Chapter 46: Rewards and the Uprising!

In the mythical world, the ocean's area was countless times larger than the land. It was a place of grotesque wonders and hidden realms, fraught with extreme danger and unpredictable, eerie shifts. Under normal circumstances, ancient people would never venture out to sea, for it symbolized death.

Lin Mu, however, salivated at the thought of the ocean; his desire for conquest was even greater than his desire to acquire the cities of the system!

Within the vast ocean, islands were scattered like pieces on a chessboard, varying in size. There were many massive islands, any one of which could host multiple cities.

In his previous life, many players on land chose to head to sea and occupy an island to live as carefree island lords when they were being swallowed or driven out by behemoth native factions such as Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei. Doing so allowed them to avoid the encroachment of large powers and escape the constant warfare on land!

There was a period when the ocean served as the ultimate stage for all players to vie for supremacy!

Therefore, the acquisition of Earth-grade warships provided a massive push for Lin Mu to extend his reach toward the sea, much earlier than he had originally planned. Although Lu Hao was an 8th-tier aptitude shipbuilder, his value ranked only behind Feng Zhong and Chang Yin, placing him third for the time being! He was significantly rarer than expert-level talents like Jiang Yuan and Chen Hui!

After browsing through the information on the territory's high-end talents, Lin Mu felt refreshed. With a light step, he hurried toward the shipyard...

...

A few days of preparation passed quickly. Under the hands of the God-tier scholar Chang Yin, all affairs were as easy as drinking water.

On April 18th, Year 180, a massive plaza in front of the village council hall was already filled with tables and chairs, and the tables were laden with all kinds of food.

The plaza was paved with compacted gray stone mixed with mud, which, once dried, became very level.

There was fish, meat, shrimp, vegetables, fruits—a dazzling array of food. Food supplies within the territory were abundant!

Through the efforts of tens of thousands of villagers and under the radiance of the village's God-tier attributes, the village's various resources were overflowing, and the warehouses were constantly being expanded!

The villagers were filled with laughter and joy.

The tables were wooden, crafted by the carpentry workshop. Each table could seat 20 people for a meal. For 30,000 people, there were a total of 1,500 tables, arranged in 30 long, orderly rows across the plaza like a magnificent dragon.

At the front east of the plaza, a large wooden platform had been temporarily erected. Several people were already seated upon it; they were the high-level members and elite talents of True Dragon Village.

As the village developed, the population would grow, and the management staff would also continuously expand. Lin Mu had instructed Chang Yin to cultivate more high-level scholars. With his God-tier scholar profession, his teachings were considered absolute truth; a single word from him could lead to a promotion. Of course, Chang Yin had not yet reached his peak; otherwise, a God-tier scholar should not be this limited.

"God-tier" was as strange as a deity; when a skill was activated, it could blot out the sun and moon, plunging the world into darkness like the apocalypse. The current Chang Yin did not possess such a divine manifestation; in his own words, he was currently constrained by the laws of heaven and earth.

...

Lin Mu sat on the wooden platform with Feng Zhong, Xiao Hu, Chang Yin, and others. Also at this table were several expert-level talents of the territory, as well as a boy named Gouwa, who was playing with a small white dog by his side.

Gouwa usually stayed in the council hall and was very familiar with Lin Mu.

"My Lord, the time is almost right. We can begin the meal. Before that, you may say a few words to the people!" Chang Yin checked the sky and reminded Lin Mu that it was about time.

"Very well, then I shall say a few words!" Lin Mu stood up with grace and composure, walking lightly to the front of the platform.

He gently raised his hands and pressed them down slightly. The plaza, which had been somewhat noisy, fell silent upon seeing the Lord's gesture.

"Fellow villagers, my dear brothers and sisters! That we can gather here today, sitting at the same table, is a destiny bestowed by heaven. Many of us come from all corners of the world, from various provinces and counties. But now, sitting here together, you are all villagers of True Dragon Village. From this day forward, True Dragon Village will be your home, your backbone, your future, and your final destination!" Lin Mu spoke slowly, his voice resonant and powerful.

"Whether you were once displaced, uprooted, like drifting duckweed, or whether you were homeless, without elders to care for, or with children left uneducated—now, you are my subjects, and you are my family. We will care for the elderly, and we will educate the children. Our territory will surely provide an environment where everyone can live in peace and work in prosperity! I promise you here: as long as you are my subjects for even a single day, I will protect you for that day! Even if I only had one bowl of hot rice, I would not eat it alone; I would share that meal so that we may all be fed and satisfied together!"

"Our territory is rich in produce, our land is fertile and bountiful, and our fields are vast. No one needs to worry about food. As the territory develops, we will ensure everyone has land to farm and land to call their own! As long as you are willing to shed a drop of sweat, our territory will provide you with a share of the rewards!"

"As your Lord, it is my duty to lead you toward a better and brighter future, to hack through the thorns and charge forward bravely!"

"However, our village's abundant resources will surely attract countless eyes of greed. The unscrupulous local gentry and powerful clans outside will surely attack and plunder us. We need strength to protect our home!"

"Furthermore, as everyone knows, the imperial court outside is in chaos. The Emperor's authority is weak, while the officials' power is rampant. Eunuchs hold sway, relatives of the empress vie for power, and the local gentry are insatiable. The world is turning cold, and the sparks of a chaotic era have begun to ignite. In such times, we must unite to resist foreign enemies, protect our home, establish our footing, and ensure a stable environment for our children and the elderly!"

"Hiding in a corner to escape for a moment will not allow our home to weather the chaos. Only by holding a power that makes others fear us can we have a voice, have status, and have the ability to protect our families behind us and seek blessings and prosperity for everyone! Therefore, conscription within the territory will be held periodically. I hope that brave men and heroes will be willing to shed their blood to defend our home!"

"Our territory will provide the best benefits for those who go to war. Do not fear that the elderly at home will be left without support, or that the children will go hungry. Our territory is their child, and our territory is their father. Rest assured!"

"A few days ago, when our village upgraded to a medium-level village, evil forces led by countless beasts and villains attacked us to plunder our territory. Fortunately, we had 3,000 warriors to defend our home. They used their flesh and blood to resist those ferocious fangs and cold blades. They are our heroes! The heroes of our home!"

"In defending against those enemies, we lost 89 heroes. They are buried forever in our village cemetery. Though they have passed, they live forever in our hearts! They are the martyrs of our village! We are deeply pained by their sacrifice, but such is the chaotic era; sacrifice is unavoidable. We must press forward and carve out a sky of our own!"

"We are profoundly grateful for their sacrifice. Because of these martyrs, our happy home is preserved, our laughter is kept, and our peaceful lives are secured! Now, please, everyone, raise your cups to honor them!" Lin Mu picked up a cup, held it above his head, and slowly poured out the wine. This wine had been purchased from the market—it was merely coarse, cheap rice wine, but it served its purpose well.

The atmosphere in the plaza became solemn and heavy. Everyone was moved by Lin Mu's words and grieved for the deceased villagers.

After pouring the wine, Lin Mu spoke once more: "The departed are gone like flowing water. May they rest in peace!"