Damn it!
"Aura Kingdom is not as scary as the rumors say. With this recruitment order, maybe... I can give it a try."
Once this idea arises, it takes root in my heart.
In the next three days, Caleb struggled internally.
He walked through familiar streets, saw Aura soldiers maintaining order, saw shops reopening one after another, and saw civilians' faces gradually becoming less fearful and more hopeful as they lined up to receive food.
He also saw people who tried to steal or cause trouble being quickly subdued and taken away, and it was said that they would be tried according to the newly promulgated summary law.
Finally, in the early morning of the fourth day, Caleb made up his mind.
He carefully sorted out his few clothes, adjusted his harp, and followed the address in the recruitment order to a posthouse in the east of the city that was originally used to receive business travelers but was now temporarily requisitioned.
A room on the second floor of the post house was converted into an interview room.
The room was empty, with only a thick wooden table and a few chairs. The windows were open, letting in the morning light and the faint noises from the street.
Sitting behind the table is a male Werewolf.
He has a thin face, a protruding muzzle, and a fine gray-black mane. He has a pair of very sharp tawny eyes, and he is looking down at the document in his hand.
Caleb When he entered the door, he raised his eyes and looked over. The look in his eyes made the poet feel nervous and almost wanted to turn around and exit.
"Sit." Werewolf's voice was straight and smooth, and he pointed to the chair opposite.
His Common Tongue is very standard, and there is no accent at all. If you didn't look at his appearance, Caleb would think that the other person is a human bureaucrat.
Caleb sat down and placed the harp carefully at his feet.
"Bard, Caleb·Luster."
Werewolf looked down at the piece of paper in front of him. There seemed to be some simple records on it, "Four days ago in the afternoon, in the central square, you played and sang a song for the Aura ladies who were distributing food. My people heard it nearby."
Caleb's heart tightened.
It turned out that I had been noticed a long time ago.
The seemingly peaceful place seems to have many hidden eyes.
"Don't be nervous." Werewolf raised his head and looked directly at him, "We are recruiting people like you who know how to move people's hearts with their voices and stories, and what kind of words can make people remember and resonate."
He crossed the fingers of his hands and placed them on the table. His posture seemed very relaxed, but his eyes were still sharp.
"Let's put it bluntly, we need new songs and new stories about His Majesty Red Emperor, about the Aura Kingdom, about the new order and future of this land. We need to make ordinary people understand, willing to listen, and even willing to sing."
Caleb licked his dry lips. "Specific... what kind of content is needed?"
"Several directions."
Werewolf's voice was unhurried and he had obviously said it many times, "First, His Majesty's power and great achievements."
"Northern Frontier rose up, established a kingdom, broke through natural obstacles, and swept away enemy armies... These facts should be exaggerated and sung in the way that you Bard are good at, to highlight His Majesty's strength, wisdom and inevitable victory."
"Second, Aura Kingdom's order and justice."
"Emphasis on our attitude towards those who are submissive is like distributing food in the square, like maintaining law and order on the streets. The chaos is over. The new rules will ensure the safety and basic survival of everyone. Those who abide by the rules, regardless of their original identity, will be protected and even have the opportunity to have a better life."
"Third, the futility and stupidity of resistance."
"The greed and incompetence of the old Theo nobles led to defeat and the suffering of the people. Continuing to resist will only bring more destruction. Only by following the trend and accepting new rulers can you survive, and may even be an opportunity to change your class and improve your status. You can add some examples of those who surrendered and gained benefits, either real or reasonably fabricated."
Werewolf paused, observing Caleb's reaction, and then continued, "We will provide the basic events and key points, and some former Theo officials or scholars who have surrendered will also provide background information."
"What you need to do is to weave these materials into catchy and easy-to-spread songs, heroic poems, or short and concise stories, and then sing and tell them in pubs, street corners, markets, soup kitchens, and anywhere else people gather."
"We will have people observing and evaluating the effects of the spread."
Caleb is silent.
He is not an ignorant person, and he knows very well what Werewolf means.
This means that he has to become the mouthpiece of Aura, singing praises for the conquerors he once feared, and convincing his compatriots to accept the new ruler.
A strong sense of betrayal surged into his heart, mixed with complex emotions about the old kingdom, and made his stomach twitch.
He stood up suddenly, the chair legs making a screeching sound as they rubbed against the stone floor.
He glared at Werewolf, wanting to say something to defend his dignity.
"Don't worry." Werewolf's expression did not change, as if he was used to this kind of reaction.
He took out a small leather bag from under the table, untied the tie, and poured the contents onto the table with a clatter.
Not silver coins, but gold coins!
Five well-cast gold coins with clear edges shone attractively in the sunlight coming from the window, almost blinding Caleb's eyes.
He has never had so many gold coins in his life.
"Here's an advance payment, prove your worth, then take the job and they're yours."
Werewolf said calmly, "After that, based on the quantity and quality of the works you submit, as well as the communication effect of our feedback, the settlement will be made once a week. The basic remuneration can be paid in silver coins per week, or converted into equivalent amounts of grain, cloth, salt and other necessities."
"Those with outstanding results will also be rewarded with gold coins."
Caleb opened his mouth, wanting to refuse righteously. He wanted to say that he would never betray his kingdom or praise the invaders.
But then, he thought of Ogre's careless gaze; he thought of Centauri's warm eyes and her words "We won't eat people"; he thought of the cold look of the nobles when they collected taxes; he thought of his empty wallet and his often growling stomach, and what these gold coins could bring him.
As a result, the impassioned speech that rushed to his lips got stuck in his throat.
He stood, his body trembling slightly, his eyes moving back and forth between the gold coins and Werewolf's calm face.
Finally, he sat back silently.
A glimmer of understanding flashed in Werewolf's eyes, but there was no look of ridicule or pride. He just pushed the five gold coins forward.
"Write a hymn to the great Majesty Ignas as a test of your level. There is no specific format, but it must be powerful and impressive."
Werewolf took out a piece of paper and a quill pen from the drawer and pushed them over.
Bard was silent for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and picked up the pen.
He did not write immediately, but closed his eyes. In his mind, he recalled the scene on that day when Red Emperor came to Iris City.
The huge red dragon shadow flew across the sky, and the shadow cast by its wings seemed to cover the entire city. Its majesty and power were truly terrifying.
He also remembered all the legends about Red Emperor.
Since the rise of Northern Frontier in the wasteland, he has unified the chaotic tribes, established a kingdom, personally picked Satellite in space, and defeated the proud pass of Theo... like a legendary existence living in reality.
Countless inspirations come from my mind.
When he opened his eyes, his eyes had become focused, even with a hint of the creator's enthusiasm.
He dipped in ink and began writing quickly on the paper, occasionally pausing to consider the words.
Werewolf didn't rush, just waited quietly.
About a quarter of an hour later, Caleb put down the pen and turned the paper over.
He cleared his throat and read out the verses he had written in his best chanting accent.
"Oh, you who live in Molten Iron Throne, your wings cover the sky of the northern frontier, and we can look up to the burning sun on your scales.
You were born from flames and steel, dividing the border between night and day with Dragon Breath.
Under your shadow, the tide of chaos calms; under your gaze, the cornerstone of order is established.
"You said: Whoever obeys my law will be protected; whoever is loyal to my standard will enjoy peace; there will be no needless famine under my wings; there will be no unjust plunder in my territory.
Those who obey this commandment: The craftsman will enjoy the perfection of his skills in front of the furnace; the farmer will see the fertile waves in the fields; the scholar will find the traces of truth in the scroll; the family will continue the incense and warmth in the solid stone house."
"Oh, as rough iron is purified in fire, so the soul is strengthened in fidelity.
Our descendants will sing your name like the cycle of the four seasons;
Our swords will defend your way as if they were our own doors.
Only by following the trajectory of the red star can the soul escape from the confused frozen soil and reach the eternal dawn.
"Ah, there is no need to praise the sun in the sky, because the great Red Emperor, the great Ignas, His Majesty, he is our real sun,
May your flame always burn, may your kingdom last forever,
From this moment to the end of all eternity."
After reading the last syllable, the room fell silent.
Werewolf read the words on the paper in silence and thought about the recitation just now.
After a moment, he nodded with an approving expression on his face.
"Okay."
Werewolf put the piece of paper away, "This proves that you have the ability we need."
He took out a piece of paper with a slightly better texture from under the table, with a simple contract clause written on it in Common Tongue and a few lines of more specific creative points, including some events that must be mentioned, sensitive topics that need to be avoided, and the theme direction that is encouraged.
"Sign it, you can just fingerprint it. This is your first official task list. There are requirements for three poems and two short stories. The first draft should be submitted within five days."
Werewolf pushed the contract over and said, "You can take the advance payment with you."
"Remember, the breadth and acceptance of the spread will directly affect your subsequent rewards and bonuses. We will have people go to the pub to record the audience's reactions, and we will also collect rumors among the market."
"I... what if the story I write is not exactly the key points you provided, but I add some... embellishments of my own? In order to make the story more vivid."
Bard asked tentatively, trying to retain some creative freedom and professional dignity.
Werewolf's pupils shrank slightly, but his tone remained calm. "The core content cannot deviate from the main points."
"As for embellishments... we encourage embellishments that make a story more engaging and easier to spread, provided that it serves the message we want to convey rather than weakening or distorting it."
He leaned forward slightly, and his tone had an unmistakable sense of oppression.
"Mr. Poet, this is a job, a task.
"We buy your skills, not your beliefs. You only need to produce products that meet the requirements. As for what you think in your heart, we don't care. We only care about what people hear, remember, and are affected by."
After saying that, Werewolf didn't rush him. He just leaned back in his chair and looked at him quietly, waiting for the decision.
Finally, Caleb stretched out his hand, brushed his fingers over the five gold coins, and then gathered them in front of him.
"... I need to see those points, and the specifics of the contract."
He said slowly.
Werewolf grinned slightly, showing the first expression that could be called a smile.
"A wise choice." He nodded, "Welcome to join, Mr. Caleb."
"From today on, you are one of the collaborators of the Aura Kingdom Propaganda Department. You can come here every Monday morning to report progress, receive new tasks or adjust requirements. If you have any information or information that you need help with, you can also submit it."
Similar scenes are happening in every major town throughout Aris Province.
Aura's newly formed Propaganda Department is systematically recruiting Bard, down-and-out scholars, and even literate beggars to form a propaganda network covering the newly occupied areas.
They provide money, food, and safety protection in exchange for words and performances that meet the requirements.
Some people who originally feared and hated Aura began to waver and compromise under the pressure of survival and reality observation, and eventually became one of the voices of the new order.
At dusk, Iris City is on the top terrace of the former Governor's Mansion.
Red Iron Dragon stood on the edge, overlooking this human city with a completely different style from the wilderness.
Phew!
The sound of wings flapping the air sounded, and the much smaller Iron Dragon converged its wings and landed on the terrace.
"The preliminary takeover of Aris Province has been completed. Many of the stubborn resistance elements have been cleared away, and the rest will not become a thing." Sorog continued in a low voice, "The first batch of taxes and materials collected from nobles and wealthy businessmen have been calculated."
"Part of it was used for civilian relief as planned, and the other part was allocated to the Propaganda Department as a mouthpiece expenditure."
"How's the effect?" Garos didn't look back, still looking at the city.
"It went more smoothly than expected, but it was not without complications."
Sorog walked to the position behind Red Iron Dragon and looked at the city as well.
Viewed from this height, the crowds on the street move like ants, smoke rises from some chimneys, and dusk is falling.
"There are not many essential differences between human civilians and wilderness tribes. They are all accustomed to being ruled. As long as rule can provide basic safety and survival guarantees, after changing rulers, their fear subsides faster than we expected, especially after we show order and provide the most basic food security."
He paused and continued to report, "However, their thoughts are also more complicated."
"Secret suspicion, nostalgia for the old kingdom, and concepts such as loyalty and integrity cannot be eradicated in a short time. It may take many generations to truly reverse it."
"To this end, many people have been recruited from several major cities in Aris."
"The songs and stories they wrote have begun to be disseminated in taverns, markets and relief points. The first batch of feedback shows that the content about food distribution and order maintenance is the most popular and the most acceptable."
"In addition, we have selected a group of warriors with good performance and relatively gentle personalities, mainly Centauri, Snake-man and some Werewolf. After simple training, they are having limited contact with local residents to help distribute supplies, answer simple questions, and show their friendly side."
"The effect... is not bad, at least it makes the human cubs less afraid of us."
Having said this, Iron Dragon Sorog tilted his head, and the scales on his neck made a slight rustling sound.
He looked at his blood brother and asked the doubts that had been in his mind for some time.
"Garos, what I don't quite understand is why you attach so much importance to the mouthpiece? The funds given to the Propaganda Department can be used to arm our soldiers, or to build fortifications and strengthen city walls."
Sorog flicked his tail and continued to express his thoughts.
"I believe that true rule relies on minions and strength."
"As long as the army is strong enough, the laws are strict enough, and rewards and punishments are clear enough, people will eventually get used to it and obey, just like the wargs in the wilderness will eventually bow to the more powerful alpha wolf."
"As for songs and stories, they are embellishments after victory, entertainment in leisure time, and entertainment at banquets."
"Spending so many resources to actively operate this kind of thing? I feel it is not worth it. Our soldiers need new armor and weapons."
He expressed his opinions frankly.
Garos was silent for a moment.
The dusk wind blew across the terrace, bringing with it the smell of distant cooking smoke and the city. He slowly spoke into the wind.
"Sorog, my brother, what you said is half right."
"Strong force and strict order are indeed the cornerstone of rule and the unshakable bottom line. Without them, everything is empty talk, and any good promises will turn into powder in chaos."
"We are able to stand here precisely because of our strength and strength."
"But," Red Iron Dragon turned his head and looked at Sorog, "Relying on these alone is not enough to make the rule stable for a long time."
"Especially, under the premise that the image of our Evil Dragon, monsters, and barbaric race is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people."
"Fear can make people obey, but it can also accumulate hatred and breed secret resistance. When the main force of our army turns to other fronts, these hatreds may explode."
"The mouthpiece, those Bard, those stories and songs, their existence is very important and indispensable."
"Power will tell them "what they cannot do", order will tell them "what must be done", and mouthpieces and public opinion will tell them "what they should think" and make them think it comes from the heart."
"If we don't occupy this position, others will."
Garos raised one front paw and lightly tapped the side of his head with a sharp hooked toe, and the scales made a crisp tapping sound.
"Thinking, change here is the most important."
Iron Dragon Sorog listened quietly, the confusion in his eyes gradually being replaced by thoughts.
He is not stupid, but he has never thought about the issue of governance from this perspective.
In the wilderness, power is everything, and those wilderness creatures are used to being ruled by power, but now they rule not just the wilderness, but human cities with complex social structures.
In the future, there will be more places like this.
"So these expenditures are not supporting useless singers."
Iron Dragon said thoughtfully, "This is forging another weapon, a weapon about consciousness and thought."
"It fights on the battlefield of the soul. Its goal is to make resistance lose its soil, let loyalty breed spontaneously, and make submission a natural choice. It will save countless losses for our true rule. In the long run, this is the most cost-effective investment."
Sorog said, his eyes getting brighter and brighter.
"When people accept us from their hearts, the cost of maintaining order will be greatly reduced, and recruiting troops and collecting materials will be much smoother. Even... the next generation of humans may be proud to be Aura citizens and forget about Theo."
"Exactly."
Garos nodded with satisfaction.
His brother is extremely talented in the military, and he is also very knowledgeable in other aspects. He is very reliable and deserves to have a similar bloodline to himself.
Immediately, Red Iron Dragon turned his attention back to the city in the dusk, and the topic changed.
"Has the draft request for peace talks been prepared?"
Sorog nodded and looked serious. "The basic framework has been drawn up."
"The compensation requirements for gold coins, land, and mineral resources are all easy to negotiate, and the amount can be floated. The focus is on the restrictions on Theo's future armaments."
His tone turned cold. "I have two core demands that must be written into the treaty."
"First, Theo Kingdom is strictly prohibited from building, developing or retaining any strategic-grade weapons similar to Satellite in the future."
"The second is to strictly limit their investment in resources for cultivating Legendary Realm level experts, including but not limited to Spellcaster's research funding, the supply of secret medicine for soldiers, and any rituals or experiments that may give birth to the Legendary Realm creatures."
"We need to set up inspectors to conduct regular inspections."
These two restrictions are equivalent to directly choking the future military development of Theo.
Without strategic weapons and top experts, it will be difficult for Theo to pose a substantial threat to Aura.
Garos Listen quietly.
He knows very well that the ruling class of the Theo Kingdom will probably not easily agree to such terms. Even if they are forced to agree on the surface, they will never cooperate honestly in private. They will definitely do everything possible to retain the spark of counterattack, hoping that one day they can overtake Aura.
Garos didn't pay much attention to this.
future?
He grinned slightly, revealing a calm smile belonging to the immortal species.
You must know that the ones favored by time have always been immortal species like giant dragons.
If the human kingdom is lucky, it only takes decades or even hundreds of years to cultivate a Legendary Realm. This is their advantage. However, the peak period of human Legendary Realm will soon pass, and once a dragon becomes a Legendary Realm, it can last for thousands of years and will always be at its peak.
Theo can look to the future.
But Aura, especially him, the future will belong to him.