novelraw Chapter 538: The Great Frost is Approaching
Chapter 538: The Great Frost is Approaching
After Falcon Karl left, Li Wei summoned all the generals above the rank of Centurion and the management level in the territory—a total of several hundred people.
He announced that from now on, the Blazing Territory would hold shares in Falcon Karl's territory, and even in the future kingdom.
Yes, this 5% of founding shares meant exactly this. Perhaps there wouldn't be dividends for decades, but once dividends were paid, this would be the jurisprudential foundation of the Blazing Province.
"The assassins have a high probability of not coming again, and even if they do, we are not afraid. There shouldn't be any major changes in the next ten years either. These will be ten years for us to recuperate, develop, and strengthen our foundation. However, we cannot slack off during these ten years either. All legions must formulate a rotating patrol and alert system. There must not be the slightest bit of carelessness."
"Additionally, in a little over a month, it will be time for the half-yearly supplies again. The Blazing Territory is easy to deal with, but on Ah Qing's Territory's side, there are over two hundred thousand ordinary commoners who need to be relocated here in succession. So, Zhao Qingshan, you all must find a way to build suitable resettlement housing within the valley of Liwei Keep."
"There is also the issue of how to arrange the commoners once they migrate over. When there are many people, various affairs will also become very numerous. This requires us to establish completely new departments. Or, following Will City's lead, although we cannot set up nine departments, these five departments—the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Logistics Engineering Department, the Strategic Readiness Department, the Spellcaster Association, and the Resource Management Department for farming, forestry, livestock, side-occupations, and fisheries—must be established!"
"Everyone, do you have any ideas, or suitable candidates to recommend?"
Li Wei threw the question out. The establishment of these departments was all about crossing the river by feeling for Will City, but the candidates were very important. This was because once these five departments were established, everything would become formalized. Everything, or rather the vast majority of people in the territory, including the legions, would have to act according to the rules.
Previously, when there were fewer people, everyone was like eating from the same big pot. Although everyone was eating very well temporarily, it couldn't last long term.
The legions needed to accumulate military merit, and other civil livelihood departments needed to look at performance, and so on and so forth. This was also preparing for the future Blazing Province.If they couldn't even manage a functioning team, how could they become a Duke?
Actually, Li Wei had previously established a fairly perfect team in the Blazing Territory, but unfortunately, it was almost completely crippled and collapsed.
Hearing Li Wei's words at this moment, most people were quite interested, and whispering continued. Soon, a Centurion from the Ice Legion shouted, "Lord, I don't care about the rest, I just want to know, which department is in charge of calculating military merit? Is military merit calculated from the establishment of the department, or is the previous merit also included?"
"Military merit will be the responsibility of the Strategic Readiness Department. As for when to start calculating, it will be calculated from the time we entered the Ascension Continent. But at the same time, the corresponding rewards, as well as the wear and tear of weapons and equipment, the upgrading of profession cards, and so on, must also be included in the calculation. Li Yue, you will be in charge of this section."
Li Wei could only assign people himself, because he found that all the high-level personnel seemed to lack interest. Were they too tired?
Sure enough, Li Yue pointed to her own dark circles and said speechlessly, "Li Wei, you either let me resign from the position of Commander of the Blazing Legion, or hand over the Tailor affairs to someone else. Otherwise, I truly can't squeeze out any time. You can't just keep plucking wool from me alone."
Li Wei had no other choice either. Adjudicating military merit and strategic readiness required coordinating the interests of all legions. Ordinary people really couldn't hold down the fort.
So newcomers like He Yibo, Asu, and Tucker all sat up straight, not looking sideways.
As for Hathaway, she even told him with her gaze: this has nothing to do with me, don't look at me.
So, among the various legions, could someone with sufficient prestige and qualifications be chosen?
Moreover, the Strategic Readiness Department would also be responsible for the territory's daily patrol and early warning, the defense of the perimeter fortresses, and even the staff command of small and medium-sized battles. In the future, when Li Wei led troops on an expedition, who would manage this mess at home?
There had to be someone who could take charge independently.
Zhao Xuanxuan?
Her prestige and qualifications were enough; at least she could suppress the Blazing Legion, but if it came to coordinating the overall situation, it still wouldn't work.
Thomas? Don't even think about it.
How about letting He Yibo try?
But sensing Li Wei's gaze, He Yibo immediately smiled bitterly and shook his head. Newcomers needed to avoid suspicion. For many things, when you, as the boss of the territory, are here, everyone is harmonious. But when the boss isn't here, you have no idea how fierce the disputes below can be.
At the very least, he wouldn't be able to suppress the Blazing Legion.
After a moment of silence, Li Wei finally looked at Li Yue again, "It still has to be you. You no longer need to serve as the Commander of the Blazing Legion. I now appoint you as the Chief of the Strategic Readiness Department, and also the Governor of Liwei Keep. As for the Tailor affairs, you find a way to train talents yourself. Additionally, the seven of you—He Yibo, Asu, Hathaway, Zhao Xuanxuan, Thomas, Tucker, and Zhao Qingshan—will simultaneously serve concurrently as Deputy Staff Officers of the Strategic Readiness Department. If I am away with the main legions, the combat readiness and defense strategies of Liwei Keep and Fierzway Fortress will be decided by Li Yue, and you will be responsible for staff coordination."
"Alright!"
Li Yue agreed this time. Actually, she had wanted to resign from the position of Commander of the Blazing Legion earlier. The reason lay in the clash of her profession cards, making her prone to being countered in terms of Collective Sanity. Therefore, she needed at least ten years to grind one or two brand-new profession cards again, fundamentally solving the problem of Collective Sanity losing control.
Now, the Blazing Legion had also basically grown up. The candidates for the eight Chiliarchs and fifty Centurions had all been determined. This was a legion with the most sound system, perfected from top to bottom.
Even without Li Yue, bringing them out could still fight hard battles.
"Jocelyn, you will temporarily serve as the Commander of the Blazing Legion, and Victor will temporarily serve as the Vice Commander!"
"Understood!"
This personnel change was completed with understatement, and the remaining four departments were simple.
Zhao Qingshan served as the Chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Wang Wei, the head of the Twelve Monkeys under him, served as the Chief of the Logistics Engineering Department. The Chief of the Spellcaster Association was Hathaway, with Tucker as Deputy, and Chekhov, Liu Huan, Kidman, and Hank sitting in. The Chief of the Resource Management Department would be Second Aunt.
That's right, this time Li Wei planned to transfer Second Aunt over. Although the Blazing Territory side was very important, this side was actually even more important.
During this upcoming ten-year recuperation period, if he didn't take advantage of this time to help Second Aunt grind her Alchemist Card up, there wouldn't be any opportunities in the future.
Who knew what the war between Tyrant William and the Neanderthal Army would turn into?
But since this Orson Empire Reconstruction Mission was initiated by Tyrant William, he absolutely couldn't just have his current meager skills.
Yes, over the past year, apart from some minor friction with Duke Juniper, Tyrant William had almost no major movements, which was very abnormal.
This was also where Li Wei felt very helpless. The future changes in the situation were completely out of his own hands to choose.
It felt very much like "I kill you, but it has nothing to do with you."
If Tyrant William could truly heavily defeat the invading Neanderthal Army, well, say no more, he would be at least one-third of the Destined Sovereign.
Not to mention him, a lowly Count of Blazing Flames, even Duke Will, Duke Juniper, and Duke Kaidel wouldn't be able to withstand it!
At that time, if Tyrant William implemented a Commandery-County System, what Count or Duke could they be? Li Wei would only be able to be a local strongman.
At this moment, he truly hoped Tyrant William would drop the chain, but that also meant the Neanderthals would become even more terrifying. All Sapiens would have to be driven out of the Ascension Continent, or be enslaved...
However, if he remembered correctly, under Tyrant William, there was a Frost Duke. Facing such a Great Frost, perhaps other factions could only shrink back, but what if this old acquaintance, the Frost Duke, could lead a legion with up to 99% Frost Magic Resistance and suddenly charge out?
Back then, His Majesty King William had schemed for a long time for this Frost Duke, and had even clashed with Duke Will several times, almost falling out—no, they had actually already fallen out!
At this moment, looking at the pure white snow and ice outside, Li Wei inexplicably felt somewhat worried in his heart.
But for a minor supporting character like him, what use was worrying!
Next, Li Wei directly handed over the defense of Liwei Keep to Li Yue, and led the Guard Legion to plunge straight into the vast snowfield.
70% Magic Immunity was indeed domineering.
Li Wei led the Guard Legion marching all the way to Fierzway Fortress. On the way, apart from the snow being too thick and affecting the march, they hardly felt anything else.
At this time, Fierzway Fortress was dead silent. Only the traces left by Alovier's five hundred black-armored knights could be seen, as well as the traces swept by legion skills.
"We will garrison here today!"
With a command from Li Wei, he transformed into a Level 6 Sky Eagle and soared into the sky. His perception was currently 25, and the Level 6 Sky Eagle could bring him 6 points of perception buff. So he didn't even need to activate Magic-Piercing Perception to raise his total perception to 31. Just based on this point, that assassin from last time could do nothing to him.
As long as he couldn't be suppressed, anything was possible.
However, this place was very quiet. It seemed that Assassin Squad had truly left, but they had absolutely stayed here for a period of time.
After circling once, Li Wei landed and took out some fire crystals to provide heating. Next, he would lead the Guard Legion, using Fierzway Fortress as a stepping stone, to explore deep into the Locke Mountains. On the one hand, it was for training the troops, and on the other hand, it was for hunting magical creatures.
There were absolutely many magical creatures in the Locke Mountains. Previously, unless it was a scout or a druid, even Falcon Karl wouldn't dare to cross the Locke Mountains with a large legion.
Now that the Great Frost had arrived, many magical creatures unaccustomed to Frost Mana would bide their time in hibernation, and their overall strength would drop to the lowest. This was the opportunity to hunt them.
After resting and waiting at Fierzway Fortress for two days, the power of the Great Frost gradually increased, approaching the maximum value.
The most shocking scene appeared. Due to the increase in Frost Mana, although it didn't cause the temperature to plummet to too low a level, it vaporized the accumulated snow on the ground into cold mist.
It was hard to describe what kind of state this was. Anyway, most of the accumulated snow on the ground was vaporized, and then it danced and drifted all over the sky, forming a heavy, dense Frost Mist that blocked off the sky, earth, and mountains. Beyond ten meters, no human silhouette could be seen.
There was a not-so-fierce but quite piercing cold wind shuttling through these Frost Mists. Let alone ordinary people, even Tier-3 transcendents could be blown into getting old cold legs in just a few days.
Li Wei didn't even dare to transform into the Level 6 Sky Eagle anymore. He could only stay with the five hundred Guard Legion at all times in his capacity as the legion commander. Otherwise, without that 70% Magic Immunity, these guards would die in less than a day.
And now, Li Wei had issued two fire crystals to each of them, and they were actually still able to march normally in the Frost Mist.
But there was another trouble, which was that Li Wei's perception was suppressed in the Frost Mist. Normally 25, now it became 20.
However, after he took the Guard Legion out for a stroll, he felt relieved instead, because the Space-Time Interweaving talent of his Light Ranger Card could basically ensure he absolutely wouldn't get lost.
So he only needed to ensure those five hundred guards wouldn't fall behind, and then they could go out to jungle and develop.
It was a pity Adai still needed over four months to complete his upgrade, otherwise there would be even fewer problems.