when grain could be shipped out would the Eternal Domain’s Grain Tickets gain acceptance.

Roads are the foundation of logistics.

Good roads and low transit fees can significantly reduce costs.

Only when money flows quickly on the roads can it generate even more money.

Additionally, as the Eternal Domain grew, its consumption of resources would also increase, requiring a transfusion of resources from the wider world.

This, too, would depend on roads.

The Eternal Highway Company was raising substantial funds. The initial plan was to construct six main arterial roads—three north-south and three east-west—within the Silvermane Principality. Subsequently, branch roads would be built, connecting to these main arteries.

The goal was to ensure that every town-level settlement was encompassed by this highway network.

Furthermore, there was a plan to construct an expressway. It would start in the north at the Royal Court of Snowland, pass through Frostleaf City, Bloodcrown Mountain City, the Eternal Domain, Nuta City, and Storm City, ultimately connecting to Dawnspirit City.

This expressway would be paved with cement, an alchemical product developed by the Eternal Domain, and would be ten meters wide.

Using alchemical products to build roads!

The shareholders of the Eternal Highway Company were stunned by the expressway Yan Xing intended to build.

They also realized the formidable alchemical prowess and financial strength Thunderous Swamp possessed.

Could Cloud Tower build roads using alchemical products? Apparently not... it was unheard of.

But could Thunderous Swamp survive the war?

Someone asked Yan Xing such a question.

Yan Xing replied, "You should all see that this highway network cannot be built in a short time. The Eternal Domain’s development plans have never focused solely on immediate objectives.

"In our view, a three-to-five-year plan is merely short-term. Our long-term plans look ten, twenty years ahead, or even further.

"The execution of our plans will not be altered by unforeseen incidents. This war is not significant enough to make Thunderous Swamp abandon its development.

"I invited you all to join because I am looking for partners to usher in a new era together, not to act as nannies for ’children’ who only want guaranteed profits without any risk.

"If you want to earn money, if you want to establish a foundation that your families can benefit from for generations, then you must contribute all your abilities.

"Accelerate the construction of the highway network. Thwart any enemies who try to obstruct us.

"That is what you should be doing, not asking me... whether Thunderous Swamp can win."

Yan Xing had developed the Eternal Domain to its current scale not by tapping into his own internal potential, nor by exploiting his subjects, but by consistently leveraging external forces.

He constantly integrated these external forces into his own network of interests, using the financial and material resources of others to contribute to his domain’s development.

Although it appeared Yan Xing was conceding many benefits, he actually gained more in return.

These new shareholders in the Eternal Highway Company were collaborators Yan Xing had carefully selected.

Some were nobles with their own territories; others were wealthy merchants with expertise in certain fields.

Their involvement would simplify land acquisition for the highways and make it easier to conscript labor for construction.

More importantly, they had to pay...

Most of this money would be converted into raw materials for road construction, ultimately ending up in Yan Xing’s pocket.

He was effectively using other people’s money to buy his own materials and build his own roads.

Yan Xing’s impassioned speech made the shareholders truly understand the "strength" Thunderous Swamp possessed.