C6 Territory Management
With a satisfying burp, Wang Changqing patted his distended belly, feeling once again that life was worth living.
How could he not feel content?
Since the food crisis hit Blue Planet, Wang Changqing had been subsisting on water after depleting his stored food. Now, finally able to have a meal, his happiness knew no bounds.
"More for you, my lord?" The pub owner, a middle-aged man with a limp, watched Wang Changqing attentively.
"No, thank you. How much do I owe you? I'm stuffed!" Wang Changqing said, wiping his mouth with his hand and rising to head back to the Lord Mansion.
"My lord, I am Mu Feng. Please, just call me by my name. I couldn't possibly accept such a formal title! It's an honor that you chose to dine here. Besides, you supplied the ingredients yourself; I couldn't dream of taking your money."
"Knowing that I am the Lord, it would be unseemly not to pay for my meal. Though I didn't consume your provisions, you prepared the food. I insist on paying for your service." Without further ado, Wang Changqing exchanged a gold coin from his Resources Panel and left it on the table. He then sauntered out of the pub, burping contentedly.
They say a full belly leads to sinful thoughts, but one does need a partner for that!
After Wang Changqing's departure, Mu Feng gazed at the gold coin, unsure of its use. In their territory, bartering was the norm, and now this coin seemed out of place.
Back at the Lord Mansion, Wang Changqing amused himself by scrolling through the World Announcements. As he was engrossed in the chatter, a ruckus arose outside.
On the small square before the Lord Mansion, heaps of beef, hides, and offal were neatly arranged, crowding the already tight space, with villagers encircling the bounty.
"I hear these were taken down by the Lord's Mechanical Legion in the wilds..."
"Our Lord is truly formidable..."
"Those are Big Horn Bulls! A group of them, at least fifty or sixty strong, can shake the ground and mountains when they charge..."
"I heard the government official was completely taken aback when he arrived with his people—the ground was littered with them..."
As Wang Changqing stepped out of the Lord Mansion, every citizen present simultaneously dropped to their knees.
"Lord, your might is unparalleled!"
The thunderous cheers of the citizens caught Wang Changqing off guard just as he reached the doorway. He glanced at the sea of kneeling figures outside and paused, ultimately choosing not to step further. It wasn't for any particular reason; he simply wasn't accustomed to such formalities yet.
"Moo Niu, ensure the spoils of war in the square are distributed evenly among all citizens, young and old alike."
With that command, Wang Changqing turned on his heel and made his way back into the Lord Mansion, the roaring cheers of the populace echoing behind him.
These citizens, who usually scrimped on even the coarsest grains, rarely tasted meat unless they braved the wilderness to hunt—a venture often synonymous with death.
This time, Wang Changqing had Moo Niu lead a team to retrieve the spoils of war. Once they were brought back, he immediately had them handed out to every citizen, ensuring everyone had meat on their plates.
This gesture significantly boosted the citizens' loyalty.
The loyalty of the citizens is crucial to the territory's prosperity and stability. High loyalty leads to diligent work, timely tax payments, and proactive maintenance of order. When the Lord calls for troops, loyal citizens eagerly enlist. Conversely, low loyalty can spark rebellion, mass desertion, and even attempts on the Lord's life. Recruiting soldiers in such a climate would be impossible without conscription.
Two hours later, Moo Niu entered the Lord Hall with four neatly dressed, albeit somewhat youthful, girls in tow.
"Lord, I have selected these four maids for you. Do they meet with your approval?"
These young women were handpicked by Moo Niu from a group of over twenty eligible candidates.
Their service to Wang Changqing at the Lord Mansion was voluntary, as was the consent of their families.
A Lord who could secure a bounty of game in the wilderness and willingly share it with his citizens was sure to be cherished by all.
"Sure." Wang Changqing considered himself fortunate to have secured a position as a servant, a profession nearly extinct on the Blue Planet. Especially since he had just managed to avoid starvation earlier that day.
"My Lord, the census of the Territory Residents is complete. The territory currently has 860 inhabitants: 260 adult men between the ages of 14 and 50, 75 children under 14, 132 level 1 warriors, and 3 level 2 warriors."
"Hold on! Why are there so few adult men?" Wang Changqing had his suspicions, but he sought confirmation.
"Um... My Lord, it's because many have perished in the wilderness. Some went hunting, others followed the former Lord into the wilds..."
"Sir, we humans are inherently frail. Despite our weapons and armor, we're no match for the Magic Beasts' razor-sharp claws."
Moo Niu didn't get the chance to mention that among the 262 adult males, over 50 were missing limbs.
This small territory, engulfed by the wilderness, had suffered greatly in its struggle against the wild.
The desperate venture into the wilderness was driven by the need for food, as the territory's farmland could no longer satisfy the residents' hunger.
During the lean seasons, the elderly would band together and brave the wilderness. Venturing out could mean returning with sustenance, while staying behind almost certainly meant starvation.
Reducing or controlling the population was not an option.
In the wilderness, the survival of many weaker creatures hinged on their numbers. With enough individuals, even the common predators would hesitate to attack.
If the territory's population dwindled too much, the various creatures roaming the wilderness would launch an assault. These beasts do not acknowledge the borders set by the weak; to them, weakness equates to prey.
Are humans weak?
Physically, yes, humans lack the natural weapons and armor of wild creatures. However, humanity's strength lies in our intellect and our tools.
When the first human learned to harness fire, to wield bows and spears, we diverged from the animal kingdom, setting us apart on both the alien world and the Blue Planet.
"Moo Niu, our territory will be completely secure for the next six days. Make haste in organizing a search for arable land. A consistent food supply is crucial for us!"
"Going forward, residents of my domain over sixty will be cared for by the Lord's Mansion. Children under ten will receive a monthly food allowance, and every newborn, regardless of gender, will be gifted three gold coins."
"Recruit staff swiftly to establish the administrative team for the Lord's Mansion."
"Currently, our territory's trade has regressed to bartering, which is archaic. We need to promote the use of gold, silver, and copper coins minted and backed by the Lord's Mansion."
"The City Lord's Mansion will create a purchase point for timber and stone, paying with our minted currency. Additionally, we'll set up a beast meat outlet with lower prices. I'll supply the meat, but purchases can only be made with our coins."
"As the territory's administrative officer, you'll earn 20 gold coins monthly. I'll allocate 1,000 gold coins each month for the Mansion's operations. Keep meticulous records; I'll be conducting spot checks."
It was nearing midnight, with a new day on the horizon. Wang Changqing was ready to dismiss Moo Niu and continue his preparations for battle.
In the System Space, there were 25 cubic meters of Magic Beast Meat, equating to 50,000 units at the system's conversion rate of 2,000 units per cubic meter.
Food prices were climbing, as were meat prices. While waiting could yield more profit, Wang Changqing urgently needed various resources for development.
After Moo Niu left, Wang Changqing instructed the four maids to retire to their quarters. He then accessed the Lord's Trading Market, selling the entire 50,000 units of beast meat for over 200,000 gold coins. The current exchange rate was nearly 1 to 2 for food to gold coins, 1 to 3 for meat, and an astonishing 1 to 4 for premium Magic Beast Meat.
After stocking up on a substantial amount of iron and energy, he set his sights on initiating a fresh wave of construction.
Lord Hall
Level: 1
Upgrade Requirements: 1,000 gold coins, 1,000 units of iron, 1,000 units of energy
Intelligent Engineering Machinery Factory
Level: 1
Upgrade Requirements: 1,000 gold coins, 1,000 units of iron, 1,000 units of energy
......
He worked against the clock to upgrade everything possible before the break of dawn.
Additionally, he established three Level 2 Combat Robot production lines, boosting the daily output of Level 2 Combat Robots to 120 units.
