Then, he would have these materials secretly shipped back to Yun Port City, one boatload at a time. It wasn’t as if the Westerners would refuse. They were hardly a pious bunch; as long as the price was right, they would even sell you the rope to hang themselves with. Whether they were Westerners or his own people, human nature was universal. In the face of sufficiently high profits, things like patriotism, national pride, and moral principles could all be tossed aside.
As for any nonsense about aiding the enemy, the money-grubbing Westerners couldn’t care less. ’What does that have to do with me?’ they’d think. ’Making a profit is all that matters.’
Lu Yun wasn’t concerned about the initial capital expenditure. Once he had cultivated his own talent, he would no longer need materials from the Western Countries.
The sedan stopped in front of an office building. Lu Fu switched off the engine and got out first, then quickly walked around to the rear and opened the door.
Leaning on his cane, Lu Yun slowly exited the vehicle. He lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding factory buildings and the bustling workers.
There were many more new faces than there had been last month. Lu Yun nodded in satisfaction.
This arsenal was under Yun Port City’s highest level of protection. Every single person’s identity was strictly vetted to ensure they were trustworthy and had an impeccable background; their family history for the past three generations had to be thoroughly investigated.
They underwent rigorous education and training. Some were top students selected from schools, others were key technical personnel chosen from the military, and still others were master craftsmen recruited from the civilian population.
These young people were the future hope of Yun Port City. If the Western Countries ever thought of provoking another war, the city’s safety would be in their hands.
After all, not every Martial Artist could cultivate to his level. This era was ultimately dominated by firearms and artillery.
Most Martial Artists would spend their entire lives at the level of Ming Jin or Dark Force, never even touching the threshold of Huajin.
On a true battlefield, amidst a hail of gunfire, their martial skills wouldn’t amount to much. Even a Grandmaster of Divine Intent could be taken down with just a few artillery shells.
Of course, that was assuming the artillery shells could actually hit a Grandmaster of Divine Intent, who possessed Divine Sense. Otherwise, they could easily be dodged in advance.
The Divine Sense of a Grandmaster of Divine Intent could cover a radius of several hundred meters, and not a single rustle of wind or stir of grass could escape their perception.
While a shell was still in the air, they would have already perceived its trajectory, point of impact, and arrival time, allowing them to evade it with a nimble dodge.
After inspecting the arsenal, Lu Yun visited a series of newly built schools.
Finally, the car stopped at the last school of the day. It specialized in teaching industrial technology to students over the age of fifteen and was also one of the recruitment sources for the arsenal.
In other words, these students would become the future workers of the arsenal and the cornerstone of Yun Port City’s defense industry.
The principal waiting at the gate was a man in his forties named Lv Xingshan, sharply dressed in a Western suit.
He wore a well-tailored, dark gray suit over a white shirt, complemented by a striped tie. His leather shoes were polished to a mirror shine, and his hair was impeccably combed. The man exuded an air of vigor.
This Lv Xingshan was a talented man who had studied in the Western World. He had a degree in mechanical engineering from the Great United States and had also spent time in Great Britain and France, secretly studying their industrial systems.
He had been drawn to Yun Port City by Lord Lu’s growing reputation and the news of the city’s many changes. Before arriving, Lv Xingshan had been skeptical. ’How could a place transform so much in just a few short months?’
But after arriving, he became a believer. He had never expected to witness with his own eyes the shutdown of gangs and the opium dens that had poisoned the populace. Even the foreign concessions had all been reclaimed.
Lv Xingshan was profoundly shaken. He then made a decision that would have defied his ancestors: he would settle down in Yun Port City and swore to use his knowledge to transform this land torn by strife and chaos.
Lu Yun had only notified the heads of the various schools about his visit; he had not publicized it.
When Lv Xingshan saw the sedan pull up to the gate, his heart skipped a beat. He recognized that car.
The moment Lu Fu stepped out of the driver’s seat, Lv Xingshan spotted Lu Yun in the back.
"It’s Lord Lu!" Lv Xingshan’s voice trembled slightly. He had been waiting for so long precisely because he was afraid of missing Lord Lu’s arrival and making a bad impression.
Lu Fu personally opened the rear door, and Lu Yun stepped out.
Unable to suppress his excitement, Lv Xingshan jogged forward, leaning in slightly as he extended both hands in greeting.
"Lord Lu!"
Leaning on his cane with his right hand, Lu Yun extended his left and gently took Lv Xingshan’s hands.
"Principal Lv, you have worked hard."
Lv Xingshan shook his head repeatedly. "Not at all, not at all. To have the opportunity to change the world alongside you, Lord Lu... it is my greatest honor."
Lu Yun smiled faintly and withdrew his hand. "You’re too kind, Principal Lv. There’s no need for such formalities. I came today simply to see these young people."
Hearing this, Lv Xingshan’s face filled with confidence. He stepped aside and gestured forward with his right hand, his voice strong and resonant. "Rest assured, Lord Lu. I guarantee you will not be disappointed."
Though called a school, it was really just a vast, flat expanse. As far as the eye could see, several hundred rows of low-slung buildings were scattered in a neat, orderly fashion.
The buildings were constructed from gray bricks and wood, with gray-tiled roofs and whitewashed walls. They were as rudimentary as could be.
There was no helping it; in a chaotic era like this, reminiscent of the Republican period, such simple conditions were all that could be afforded.
This was also why Lu Fu had parked the car on the side of the road. With so many students around, driving onto the grounds would be inconvenient. The paths weren’t wide enough, and if he were to accidentally bump into a child, it would be a terrible misstep.

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