The World Online Chapter 314-315

Chapter 314-Snake and Rat

Translator: TeamTWO
Editor: Nora

The truth that Blood Sword was actually Canhua shocked Black Mamba.

At this point, Black Mamba finally understood why Ouyang Shuo had asked him to come to Shanhai County, so he took the initiative to say," Little brother, what do you need me to help? If I can do it, I definitely will!"

Ouyang Shuo nodded, "Then, I wouldn't hold back. I hope that you could help me investigate them and find out the location of their base."

"Investigating them is no problem," Black Mamba said without hesitation, "I also want to deal with them and bury the hatchet!"

When he thought about the brothers that had died, Black Mamba felt heartbroken. In reality, Canhua were like ghosts. He had put in a lot of effort, but he still didn't manage to find their base.

He always thought about that issue, and it had become one of his greatest regrets.

He didn't expect to have a chance to fight against them once more in the game!

"Little brother, do you have any clues?" Blood Sword obviously followed the style of Canhua; they had prepared for an entire year before they appeared in Jingdou.

The game map was ten times larger than real life, so to find them was harder than ascending the heavens.

"The members of Blood Sword all have two ident.i.ties—one in the light, and one in the dark. Their location is definitely in one of the imperial cities, but that might not be their base. It might be a shop or a teahouse. They could even be in the Yamen; everything is a possibility," Ouyang Shuo recalled what he had known about the Blood Sword in his last life.

Even so, his understandings of the Blood Sword were very limited.

They were simply too mysterious!

In his last life, up until Ouyang Shuo died, the leader of Blood Sword was still a mystery.

"Just these?" Black Mamba felt a little disappointed.

Ouyang Shuo nodded, "I only know this."

"How do they receive their missions?" Black Mamba asked the crux of the problem.

"Based on my understandings, the one in charge of getting the mission is a middle man. He will pa.s.s the information to the headquarters of Blood Sword through a secret method. Then, the headquarters will a.s.sign missions to the members. From start till end, the members won't have any relations.h.i.+p with the client," Ouyang Shuo explained.

"These bunch of tortoises. They really are mice that won't see the light," Black Mamba couldn't help but scold, "Can we find some clues through the middleman?"

Ouyang Shuo shook his head, "I'm afraid that will be very difficult. The middleman they choose are all work occupation players. Even if we find them, they wouldn't tell us anything. Furthermore, with the communication methods in the game, even the middleman won't know much about them."

"No matter what, there's still a chance. In this game, there is something worse than being dead. I don't believe that if we catch the middlemen, he won't say anything," Black Mamba bared his white teeth.

If one talked about interrogation techniques, Black Mamba was a professional.

"I will inform the various offices in the imperial cities and help you all investigate. We can put our point of focus in Quanzhou. There, Shanhai County has a little influence," Ouyang Shuo had no choice but to reveal a small trump card.

Black Mamba's eyes brightened, "Little brother, you really are amazing, even managing to influence the imperial city. I really admire you."

"Elder brother, you must be joking. I'm just lucky because of Mazu."

"With the clues that you have provided, we will not be grasping at straws." Black Mamba laughed, "Don't worry, little brother. Give me a little time, and I will find their rat hole."

"Thank you, brother. If you need anything, just ask!"

"Why are we saying such words. You." Black Mamba waved him off, "This matter is also Rattlesnake's matter, so you don't need to worry."

"Great!" Ouyang Shuo nodded, "Let's go and have a drink!"

When he heard Ouyang Shuo mention drinking, Black Mamba instantly grew excited and laughed, "Haha, I also have that intention. I really want to drink your Three Flowers Wine."

"When you return, I will prepare two big jars for you. I can promise that you will never be able to finish drinking it." Ouyang Shuo knew that Black Mamba viewed wine as his life. As such, he took the opportunity to return a favor.

"That's definitely necessary. Little brother really knows me!" Black Mamba didn't hold back.

The paired downed the wine and started to talk about everything.

With half a kilogram of wine in his belly, Black Mamba was on cloud nine. Suddenly, he thought of the teaching squad still in Shanhai County and asked, "How are Viper and Cobra. They didn't lose my face, right?"

Ouyang Shuo had bad alcohol tolerance, and he wasn't used to drinking strong wine. Luckily, this was a game. If not, it would be really spicy and choking. Although one couldn't get drunk, a person with poor alcohol tolerance would turn red if they drank a lot.

Ouyang Shuo's face was already as red as a monkey's b.u.t.t. If you mentioned it, he couldn't even speak fluently anymore, "How...How can that be, them two.., Are…talents, they make the special… special force, good training, making them up to...Up to par..."

Ouyang Shuo really wasn't exaggerating, Cobra and Viper adapted to the cold weapons era and their battle conditions, instilled the modern special forces battle methods into the cold weapons era, and came up with several different ideas.

Ouyang Shuo couldn't help but praise their ideas.

Apart from basic physical training, the special forces had to undergo four different types of training.

Firstly, fighting technique. Each person needed to master every type of weapon, which included swords, bows, spears, crossbows, axes and more. Each special force member could fight in many methods, areas, and times. They could fight in places like alleys, during the night, and they could also chase and escape from danger.

After the end of the training, Ouyang Shuo also planned to prepare suitable cultivation techniques for them to improve their combat strength.

Secondly, mobile technique training. Horse riding was a necessary skill and caring for the horse was also a basic requirement. Apart from that, they needed to learn how to sail a boat and cross rivers and seas.

In the future, as the territory continued to expand, there might be mounts like war elephants and wolves.

Thirdly, infiltration techniques. Parachuting, climbing, crossing enemy territory, understanding maps as well as long distance traveling—one had to be good at all of these.

Parachuting and climbing were the two training skills that Ouyang Shuo paid the most attention to. During the battle of Changping, the success of parachuting gave Ouyang Shuo hope and confidence.

Fourthly, investigation and spying techniques. Mainly infiltrating, listening, capturing, interrogating, drawing and describing the environment as well as other methods. One also needed to know how to communicate with hidden signals.

The spies in the Military Intelligence Division also had to undergo such training.

All in all, to prepare these training programs, Cobra and Viper had put in a lot of effort.

"That's great. If not, I'm going to teach them a lesson!" Black Mamba was really a wine barrel as his facial color didn't even change a little bit.

"Big brother has the luck to have so many great people. I'm so envious." Under the influence of the wine, Ouyang Shuo stopped thinking about his words and just spoke what came to mind.

"Hehe, little brother, you don't need to envy me! I heard that the number of historical people in Shanhai County is about to pa.s.s into the tens, and you even have the war saint."

"Yes, my territory is so big, I have so many people but its still not enough."

"You ah you!" Black Mamba pointed at Ouyang Shuo and laughed.

"And don't lay your eyes on Cobra and Viper; they aren't for sale!" Black Mamba was still a little worried and added.

Ouyang Shuo smiled and appeared a little embarra.s.sed. Luckily, he was already red from the wine. If not, it would be a little awkward. He actually did think of poaching Viper and Cobra.

After they spent time with one another, Ouyang Shuo had found out the strengths of Cobra and Viper.

Viper was a more muscle type of guy. When training the members, he had his own style, especially in weapons use and grappling techniques. In these apects, his abilities were insane.

If he could poach him over, he would be the best choice to train new troops.

Cobra was different. Like his name, he was a little cold. In terms of intelligence gathering, he had a unique talent.

Song San and Leng Qian also couldn't help but praise him. Lengqian was honest—in front of Cobra, he felt completely useless; it was like he didn't know anything.

Ouyang Shuo had wanted to poach him over to lead the Military Intelligence Division.

If he thought about it, with Cobra sitting at the helm, be it obtaining information or the accuracy of the information, it would be several times higher.

As for the problems of trust, Ouyang Shuo wasn't worried.

Since the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group were already on board, there was no reason to get off. Ouyang Shuo would think of a way to tie them straight onto then war chariot of Shanhai County.

Ouyang Shuo didn't expect that even though Black Mamba looked like he drank a lot, he was still very clear headed. Black Mamba easily looked through his intentions and immediately rejected them.

Ouyang Shuo didn't mind as it was to be expected.

Black Mamba not agreeing today just meant that their relations.h.i.+p wasn't close enough. Or, putting it in another way, the chips that Ouyang Shuo had put out weren't enough to move Black Mamba.

As long as both sides had the same goals, once Ouyang Shuo managed to tie down the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group to Shanhai County, everything would be settled.

Black Mamba cared about relations.h.i.+ps, but he cared more about interests. If he could gain excellent rewards for letting go of Cobra and Viper, he would definitely agree.

Black Mamba was also a very arrogant person. Thus, Ouyang Shuo was very confident in his read of the Black Mamba's character.

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Chapter 315- Perusing Steel Technique

Translator: TeamTWO
Editor: Nora

After he sent Black Mamba off, Ouyang Shuo returned to the Lord's Manor.

After they came back from Jingdou, Song Jia had already returned to Dongli Sword Sect. Currently, the huge Lord's Manor was really empty.

Bing'er was on her holidays now, so this little brat that had behaved herself for half a year could finally relax. At this time, she had brought little black and little white to G.o.d knows where to play.

This little brat was different from before; she wouldn't stick to her brother for the entire day.

After he drank a little wine, Ouyang Shuo felt slightly dizzy and just went back to his reading room to rest.

In the afternoon, Ouyang Shuo brought two Guards and went toward Research Inst.i.tute No. 7.

When he saw that it was the end of the year, Ouyang Shuo wanted to understand what the research inst.i.tute had managed to do in half a year. As for what they did in their day to day workings, Ouyang Shuo didn't bother.

The research inst.i.tute was located in the east region and its building style was similar to the Alchemy Workshop beside it. A huge empty s.p.a.ce laid behind the inst.i.tute—they used this area to test out their creations.

Sun Xiaoyue's grandpa, Old Sun had spent much of his time in the Beihai s.h.i.+pyard. The ones mainly in the inst.i.tute were alchemist Magnus and Thermal weapons master Liumo. They were currently moving toward steelmaking.

The work at the research inst.i.tute made the Magnus really excited. When he saw Ouyang Shuo, he said warmly, "Oh! Lord, welcome, welcome!" As he spoke these words, he really wanted to hug Ouyang Shuo.

When the Guards behind Ouyang Shuo saw this, they immediately ran up. Their left hands ready to draw their swords, as they a.s.sumed a defensive position.

When Magnus saw such a situation, he laughed. Ouyang Shuo wasn't the small lord from before.

"Is Liumo here?" Ouyang Shuo hadn't seen his sworn brother in a long time.

As a westerner, Magnus was more open-minded. As such, he just laughed off this awkward situation and smiled, "Liumo is in the testing field. He's testing out the steelmaking technique."

"Oh? Has the steelmaking technique succeeded?" Ouyang Shuo felt delighted.

"Of course!"

"Go, let's go take a look!" Ouyang Shuo couldn't wait.

The olden Chinese steelmaking technique started during the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period. At the time, they mainly used two techniques—carburizing and decarburization. As the demand for steel increased, the supply couldn't keep up. At the later stages of the West Han period, the stir smelting technique came into being, which pushed steelmaking into its mature stage.

Smiths would forge iron at high heats for over a hundred times until it became elite steel. At the start of the Wei dynasty, the elite steelmaking technique became the most prosperous.

During the period of the Northern and Southern dynasties, steelmaking technology experienced another huge breakthrough with the perfusing steel method.

The perfusing steel method made use of both raw iron and worked iron. Raw iron had a high carbon content, as such its melting point was lower. The smiths let the melted raw iron perfuse into the gaps of the worked iron, which increased its carbon content and created steel.

During the Sui Tang period, this technique was commonly used and proliferated.

During the Song and Ming Dynasty, with cold smithing and air hardening techniques, the types of steel and their properties all increased. The steelmaking technology at that time led the world.

Unfortunately, during the Qing Dynasty, the king decided to lock up the country. As a result, China's technology didn't progress, and the westerners surpa.s.sed them.

The research inst.i.tute had managed to recreate the perfusing steel technique from the Sui and Tang period.

As a thermal weapons expert, Liumo knew the olden steelmaking techniques like the back of his hand. He also had had access to the various books on the subject in the book collection house. Despite these factors, replicating the perfusing technique had a high level of difficulty.

The research inst.i.tute had opened for half a year. After constant trial and error, they finally gained some results. If not, why would one say that technical manuals were precious? If they had one for the perfusing steel method, they wouldn't need to go through all these troubles.

In the backyard, there sat a huge furnace with a complete set of facilities.

Liumo busied himself in front of the furnace, as he taught the blacksmiths how to control the fire.

When they saw Ouyang Shuo, the blacksmiths bowed and greeted him.

Ouyang Shuo waved them off and asked them to continue their work.

"Brother Liu!" Ouyang Shuo called out.

As the territory expanded daily, Liumo and the other players' att.i.tudes toward Ouyang Shuo changed. Although they didn't wors.h.i.+p him like the aboriginal people, they wouldn't act so casual.

Liumo was a skill maniac. Hence, he didn't care much about such matters.

The two started talking in the backyard.

Based on Liumo's description, the perfusing steel method was only the first step.

Next, Liumo was prepared to build on the base of the perfusing steel method and breakthrough. Then, they could catch up with the western countries.

One factor was the choice of fuel.

Olden steelmaking used wood as fuel and didn't use any phosphorous solvents. As such, the amount of phosphor in the olden steel was very low. The temperature of the furnace was also too low and couldn't merge the iron.

Liumo wanted to replace charcoal with coal.

Ouyang Shuo frowned; this was a problem. The main regions for coal in China was in the Mongol and the Henan region; Lianzhou totally didn't have any coal.

Feng Qiuhuang's Fallen Phoenix County coincidentally fell into the Henan Region.

It seems like he needed to have a good conversation with Feng Qiuhuang.

"About the coal, I will find a way to solve it. Big Brother Liu, you don't have to worry!"

"Great!" Liu Mo was elated.

As the steelmaking technique had already taken shape, Ouyang Shuo decided on the spot to create a large scale steel factory to satisfy the territorial steel needs.

For the location and construction, Ouyang Shuo gave all the authority to Liumo.

When he returned to the Lord's Manor, Ouyang Shuo immediately sent Feng Qiuhuang a letter to discuss the coal deal.

Ouyang Shuo wanted to invest in a large scale coal mine within her border through the Four Seas Bank. The coal obtained would specifically be sent to Shanhai County.

Of course, one needed to find a coal mining technical manual. If not, it would all be for naught.

Coal was called black stone during the olden times, and its uses weren't common. To find such a technical manual, one needed to spend a lot of effort.

Ouyang Shuo directly sought the help of the Hequanji Chamber of Commerce and the Cui Chamber of Commerce to help him search.

Mulan County, Lord's Manor.

After the New Years, the temperature in Lianzhou Basin started to slowly turn cold.

Looking out of her window, Mulan Yue was out of sorts. After coming back from Jingdou, she had heavy thoughts and would look out through the window in a daze.

If one didn't know, they would think that she was thinking about her lover.

Li Feixue stood behind her, as she played with the dagger in her hand. The dagger was really exquisite, a gift from Mulan Yue when they went to Jingdou.

After the battle of Zhennan Pa.s.s, Li Xuefei had joined Mulan County. At the start, her father's death made her very solemn and demoralized, but Mulan Yue's care helped her walk out of the shadow. Hence, she was very reliant on Mulan Yue.

So, she insisted on staying at Mulan Yue's side to take the role of her personal guard.

Li Feixue might look like a small girl, but her martial arts skills weren't to be trifled with. With her by her side, Mulan Yue was safe. As such, Mu Guiying could spend most of her time in the barracks.

Without Mu Guiying, Mulan Yue became more independent and stronger. Her strength and ability started to show in the territory.

The little brat was able to aptly deal with territory matters.

Running a County was a big challenge to Mulan Yue.

Luckily, she had a talent for developing the economy of the territory. With her personality that didn't want to lose, she ran the county well.

If not, the Mulan Yue in Ouyang Shuo's last life wouldn't be one of the three heads of the Lianzhou Basin, who would not lose in a battle against Ba Dao and Xiaofeng Canyue.

Her ability to learn from others was her strong point.

The local specialties of Shanhai County inspired her, so she pushed for cole planting.

As expected, the oil was very popular and helped the County profit.

Not only that, Mulan Yue also brought in the colored silkworms industry from Shanhai County and ran it well.

The economic ability of Mulan County wasn't that bad amongst the Shanhai Alliance.

In terms of administrative organization, she copied Shanhai County's model.

Dealing with administrative matters was her weak point.

The NPCs that sp.a.w.ned, although they weren't as old school as the olden chinese, but they still had doubts in a female lord.

This was the reason why most female lords couldn't become as famous.

Mulan Yue wasn't like Bai Hua and Feng Qiuhuang, who had a bunch of people at their sides. She lacked training, so she could only take things step by step in regards to administrative matters.

She pa.s.sed a large portion of it to her subordinates to handle.

"Feixue, go call Sister Mu," Mulan Yue turned around and said.

"Ai!" Li Feixue replied. She stored her dagger and ran off. Her braid flung around in the air, and she looked really cute.

A few moments later, Mu Guiying rushed over.

"Sister, I thought about it. It's time to move Mulan County under Brother Wuyi's territory," Mulan Yue said something shocking; this was the matter on her mind. Finally, she had her answer.

Mu Guiying remained quiet. She knew that once Mulan Yue made a decision, it was hard to change it.

"Ok, let's make a trip to Shanhai County."

"Sister, you agree?" Mulan Yue said happily.

"Of course, I support you!" When she saw Mulan Yue slowly grow, Mu Guiying felt happy.

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