More than a dozen large vehicles were lining up on the mountain road. After turning out of the high mountains, there was a deep mountain valley in front of them. On the opposite side of the deep valley, there was a group of mountains. The mountains stretched out to the east and west, with no end in sight, like a city wall.

, blocking the way forward.

The carriages and horses stopped, and everyone stood on the carts, looking ahead.

Gu Zuo raised his riding whip, pointed to the opposite side and said loudly: "This is our new home, Southern Wuzhou!"

Thunderous cheers suddenly erupted from the team.

After walking for three days, we finally arrived!

The mountain stream is twenty to thirty feet deep and more than ten feet wide. There are two iron locks pulled by the Dongting Sect on it.

The butcher stepped on the ax and flew to the opposite side, checked it, and turned back to indicate that the iron lock was strong and feasible. So Cheng Shanhu and Li Gusheng took the lead and marched forward on the iron lock, followed by more than a dozen monks who followed, and the two of them lifted a car.

The cart sent all the vehicles and ordinary people without cultivation to the other side, and they crossed over in less than a moment.

The two peaks tower into the clouds, like two gates, firmly locking the passage forward. The passage is narrow, half of it is a stream, leaving only a road more than three feet wide to walk. Entering from here, you enter Nanwu Prefecture

's territory.

This is the north entrance of Nanwu Prefecture, and it is also where Gu Zuo has visited the mountains many times before.

The team stopped at a long corridor. Several monks from the Dongting Sect responsible for the final handover were already waiting here. The leader was an old acquaintance, Deacon Shang.

Gu Zuo dismounted, laughed loudly and greeted him: "Senior Shang, we meet again!"

Deacon Shang stroked his gray beard and said, "Congratulations to Mr. Gu. I heard that you bought Nanwu Mountain. I told others that Mr. Gu has made a fortune."

Gu Zuo said angrily: "Let's make a fortune together!"

Deacon Shang took out a map and handed it over to Gu Zuo: "Let's settle the people down first, and then I will take Master Gu to check various properties, okay?"

Gu Zuo nodded: "Okay."

Deacon Shang pointed to the map and said, "There are three large courtyards and six small courtyards in Southern Wu Prefecture, which corresponds to ninety-nine..."

Gu Zuo immediately interrupted: "Stay at the South Main Peak!" He has been to Nanwu Mountain many times and walked around in the sky more than once. He already knew it by heart. Everyone was tired now and had no time to listen to Deacon Shang's show off.

That Feng Shui knowledge.

The roads in Nanwu Prefecture had been renovated by the Dongting Sect and were much easier to walk than when we arrived. The convoy continued traveling south for more than two hours before arriving at the foot of the South Main Peak.

Along the foothills, the Dongting Sect built a large area of ​​houses, with seven or eight scattered yards scattered among green trees and ponds, connected with verandahs and bamboo pavilions. Just looking at them is pleasing to the eye.

The butcher immediately assigned people to the courtyard, organized manpower to sweep the garden, and unload supplies.

Gu Zuo followed Deacon Shang into the sky to take over the rest of the property.

The Dongting Sect has been operating in Nanwuzhou for more than ten years and has built a total of three large courtyards, six small courtyards, six large and small medicinal gardens, two spiritual fields, and a Feiyun iron mine. They are mainly concentrated in three places: Nan

Main peak, Beikou and Dongxi.

Each of these three places has a large courtyard, also known as the South Courtyard, the North Courtyard and the East Courtyard.

The north entrance is the north-facing pass that just entered Nanwu Mountain. It is also the main channel for communication between Nanwu Prefecture and Heishan County. This is usually where visitors are received. Sometimes the Dongting Sect also holds auctions here, and the industry is mainly in the north courtyard.

The South Main Peak is the industrial gathering place of Southern Wuzhou. Four medicinal gardens and two spiritual fields have been opened. In addition to the South Courtyard, there are five small courtyards scattered in the surrounding South Second Peak and South Third Peak.

As the name suggests, Dongxi is a stream flowing down from the south main peak. The stream goes eastward and comes out at the mouth of the East Valley. On the north bank of the stream is the East Courtyard. There are two medicinal gardens and a Feiyun Concentrate Iron Mine nearby.

After checking and counting for an afternoon, Gu Zuocai visited all these places. In total, there were more than 120 rooms, including three main halls, 81 living rooms, alchemy rooms, study rooms, several kitchens, and seven more.

A large warehouse.

When checking the room, Deacon Shang looked sad: "I was one of the first disciples to develop Nanwu Province. At that time, we were still building foundations. We built these houses and temples brick by brick. We built seven

Years, thousands of dollars thrown in! Alas..."

The most profitable industries in Nan Wu Prefecture are medicinal gardens, spiritual fields and Feiyun iron ore.

Among them, six medicinal gardens produce 28 kinds of spiritual grass and flowers every year, with an annual sales of more than 9,000 rice; the two spiritual fields are the characteristics of Southern Wu Prefecture, and the spiritual rice they produce is directly supplied to the capital and several major sects, with an annual sales of five thousand rice.

More than a thousand guan; Feiyun refined iron is a good material for refining flying swords. Unfortunately, the mine is small and the output is not high. The annual income is about 2,000 guan.

The Dongting Sect has about 160 monks and common people living permanently in Nanwu Prefecture, and its annual expenditure is about 8,000 guan. If the income minus expenditure is reduced, the annual net income is 8,000 guan.

If there were no heavy taxes, this income would still be quite good. However, it is a pity that one needs to pay 10,000 guan and 5,000 spirit stones every year, which is a huge shortfall.

After understanding this information, Gu Zuo thanked Deacon Shang and said at the same time: "Before coming, your faction said that some people wanted to stay and asked me if I would accept them. Who are they? Are they all the people I met just now?"

When checking various industries, people from the medicine garden, spiritual field and iron mine department came out to greet them and introduced the situation to Gu Zuo. Gu Zuo paid attention at that time.

Deacon Shang said: "I was just about to tell you. A few days ago, our Dongting faction led people to evacuate Nanwu Prefecture. Those who wanted to leave have already set off with the brigade. There are still twelve households and sixty-three people left.

They have lived in Nanwu Prefecture for many years with their families and do not want to leave here. If the patron is willing to take over, they will work with the Huaixian Hall. If the patron is in trouble, I will take them away and then stay in Heishan County.

The land was sent away.”

"Dismissal on the spot?"

"Yes, they will be sent to Heishan County and each family will be given a severance pay. If the owner of the Gu Hall is willing to take them in, the severance pay will be transferred to Huaixian Hall, a thousand guan."

"I remember your Dongting sect's deacon Zhang told me that it was eight hundred and sixty strings."

"The old man has given me one hundred and forty guans to make up for 1,000 guans for Gu Gu Gu. I hope Gu Gu will take them in and treat them well."

Gu Zuozheng was worried that there was no one in Southern Wuzhou, so of course he was willing to ask for it, even if there was no compensation. But he was still moved by Deacon Shang's kindness for a while, and bowed and saluted: "Senior, please pay homage to Gu."

Deacon Shang hurriedly returned the gift: "So, Master Gu is willing to take them in? I would like to thank Master Gu for his kindness on their behalf."

Twelve families have thirty-two strong men and women, eighteen elderly people, and thirteen children. Among them are five monks, all Qi refiners. Three of them take care of the medicine garden, one takes care of the spiritual field, and another takes care of the spiritual field.

Iron ore. There are still enough people left. There are people in the three industries. Gu Zuo estimates that they may have the merit of being a deacon.

Gu Zuo walked around the various properties again, and kindly appeased the twelve families who stayed behind, promising that their previous treatment would not change, asking them to work with peace of mind, and then said to Deacon Shang: "Senior Shang, suddenly added

There are so many people, and I don’t understand their nature. Could you please stay a little longer to help me get used to it and get familiar with it before you leave?"

Deacon Shang thought for a moment, looked at the mountains in front of him and hesitated for a while, then said: "Only one month."
Chapter completed!