The early morning sun shone into the Dragon Rock Hall, and a map of Dragon Rock Territory was spread out in front of Lin Qin. He circled a few key locations on it with a charcoal pen, and then summoned all the supervisors.
"Starting from today, there are three new rules." Lin Qin's voice clearly spread throughout the hall, "First, establish a merit point system. All citizens, regardless of origin, will be rewarded with merit points based on their contribution, which can be exchanged for residence, food, and training resources."
Hosen's eyes lit up. "This is great! The soldiers must be working hard."
"Second, schools were opened in each city to teach literacy and arithmetic to children aged six to twelve for free. The teachers were selected from the scribes who surrendered."
Old Jack stroked his beard and nodded. "This is a great benefit. Ten years later, there will be no shortage of literate people in the territory."
"Third, form an official caravan and open up new trade routes. The caravan guards will be dispatched by the War Hall, and 30% of the profits will be distributed among the caravan members."
Soros immediately understood. "You can not only exchange what you need, but also cultivate your own businessmen."
The new decree was quickly posted at the gates of each city. At first, people were still watching until Shi Gen was the first to receive the reward. The mason led his apprentices to strengthen the Black Wind City wall and completed it ten days ahead of schedule. After checking that the quality was up to standard, Lin Qin personally awarded one hundred merit points. Shi Gen used these points to exchange for a stone house with a yard, and also brought his old mother from the countryside.
The news spread, and the people in the area were excited.
In Graystone City, a farmer named Mason improved his farming methods and increased the yield per mu by 20%, and received fifty merit points. He used these points to exchange for a farming cow and high-quality seeds.
"The lord keeps his word!" Mason led the cattle on the street, attracting countless envious eyes.
In Green Valley City, carpenter Old John led his apprentices to make tables and chairs for the school. After completion, he not only received wages, but also received an additional thirty merit points.
"I Old John will have no say in what the lord asks me to do in the future!"
Lilia of the medical team is extremely busy these days. She and her newly recruited assistants rush to various cities to treat the wounded and prevent and treat epidemics. Once a mining area collapsed, she didn't sleep for three days and three nights and saved seventeen lives.
After Lin Qin learned about it, she was promoted to deputy director of the medical team and awarded 200 merit points.
"I just did what I had to do." Lilia held the reward, his hands shaking slightly.
Black Wind City's first school was located in the side courtyard of the former city lord's palace. Edwin was appointed as the school supervisor. This former temple deacon showed amazing management skills.
"Teaching materials must be unified, starting with Thousand-Character Essay and Basics of Arithmetic." Edwin said to the recruited teachers, "There is an assessment every ten days, which tests both students and teachers."
On the first day of school, more than eighty children came. Some of them were street children, some whose parents were miners, and some were children of small traders. The children wore patched clothes, but their eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"The sky and the earth are dark and yellow, the universe is primitive..." The sound of reading loudly came from the school, and people passing by couldn't help but stop.
There is a child named Little Stone who is particularly hard-working. His father works in a mine and his mother died young. Every day after school, he would practice writing on the ground under the afterglow of the setting sun.
"I want to learn arithmetic well so that I can help my father calculate wages and not let the foreman deduct the money." Little Stone said to Edwin.
Edwin touched his head and gave him an extra set of pen and paper.
The establishment of the official caravan did not go smoothly. The first three caravans went in different directions. The West Road caravan was led by the old businessman Fox, and its destination was the O'Brien Empire border.
"I have walked this road for twenty years, and I can touch it with my eyes closed." Fox was full of confidence.
However, the caravan encountered bandits on the tenth day after setting off. Fortunately, the guard captain was cautious and sent out scouts in advance, but instead led the bandits into an ambush.
"It's Dragon Rock Territory's caravan! Escape!" The bandit leader recognized the Longyan mark on the caravan's flag and fled in a hurry.
It turns out that Bader's crackdown operation during this period has spread, and the reputation of "Dragon Rock Territory is not easy to mess with" is spreading in the surrounding areas.
The caravan successfully arrived at its destination and exchanged minerals and medicinal materials for much-needed food and ironware. According to the new rules, 30% of the profits were distributed among the caravan members. The gold coins distributed to the guards were equivalent to three months' military pay, and they were all smiling.
Just when Dragon Rock Territory was flourishing, Dark Church's revenge quietly came.
On a full-moon night, Crimson Flame City's granary suddenly caught fire. Fortunately, the night watch soldiers discovered it in time and the fire was quickly controlled. A black emblem - a poisonous snake entwined dagger - was found at the scene, which was the mark of Dark Church.
"They started to attack people's livelihood facilities." Soros was worried.
Lin Qin's expression remained unchanged. "Strengthen the guard of important facilities and implement a shift system. Tell Murphy that it's his turn to take action."
The supervisory team of Murphy took action immediately. Based on the information obtained from the previous interrogation, they launched an investigation in the area. Three days later, two lurkers of Dark Church were captured in Blackwater City. The two men disguised themselves as medicinal merchants and secretly collected intelligence on Dragon Rock Territory.
"Tell me your contact point and you can die more happily." Murphy's voice was as cold as ice.
One of them laughed wildly, "Death is just a return to the embrace of darkness!"
The other person had twinkling eyes. Murphy keenly noticed this detail and interrogated the two men separately. In the end, the person with twinkling eyes confessed and revealed the locations of three secret contact points.
A month later, Dragon Rock Territory was initially stable. Seeing that the situation was stable, the merchants who left began to return one after another. New caravans also came from various places, wanting to see what this place that dared to challenge the two major Theocracys was like.
On the school grounds, training for new recruits was in full swing. Hosen personally demonstrated spear thrusting, while Bader taught new recruits how to respond to cavalry charges.
"Remember! In Dragon Rock Territory, military merit is the most important!" Hosen's voice spread throughout the school, "As long as you have the ability, civilians can also become generals!"
A thin recruit was punished for extra practice because of substandard movements. As night fell, he was still practicing thrusting movements repeatedly on the school field.
"What's your name?" Lin Qin arrived at the school grounds at some unknown time.
The recruit hurriedly saluted. "Sir, my name is Alan. I am originally the son of a miner."
"Why join the army?"
"I want my family to live a good life." Alan straightened his thin chest, "I also want to... become a person like General Hosen."
Lin Qin nodded and said to Hosen next to him, "Starting tomorrow, night training will be added. Those who are willing to participate will have their food standards raised."
Soros came to see Lin Qin with the latest statistics. "Currently, the number of registered talents of various types has reached 1,200. The food reserve can last for three months, and the army has been expanded to 8,000."
"Not enough." Lin Qin looked out the window, "Continue to recruit people, especially craftsmen and teachers. The army must strengthen practical training."
"But resources..."
"If you don't have enough resources, get them." Lin Qin turned around and said, "Tell the caravans to increase the purchase price of minerals. Tell the cities to open up wasteland tax-free for three years."
As night fell, Lin Qin was practicing alone in the courtyard. Heavy Sword was as light as nothing in his hand, and the blade of the sword cut through the air, making a subtle sound of breaking through the air. The power of the earth circulated in the body, integrating with the sword's power.
Pallas fell silently in the courtyard. "Theocracy will not give up..."
"I know." Lin Qin put away his sword and stood up, "They are just clowns. I hope they come quickly."