Though called a city, Taicang's walls stood low, enclosing an area spanning over twenty li in all directions. Its citizens dwelled within by night, venturing outside the walls by day to till the fields.
Strictly speaking, the people owned no farmland - all arable land belonged to the state, with every grain produced distributed by the royal court. In the Endless Wilds, a weak nation like Taicang couldn't afford the luxury of self-sufficient citizens.
Taicang's lifeline was the Sea-Sniffing River, whose source lay in the Negative Impact River north of Taicang. As a tributary flowing through these lands, successive kingdoms - the Ant-Length Kingdom, the Arm-Spread Kingdom - had all built their cities along its banks centuries before Taicang followed suit.
During Taicang's founding, engineers had even diverted a branch of the Sea-Sniffing River through both Taicang and Cang cities, providing convenient water access for hundreds of thousands.
Yet the Negative Impact River's terrifying aquatic beasts left its tributaries devoid of fish - a regrettable deprivation.
Ji Xia stood by the riverbank outside the city walls, where rows of brown trees created a pleasing vista.
"The Cangshou Army's camp location proves ideal - not just for water access, but occasional hunting when large beasts stray from the forests."
He observed craftsmen directing soldiers who carried massive stones, splitting them into slabs with great axes before laying them in excavated pits. A viscous adhesive secured the stonework.
"This glue's base comes from rubber-fish trees," explained Lu An, head of Taicang's Artisan Institute. "After years of experimentation adding various materials and refining processes, we developed this adhesive. Remarkably versatile - once cured, even blades can't sever its bond."
Out of necessity from isolation and poverty, Taicang's artisans had mastered maximizing mundane materials. While incapable of lavish constructions, their works exemplified rugged practicality. The stone-built royal palace, constructed over two hundred years prior, stood testament - enduring centuries without damage.
The reservoir project followed similar principles: excavating a depression, waterproofing with stone slabs, and constructing three channels with simple floodgates to fill from the river.
Ji Xia nodded approval. "No margin for error. This reservoir may well determine Taicang's survival."
Lu An bowed, though inwardly skeptical. The project's simplicity hardly warranted such gravity, nor the mobilization of a thousand soldiers quarrying stone and hundreds of artisans working day and night.
Observing the artisans' meticulous work - even applying adhesive without the slightest overflow - Ji Xia understood how Taicang had endured two centuries in these brutal lands. From officials serving selflessly to soldiers marching unquestioningly to death, and citizens enduring hardships without complaint - this nation embodied resilience perfected by adversity.
"Perhaps only the Endless Wilds could forge such unity in people desperate to survive and grow stronger," Ji Xia murmured.
Nearby, Minister Lu voiced his dread: "Our greatest crisis approaches. The Goujian matter pales against the true terror - Great Fu. I lie awake envisioning our officials and soldiers slaughtered, our people enslaved and devoured by Zhou Qing."
Ji Qianqing, her crimson hair flowing over armor that couldn't diminish her striking beauty, spoke calmly: "I sense my Heavenly Barrier breakthrough approaching. Once I reach Divine Ability, I'll infiltrate Zhou Qing to assassinate their king. Given their treacherous nature, the ensuing power struggle might divert Great Fu's promised favor."
Ji Xia frowned. "A newly ascended Divine Ability expert assassinating their battle-hardened king amidst armies? You'd become the next Qing Furen."
Her pressed lips answered what she already knew - the near-impossible odds. Yet beneath Great Fu's looming shadow, she'd resolved to gamble everything for Taicang's future, even at the cost of her life.
Reading her determination, Ji Xia snapped: "Enough! We've two months before Great Fu arrives. Our task is strengthening Taicang's might."
"Every increment of power improves our odds." His eyes flashed dangerously. "With sufficient strength, even if we can't solve the Great Fu problem, we can eliminate Zhou Qing - the source of this calamity!"
Studying this heir who bore King Shang's handsome features, Ji Qianqing felt strange disconnect. Was this truly the same wastrel prince once mocked as "the Useless Crown Prince"?
Somewhere between then and now, the feckless youth had transformed into a king who led charges against enemies, issued decisive decrees from his throne, and spoke casually of destroying nations.
"Has the Great Wind's blessing wrought this?"
"Or did King Shang's death awaken you?"
Her grip tightened on the Green Monarch Sword's hilt as she thought: "Thrust into crisis, facing certain doom - yours is the heaviest burden of all."