Arcane Journey

Chapter 137 The New System

Bryan appeared on the streets of Mokou Town. It used to be bustling with people and horses, but now it is full of eerie silence.

Only the town defense team formed by the Dragon Skeleton Mercenary Group can be seen everywhere like ghosts.

They are fully armed and patrol the streets and alleys, never leaving their weapons.

"My lord, according to your instructions, I have placed all the freed slaves and freedmen in the concentration camps in the west." Graal glanced at the empty streets and reported to Brian.

"How about the food problem?" Brian asked after noticing that five adventurers were dragging the body of a dead horse out of the alley.

He knew that Mokou Town looked very peaceful at the moment, but it was all an illusion. Those slave owners and merchants who failed in their resistance, and even the remnants of the Zhentarim Society, were still hiding in the dark corners of the town, waiting patiently for an opportunity Backfire on him.

"No problem for now."

Graal said, "According to your instructions, when we were preparing to capture Mokou Town, I had already sent multiple caravans to Arabe City and Tiffantun to buy food."

Bryan nodded in satisfaction, and asked as he walked, "I heard that there is a powerful caravan that has neither joined us, nor is it willing to return the land and resources it occupied, is that true?"

"That's right, this is a caravan from the Kingdom of Cormyr."

Graal frowned and said to him, "People from the Eagle Chamber of Commerce have always been very low-key. They occupy the largest gold, copper and iron mines around Mokou Town. I originally planned to wait for the town to restore order. reported to you."

"It turned out to be the Eagle Chamber of Commerce." Brian nodded thoughtfully, and asked curiously, "Is the owner behind this chamber of commerce Prince Serrant?"

If his expectations were correct, the prince of the Kingdom of Cormyr had already begun to secretly collude with the Bane Church while the king was leading an army on an expedition to the Dragon Coast.

"You know their details?" Graal looked at him in surprise, and said truthfully:

"That's right, the owner behind the Eagle Chamber of Commerce is indeed Prince Serrant of the Kingdom of Cormyr. In fact, I have always been curious about what means they used to occupy the most abundant resources in Mokou Town."

"No matter what means they use." Brian said with a slightly cold expression, "as long as they refuse to return the occupied land and resources, they all belong to our enemies."

As soon as he spoke, he had already quickly thought of a way to deal with this chamber of commerce.

In any case, at this moment, he belongs to the most orthodox legal lord of Mokou Town in the Kingdom of Cormyr, and all the resources here naturally belong to him.

No matter who it is, it is impossible to take it from him by force.

"I understand." Sensing the determination in the lord's words, Graal nodded solemnly, keeping it in his heart.

After a while, they arrived at their destination.

The temporary camp set up on the west side of the town can be described as foul-smelling.

This place was originally a slum, and nearly 2000 slaves were all concentrated and isolated here—men, women, the elderly, children, little girls, and newborn babies, and even a few such as ogres, goblins, and gnolls. Evil race.

Due to the small number of houses, many tents were temporarily set up here, and surrounding drainage ditches were excavated around the camp, and flowing river water was introduced to facilitate sewage drainage.

Nearly a hundred guards stood in front of the temporary gate, and at the same time, there were more than a dozen wooden frames with dead bodies hanging on them.

Apparently, these were slaves trying to escape by chance.

In fact, the area of ​​Mokou Town is not small, and the first lord of Mokou Town was established according to the standards of a city.

However, this lord has only been in business for less than two years, and many buildings have not yet been completed. He was ravaged by the red dragon and ruled by a group of evil forces dominated by the Zhentarim. As a result, except for the rock bunker where Brian lived, merchants concentrated The trading commercial streets and the areas where the rich lived are fairly visible, with messy stone walls and crumbling wooden houses everywhere.

That is to say, apart from the strong city walls, this town is a complete mess inside.

If one overlooks the entire town from a high height, the most striking thing is the bowl-shaped bloody arenas that look like moths.

Even Brian frowned when he saw it, and even suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder, with the urge to fill up all these deep holes.

"I heard that there are about 500 mountain dwarves living in the Sunset Mountains."

After Brian got used to the stench around him, he looked around, looked at the messy buildings, and said to Graal, "Arrange someone to help me deliver a letter to these dwarves. Mokou Town wants to re-plan, and it is necessary Some dwarves skilled in building crafts are needed."

"But." Graal hesitated for a moment, and couldn't help but said: "My lord is so busy building, I'm worried that our money will not keep up with the consumption. After all, there are nearly [-] slaves here, even if they don't do anything, they spend a lot of money every day." Food is also a huge expense."

"There has never been a free lunch in the world." Faced with Graal's worries, Brian smiled indifferently, "They will be able to play their role soon."

In his plan, in addition to reclaiming the wasteland, these slaves also need to serve as laborers and contribute to the reconstruction of Mokou Town.

Originally, he could force them to do these things in the name of the lord and the threat of a whip.

But as a reborn person from the real world, Brian is of course aware of the pros and cons of this system.

Although the broad mind and rich knowledge from the traverser allowed him to have many plans and plans, and it is inevitable that he will have a great ambition in his heart, but he is not a fish that slipped through the net of the nine-year compulsory education, and he is also very clear about the skyscrapers. The true meaning of rising from the ground.

Brian used the levitation technique to float above the slave camp, and looked at the numb and cowering faces below subconsciously staring at him. He knew that at this time he must not talk to them about lofty ideals, a bright future, etc. on discourse.

Therefore, the best way is to tell them something that is closely related to their lives, and light a fire of hope in their numb and ignorant hearts that cannot see any hope.

"People of Mokou Town!" Brian stood with his hands behind his back, overlooking the people in the town, and said loudly.

He specially blessed the sound amplification spell, and the moment he blurted out, the entire town, whether it was an adventurer hiding in a tavern to avoid the limelight, or a slipping businessman living in a wealthy area, all heard his words clearly .

At the same time, the polymath Tysonde, who was silently observing the situation in the town, hastily put down the book in his hand, opened the window to face the pouring morning light, and looked in the direction where the words came out.

Priest Karina who was wandering around the camp cast a healing spell to heal a wounded person, then got up and looked up at Brian floating in mid-air with interest.

"You should all know who I am, so you should also know that I am the person with the most right to speak in this territory, so what I say can represent the law of Mokou Town."

"I know that the world most of you imagine is a world full of fear, where there are no legal books, decrees, and illusions about justice, but only lawlessness, chaos, tyranny, selfishness of dictators, and the passion of careerists. The blindness of evil fanatics, the cruelty of self-proclaimed justice, and the whip and torture that symbolize death."

There was commotion from the crowd below, especially the glazed-eyed slaves.

Obviously, Brian's words that touched them deeply touched the most vulnerable point in their hearts.

"I don't care where you are from or what you have done, I will not ask, I just need to know that from the moment you stand on my territory, you belong to my people, then I have the right to Obliged to protect your safety."

"Now, I am announcing something to everyone in Mokou Town." Bryan clearly said to everyone:
"From today onwards, no matter who you are or what your race is, as long as you stand on the land of Mokou Town, I will grant freedom to all slaves unconditionally, and you will have the right to freedom of life and the right to property protection."

"Because I'm not an idealist, nor a moralist, as a lord standing under the banner of Zilong, I have the right and obligation to let the just law rule this land, at any cost, by any means, and do my best. "

"Because the law is not a legal theory, not a tome full of philosophical treatises, not a fantasy of justice, not a trite moral and ethical vocabulary, the law is a road and a path that can be safely passed, even if it is dark, you can be safe Walking on the streets of the city, you can safely go to the toilet in pubs and hotels, and leave your wallet and wife at the table. The law allows people to sleep peacefully until the rooster crows, and for those who break the law, waiting for their future Ropes, axes, and red-hot irons!"

"This is the end of my words. If you are willing to abide by the laws of Mokou Town, you should bravely walk out of the gate of the camp and register with the relevant personnel. Only in this way will you become civilians in Mokou Town and enjoy the benefits have rights and obligations.

As for whether you can become an official citizen of Mokou Town in the future, it depends on your future efforts.However, at least for you, you already have a starting point that has become very high compared to the past. "

"I once again solemnly promise you that any industrious and reliable civilian, as long as he works hard, can become a full-fledged citizen of the territory, establish his own land and home, and prosper. Are you really willing to spend your whole life, To those who treat you like ants?"

Brian's sonorous and powerful words echoed in everyone's ears, like a heavy bomb falling on Mokou Town, and it exploded instantly.

In the camp, the slaves with dull and uneasy expressions became completely chaotic after the initial commotion.

Obviously, slaves become freemen, in the society of this era, itself is a challenge to the routine and order.

Even the most famous Lord of Dawn in the good camp rejects slavery, but the church has never raised such an idea.

After all, no nobleman would let his slaves be freed casually.

For them, slaves mean cheap, and they can drain the last drop of blood from them without any burden.

Even Netheril, known as the greatest arcane empire of mankind, still implements the slave system. The great arcanists only know how to extract funds for their magic research by continuously increasing taxes and labor.

The mechanical empire Imaskar was overturned by the gods believed by the slaves because of its endless plundering of slaves from the outside world.

And Bryan, not only did not squeeze their use of oppression, but directly abolished their slave status, giving them hope to survive.

"Lord Lord, Your Excellency" In the chaotic camp, a dirty goblin wearing only a rag skirt climbed onto the stone and spoke tremblingly.

When the goblin saw the kind eyes of the lord floating in mid-air on him, he mustered up his courage, regained control of his speech, and said to him, "I want to ask, can a goblin also become a free citizen?" ?”

A few evil races such as ogres, trolls, and gnolls standing around the goblin couldn't help but keep quiet, looking up at the Lord of Mokou Town.

"As I said, anyone, any race, naturally includes you." Brian floated down from mid-air and landed in front of the shivering goblin, recalling the goblin copper block he knew in the Underdark, his tone Say softly:
"I have seen the noblest goblins and the humblest human beings. I hope you will not give in to your soul just because of the difference in blood. If you are willing, the gate of Mokou Town will be open for you at any time."

"Yes, yes, we are all willing!"

The goblin hurriedly knelt down on the ground excitedly, then greeted the strangely shaped companions beside him, and ran towards the registration personnel at the gate of the camp first.

The goblin's running was like a sign of giving orders, and most people reacted and rushed towards the gate in a swarm.

Seeing this, Brian waved his hand, placed an enchantment in front of the guards who were under pressure, and then left with the light of the magic circle.

In his planning, slavery was a serious hindrance to productivity.

If the slaves were not freed, there would be no way to liberate enough working people. To establish a country based on the magic industry, a large number of common people and spellcasters with knowledge were needed, not a worthless slave class who could only sell coolies.

The next thing will be easier. At this time, it is naturally impossible for Brian, who is a lord, to explain the specific details and how to become a freeman and perhaps obtain land and houses.

These things can go smoothly as long as Graal is carried out according to the plan he wrote.

And he still has the most important thing to do right now, which is how to resist the counterattack of the City of Shadows. If Mokou Town falls because of this, then no matter how much he does, it will be useless.

Just as Brian was leaving, Priest Karina, who was standing in the crowd, nodded thoughtfully, and said to herself:

"It's quite an interesting lord. With so many slaves regaining their freedom, there will definitely be an upsurge in land reclamation and farming for the territories around Mokou Town. Hope, growth, harvest, and reproduction are the eternal cycle. Such Lord, you deserve the protection of the Mother Earth."

After Karina finished speaking, she raised her head and glanced in the direction of the Enook Desert, then turned and left silently.

She could foresee the crisis that Mokou Town was about to face, and she had to go back to the temple to tell the high priest what happened here.

After all, among the conditions that the lord gave her, it can be said that he fully supports the belief spread of the Mother Earth Church.

In Karina's impression, the golden garden of Waterdeep City is a huge monastery and farm compound with walls, and it is also the current pride of Chauntia.

The Goddess is said to be delighted with the community of more than 5000 devotees who farm more than 20 square kilometers of adjoining land and outlying land on the banks of the Desharin River.

This is the largest and most dynamic project currently undertaken by the followers of Mother Earth, and it has become the breadbasket of the Northland.

The Golden Fields also replaced the older Harvest House in central Amn as the most important center of the Earth Mother faith, but that gorgeous garden of all-female Temple Sisters remains unrivaled in the known Realms .

However, even this smaller Temple of Chontea's No. 2 status has been challenged by the Monastery of the Golden Ear of Wheat in the Misty Valley, which diligently serves the valley with admirable skill. .

The newly appointed lord of Mokou Town directly stated to her that she would build a monastery and granary for the Mother of the Earth that could replace the golden garden of Waterdeep City.

At first, she didn't believe the other party's boast.

But when she learned that the lord was wearing a purple dragon seal ring of the highest quality in the Kingdom of Cormyr, and saw his behavior today, she realized that the other party might really have this ability.

After all, she witnessed the radiance of hope that these dull-eyed slaves radiated with the inspiring words of the lord.

Karina didn't hesitate anymore, and directly activated the teleportation spell, disappearing in place.

At the same time, Tysonde, the priest of the God of Knowledge who lived in the hotel, also closed the window with Brian's departure, and sat in a chair and fell into deep thought.

Thinking of the conditions proposed by the lord of Mokou Town, he couldn't help recalling some past events.

Several centuries ago, the God of Knowledge wanted to popularize knowledge vigorously, but soon encountered obstacles from all sides, including churches, nobles, royal families, and so on.

Even ordinary people refuse to acquire knowledge.

Because in a poor family, seven or eight-year-old children are an available labor force. It is very unreliable to give up labor to support them in their studies.

The result is obvious, and the large-scale distribution of enlightenment books has failed.

Oghma, the god of knowledge, has returned to preserving knowledge.

Obviously, without a sufficient degree of civilization, knowledge is very difficult to spread.

Tysander can see from the lord of Mokou Town's abolition of slavery that he dared to break the original rules and order of the entire world, and he really intends to do so.

Population, resources, and knowledge are the foundation for a civilization to grow stronger.

He no longer hesitated, activated the divine teleportation technique, and returned to Araby City as quickly as possible.

Tysander has even made up his mind to cooperate with the lord of Mokou Town if the archbishop rejects his proposal.

He immediately took his own power, took the initiative to break away from the 'Golden Laurel' organization, and defected to the lord of Mokou Town.

For him, no matter in terms of fairness or private discussion, he thinks it is the most correct choice at the moment.

(End of this chapter)