Self-Proclaimed

The sudden arrival of refugees was not a major matter, but coming at this particular time meant it had to be taken seriously. Once the decision had been settled, Qin Yuan set down the dossiers and left the County Office with Yi Kui.

Four hundred thousand survivors already counted as prosperous for a county-level division, yet the streets of the new city were bleak and desolate. Other than armored knights patrolling back and forth, not a single pedestrian could be seen. The customs from their time in the Underground Palace were still being maintained.

As they walked, the two discussed the various affairs within the city.

Back when they were underground, whenever anything major happened, the few Divine Officials would gather to discuss it. Now Li Xing was dead, Simin was far away at the young lord's side, and these four hundred thousand divine people could only rely on the two of them.

"The Tian'an Chamber of Commerce stopped supplying us last month."

"Rice, flour, grain, and oil are fine. The storehouses are all full, and if ordinary divine people continue receiving rations as they did in the Underground Palace, we should hold out until the end of next year. The important thing is the various medicinal stones needed for your training of the new army. At the current rate, we'll run dry in a month at most."

"Also, the Black Scale Guard warned me yesterday that the divine people managing the storehouses seem to have sticky fingers. They hid away several thousand jin of meat when goods were taken out."

"Those divine people transporting rations are also using their authority over distribution to privately trade for mating rights."

"Now that we've left the Underground Palace, the custom of rotational mating has to change eventually. And there are far too