Ye Yin immediately issued his first order as the new lord.
"General Shi, from today onwards, Yin Feng Territory will enter a state of war preparedness. The garrison will be expanded to five hundred men, and their pay will be doubled. I'll resolve the equipment and funding issues as soon as possible."
He then looked at Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, I'm entrusting you and a team from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School with planning the new city, clearing trade routes, and developing our economy. No problem, right?"
Ning Rongrong confidently patted her small chest. "Leave it to me! I guarantee Yin Feng Territory will become the most prosperous trade center in the entire southwest! It's a piece of cake!"
He turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, you'll be responsible for city defense and public order. I also need you to form a reconnaissance team to monitor the borders and the movements of any spirit beasts."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded crisply. "Okay."
"Xiao Wu, you can assist Zhuqing. Your perception and speed will be very useful."
"No problem!" Xiao Wu replied with a grin.
"Elder Dugu," Ye Yin said with a smile to Dugu Bo, "I'll have to trouble you to oversee the city and deter any troublemakers. While you're at it, could you help me see if there are any valuable mineral deposits or poisonous resources nearby that are worth exploiting?"
Dugu Bo snorted. "You're always ordering this old man around. Fine, it's not like I have anything better to do."
Dai Mubai then spoke up. "Yin Ge, Little San and I can lead a team to clear out the spirit beasts around the territory. We can train the new soldiers at the same time!"
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Ye Yin said with a smile. "As for logistical supplies and food production…" He looked back at Shi Jian. "General Shi, this matter is of the utmost importance. I'll need you to put in extra effort. Rongrong will arrange for the first batch of food and supplies from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. After that, we'll need to become self-sufficient."
Shi Jian immediately clasped his fists. "Your subordinate obeys! I will do my best!"
Ye Yin finally addressed them all. "Everyone, perform your duties and let's get Yin Feng Territory up and running as quickly as possible. This will be our foundation."
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.
Shi Jian watched as Ye Yin clearly and decisively assigned tasks, and he was secretly surprised. This young count was completely different from the other noble heirs who had come to the frontier just to gain experience. Perhaps he was treating this place as his own, which was why he was putting in so much effort.
In the days that followed, the dormant frontier land of Yin Feng Territory was injected with a powerful vitality and began to operate at high speed. With the massive financial and material support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, carts loaded with food, building materials, and weapons were continuously transported in.
Ning Rongrong displayed an astonishing talent for business and management. She personally planned the construction of a new urban area and re-established trade routes leading to the Heaven Dou Empire, the Balak Kingdom, and the Xilxis Duchy. Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu led the reorganized city defense army, clearing out bandits and small groups of spirit beasts, quickly earning the awe of the local residents. Dai Mubai and Tang San led an elite squad into the outer regions of the Star Dou Great Forest, hunting down more dangerous spirit beasts and honing their team's skills.
Shi Jian was busy organizing the people to reclaim wasteland and build irrigation systems, while Dugu Bo occasionally took action, effortlessly eliminating several ten-thousand-year spirit beasts that threatened the villages. The terrifying power of a Titled Douluo quickly spread, making the surrounding forces wary of their new neighbor.
The construction of the territory was in full swing, but Ye Yin knew that this external progress needed to be supported by internal loyalty. It was time for the system to provide some help.
He finally decided to use the lottery system again. "System, ten consecutive draws!"
The lottery panel instantly began to spin.
[Congratulations! You have received Netherworld Essential Oil x 5!]
[Congratulations! You have received Powerful Medicine x 5!]
[Reward: Netherworld Essential Oil and Powerful Medicine have been added to the Special Shop.]
"Is my luck already this high?" he wondered.
╭────── Grudge Value System ──────╮
Grudge Value Lottery:
Draw for various items not available in the store.
100 grudge value for one draw.
1000 grudge value for ten consecutive draws.
Special Shop:
Surströmming: 10 grudge value
Marrow Cleansing Fruit: 50 grudge value
Black Garlic: 30 grudge value
Soul Cleansing Fruit: 50 grudge value
Bursting Stinky Tofu: 10 grudge value
Lucky Dice: 100 grudge value
Netherworld Essential Oil: 100 grudge value
Powerful Medicine: 50 grudge value
╰──────────────────────────╯
"Another ten consecutive draws!"
[Congratulations! Reward: One Wangzai Awesome Candy!]
[Wangzai Awesome Candy: If a female consumes it and becomes pregnant within three months, the talent and potential of the fetus will be significantly enhanced. The gestation period will be shortened to five months, and childbirth risks will be greatly reduced.]
[Congratulations! Reward: One Wangzai Awesome Candy!]
…
[Thank you for your patronage! Reward: One Ding Dong Chicken!]
[Ding Dong Chicken: A special creation. After making a soup with this chicken, anyone who drinks it will develop an extremely high degree of trust and obedience towards the person who made and served the soup. The effect is stackable and only works on people whose strength is lower than yours.]
Ye Yin looked at the fat hen that had suddenly appeared in his hand—with its smooth feathers, dull eyes, and a small bell around its neck—and the familiar packaging of the candy. He couldn't help but exclaim, "System… your prizes are getting more and more abstract…"
Then he read the descriptions of the two items, and his eyes instantly lit up. "Good stuff! These are simply divine artifacts for developing my influence and improving the quality of my population!" He couldn't help but praise the system. You truly are a good system!
Ye Yin unhesitatingly started drawing again, obtaining a large number of Ding Dong Chickens and Wangzai Awesome Candies. He immediately began to act on his new plan.
First, the Ding Dong Chicken Soup.
He had Shi Jian set up several large pots outside the City Lord's mansion, under the guise that the Count was showing his care for the soldiers and civilians by bestowing a nourishing meat soup upon them. Ye Yin personally began to clean the large number of chickens. However, the process was slightly bizarre. When the first Ding Dong Chicken was placed in the boiling water, it actually made a sound.
"Ding Dong Chicken, Ding Dong Chicken…"
"Ding Dong Chicken, Ding Dong Chicken…"
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