Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1337 621: I Get to Call the Shots_4

"Alright, alright..." Xie Laizi spoke without much confidence, "Let's not rush things, Seventh Master. How many people are you planning to give me? I need to see if the accommodations will suffice."

Li Banfeng replied, "You know what accommodations you've arranged, so let's talk after I've had a look!"

"There's no rush, it can be viewed anytime. Let's deal with that thing first..."

Before Xie Laizi could finish, Liang Wucui walked over to Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, I'm very familiar with Brother Xie's territory. Let me take you there."

"Alright, let's go." Li Banfeng picked up Liang Wucui and was about to set off when Xie Laizi stopped him: "Seventh Master, I'm not ready yet. As I said earlier, I appreciate your intentions."

Everyone nodded together, "We all feel the same way. These Three-Headed Monsters are your people, Seventh Master. We can't let them go hungry and cold."

Li Banfeng put down Liang Wucui, looked at everyone, and said very seriously, "They are not monsters, nor are they my subordinates. They are my brothers and sisters. I can't bear to see them suffer."

As he said this, everyone around turned to look. The Three-Headed People wondered if they heard wrong: Li Qi actually called them brothers and sisters.

Li Banfeng looked at the group of Local Deities and continued, "Please, go back and tidy up your territories. Once everything is ready, come find me to discuss matters."

Sha Dingzhong wanted to explain further, but suddenly someone shouted: "Seventh Master, we're ready. We have food and lodging and will not treat our friends unfairly."

Li Banfeng smiled and called over Bai Shoulian: "I know a culinary expert, and I've always wanted to introduce them to you. This is the person I've been talking about."

The cook arrived.

Bai Shoulian hurried over to greet him, exchanging a few courtesies. The cook then got to the point: "Our young lady has already prepared everything, from food to lodging, and we're just waiting for you all to come."

The cook was one of Meng Yuchun's people, and Meng Yuchun also had her eye on the Three-Headed People.

Li Banfeng first let the cook rest for a while and then returned to Portable Residence, heading straight to the station.

Meng Yuchun's territory was adjacent to Li Banfeng's, and his territory had a station, a big one that could stop for an hour.

Li Banfeng went to Meng Yuchun's territory without exchanging pleasantries and directly asked, "What do you want the Three-Headed People for?"

"Pioneering!" Meng Yuchun answered very honestly, "I also want to turn my territory into Proper Land!"

"Have you considered it thoroughly? You should think clearly about the consequences."

"I haven't thought much about the consequences, and thinking too much is useless. Qiu Luoye didn't think much initially, yet he accomplished what he did. If I keep pondering here, I might miss this opportunity."

"Alright, take me to see the accommodations you've prepared for the Three-Headed People."

Meng Yuchun took Li Banfeng to an open space beside the Maple Forest, where she had built over five hundred wooden houses.

Li Banfeng asked, "Did the Strange Monsters on your territory help you build this?"

Meng Yuchun shook her head: "Are you joking? Why would I ask the Strange Monsters here to build houses for the Pioneers?

Who among them would want to do such a thing? I asked Zhang Wanlong to do it; he's got quite a number of people."

Indeed, quite a number—it's enough to cultivate over a hundred plots of land in an acre.

Meng Yuchun then opened the warehouse: "The grain is also purchased from Zhang Wanlong, enough to feed two thousand people for a month. Once it's depleted, I'll buy more from him. We don't just have grain, but also offer wine and meat."

Li Banfeng was very satisfied with Meng Yuchun's preparations. He took out the Contract Book he had written in Portable Residence.

Meng Yuchun took a look at the Contract Book and hesitated for a moment.

"Are you afraid?" Li Banfeng prepared to take back the Contract Book.

Meng Yuchun pressed down on the Contract Book: "I'm not afraid; I'll sign!"

After pressing her handprint in blood, the matter was settled. Meng Yuchun asked Li Banfeng, "How many people do you plan to give me?"

"Three thousand. I'll send the people over after the New Year." Li Banfeng donned his jacket and left Meng Yuchun's territory.

...

Upon hearing the number three thousand, Sha Dingzhong and the group of Local Deities became restless.

Li Banfeng urged these Local Deities to quickly go back and tidy up their territories, but they wouldn't listen, insisting that Li Banfeng give them an explanation.

The allure of three thousand Three-Headed People is enormous, as the efficiency for pioneering would be quite significant. More importantly, these three thousand can directly gather enough human energy to turn a New Land into Proper Land, just like Qi Qiu City.

Sha Dingzhong said: "Seventh Master, you say our preparation wasn't thorough. We admit that. We've come all this way and didn't bring a single person back. With a word, you dismissed us. Now you've handed Meng Yuchun three thousand people. Isn't your way of handling this a bit unfair?"

Before Li Banfeng could speak, the Swearing Woman interjected: "Old Sha, isn't that unreasonable? The manpower belongs to Seventh Master; he helps whomever he chooses. Does he need to consider anyone else's opinion?"

Swearing Woman's words didn't send Sha Dingzhong away: "Seventh Master, we wouldn't dare show you attitude. We're here to express our loyalty; just wondering if you have any regard for us."

Such pretty words put Li Banfeng in an awkward spot.

Swearing Woman looked at Li Banfeng; she didn't know how to handle the situation.

Li Banfeng surveyed everyone and first explained about Meng Yuchun: "The reason I sent people to Meng Yuchun is because she has genuine feelings for me."

"I have genuine feelings for Seventh Master too!" Sha Dingzhong said this without any embarrassment.

"Alright! I believe in your sincerity!" Li Banfeng took out the Contract Book, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have two conditions. If you agree, I'll send the manpower to you after the New Year,

First, the people from Three-Head Fork are my brothers and sisters. They can help you, but they're not your subordinates,

Second, since I'm helping you reclaim land, certain matters on the territory must be determined by me. Which matters exactly are clearly written in the Contract Book. Once you press the blood handprint, I'll send people over after the New Year."

Sha Dingzhong took the Contract Book and saw the first line: "Under no circumstances, at no time, should the territory ever be handed over to Inner State, nor should the Local Deity listen to Inner State's commands."

Li Banfeng reminded: "Don't find loopholes or say you'll hand the territory to others for them to give to Inner State. Doing so clearly violates the Contract Book, which states that if the territory goes to Inner State, it's considered as breaking the alliance and breaching the contract!"

The Local Deity stayed silent, and Li Banfeng smiled and said: "Without signing the contract, please leave."

Sha Dingzhong didn't completely refuse: "Seventh Master, since you're sending people after the New Year, I'll give you a reply after the New Year."

The other Local Deities followed suit, stating they'd respond after the New Year.

The Local Deities of New Land are the hardest group to deal with in Puluo State—not due to their combat power or cunning, but because of their indecisive positions.

Most Local Deities in New Land hold only half of the Contract Book; the other half is in Inner State's hands. To be blunt, half their life is controlled by Inner State, which ensures that most of them cannot escape Inner State's control.

Will Meng Yuchun dare sign the Contract Book? Does she have a method to break free from Inner State?

Of course not. She witnessed Qiu Luoye's success and wants to try her luck too, but given the current situation, the Cook isn't too optimistic.

At dinner, the Cook and Bai Shoulian took charge of the food, allowing Li Banfeng to feast and have a couple of drinks. The Cook gave a sincere warning: "Seventh Master, as soon as Miss Meng's territory reaches a thousand square meters, Inner State will target it."

Bai Shoulian shook his head: "I doubt it'll even reach a thousand square meters. Look at Rong Si Jiao's demeanor; he's sure plotting something nasty. He'll likely complain to Inner State within days."

The Cook sighed: "Brother, not only is your cooking excellent, but your insight is as well. I believe Rong Si Jiao really could do such a thing. How would Miss Meng respond then?"

Bai Shoulian advised: "Brother, don't worry. Since Seventh Master promised Miss Meng, he's sure prepared plans for future matters,

By the way, where has Seventh Master gone?"

The two were talking, but Li Qi was nowhere to be seen.

...

Chu Er accounted for the New Year's goods and ordered a halt to land reclamation, preparing for the holiday together.

Calculating expenses and revenue from business, the weary Chu Er searched for the Hundred Joy Gate accounts, and Li Banfeng handed the accounts to her.

Chu Er was suddenly alert.

"Brother Seven, did you come to see me?"

"Not just to see you, mainly to find your dad."

Chu Er wasn't pleased: "What do you need from my dad?"

"Business!"

Chu Er chuckled: "What kind of business with my dad? Are you planning to buy me?"

"Not that," Li Banfeng shook his head, "I want to buy something more valuable."

Chu Er lowered her head, glancing up at Li Banfeng: "Brother Seven, be sure before you speak."

PS: Now's the perfect time; Li Qi's aiming for something big.