High Above

Colonel Mayowa did not send troops to escort Ian's food team. Instead, there were six knight lords who, like Ian, were supposed to rule the Ryan Territory separately.

This ruined Ian's plan to obtain a group of professional soldiers through forced recruitment, but the gift from the colonel was so heavy that Ian felt it didn't matter.

Anyway, according to the intelligence, Qingchao will lead the mercenary troops from Harrison Port to Ryan Territory within three days. At that time, Ian will also be able to obtain reliable subordinates.

And... Ian also vaguely understood.

There must be reasons why the Marquis of Barton and Colonel Mayowa have not sent regular troops.

He can't get the answer now because he lacks important information, but he can probably guess some ideas.

"Could it be that...the Marquis of Barton has some internal contacts on the mountain people?" Ian thought to himself: "This eagle is so stable, there must be a source of news!"

Now, after the arrival of the grain team, the residents of Laian City have completely calmed down.

Carloads of food were delivered to the warehouse right in front of their eyes. The real food made the people who had been hungry for a long time cheer from the bottom of their hearts.

Of course, not everyone is happy... Some people wonder, how could Ian, a lord who came to take office temporarily, prepare enough food in advance?

——He shouldn’t be trying to make a fool of himself, it’s just that the surface layer is food, but the bottom layer is actually stones and sand, right?

And even if it is true, how much good food can we buy now that Nanling is so difficult? Could it be that they are all inferior goods...

People who doubted this were immediately arrested by Ian's personal guards, hung up and beaten for thirty minutes - and then the grain team randomly opened a part of the grain storage, proving that these grains were indeed produced just this year. grain.

Ian even picked a can of fruit to open in front of everyone and tasted it on the spot.

It was a canned apple with a delicious color. Under the surprised gaze of the citizens, the boy picked a piece and put it into his mouth. He chewed it happily and publicly declared that it tasted good.

This practical behavior completely dispelled the suspicion of the citizens.

As for those who were hung up and beaten...

It's okay to question, but you have to bear the consequences of questioning the lord. This is normal in Terra.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ian also immediately gave a speech to the citizens who came to receive food.

"Citizens, I know that the chaotic days without a lord in the past six months have caused the entire city to lose control."

"The conflict between the empire and the mountain people, as well as the changes in the Flying Flame Land, everyone must understand that this is the most fundamental reason for our difficulties - because of this, you cannot work, you cannot get paid, and the goods produced in the workshop cannot Sell ​​it out.”

"But now, I have opened the road from Ryan Territory to Nauman City, and the arrival of the food team is proof of this. Our Ryan Territory has always been a hard-working and wealthy territory, and this will not change for any other reason!"

"It's time to resume full production and gradually bring our lives back to normal!"

This speech was very simple. To put it bluntly, it asked everyone to return to their jobs.

Because the problem of survival has been solved, and the transportation channels have indeed been opened, there is no resistance from the citizens... There has been no work for too long, and even people in wealthy places like Le'an have exhausted their savings.

If work is not resumed, the residents of Ryan City will flee.

After the food caravan unloaded the food, it quickly loaded up a batch of gold leaf healing ointment, a specialty of Leian City, and prepared to transport it back to Nauman City.

The resumption of work and the reopening of trade routes prove that order has been reestablished and that one's own labor can earn enough wealth to survive. This is what truly makes people confident.

Ian saw this, so he took advantage of the situation to resume work as soon as possible and restart production in the city.

Next, Ian returned to the castle to work.

Because the manpower in the city is currently tight, Ian does not plan to renovate the castle for the time being. Baron Ryan's study is barely usable and will be repaired after the mountain people are defeated.

Here, he began to organize resources related to the entire Ryan Territory.

There is a medium-sized city in Laian Territory, fifteen towns, and many uncounted small villages and settlements, with a total population of more than 200,000.

The knighthood that Ian was originally supposed to be assigned to included the three towns of 'Bihu Town', 'Anxi Town' and 'Dieyan Town', plus a large mining area near Beihu with a population of more than 20,000. As a knighthood, It's considered a fairly affluent area.

But now, all the other mountain knights have been killed...or, in other words, died heroically.

Then Ian could only reluctantly accept these territories on their behalf.

In addition to these villages and towns, Rhian Territory actually includes three large mining areas in the northern mountains, two forest herb cultivation areas, and a large area of ​​undeveloped wasteland in the northwest mountains.

Counting the large psychic plant planting areas around Ryan City, overall, it is a wealthy place with extremely rich resources and almost everything.

Moreover, there is huge room for future development. The main reason why it maintains its current appearance is because selling Xiahui grass is so profitable. The past lords have not had this ambition. Expanding the territory will not make more money, but will cause a lot of troubles.

For example, if you want to develop the mining areas in the north, you will have to destroy the mountain environment. There will definitely be protests from the mountain people and they will want to share the money.

Therefore, Baron Ryan did not develop it and left the mining area there to dry. Anyway, with the abundance of resources in Nanling, it would be cheaper to sell the Xiahui grass extract and then use money to buy the ore than to dig it yourself.

But now, Ian will definitely restart the development of these mining areas and wastelands. It is common sense that all important development resources cannot be imported from outside.

Among the Baronies, the Ryan Territory can basically be said to be the highest level configuration.

You know, although Ian's hometown, Harrison Port, under the jurisdiction of Viscount Grant, is large, its population is slightly larger than that of Ryan Territory. In terms of wealth... as a large trading port, it can be considered comparable.

For example, the Viscount of Avak has a population of nearly one million, three medium and large cities, hilly mining areas and plain planting areas, various industries are complete, and even has the ability to produce military alchemy equipment - this is a serious Viscount collar configuration.

Viscount Grant will die if he sees it.jpg

The Ryan Territory has the same resources as the Avak Viscounty, and even has better potential than the average Viscounty, but it has not yet been developed.

But here's the problem - Ryan has everything. Even if it doesn't exist now, it will definitely exist in the future under Ian's development.

But it just doesn't have the most critical energy source.

The element crystal is stuck.

Element crystals are a special material that appeared on the continent of Terra only after the Skyfall disaster. They are the source of power for the alchemical furnace heart, even the etheric furnace heart, and even alchemical firearms such as rechargeable rifles.

It can provide extremely powerful energy, which can be compared to cheap rocket fuel that can be used by civilians. It is a strategic material in the true sense. No country or force will allow private sales and transactions.

Only when there is a factor crystallization production line in the territory can it be considered a large territory that is truly self-sufficient.

Viscount Grant had previously helped Master Gosei and others to explore and develop the 'Shining Crystal Shell' in order to allow Harrison Port to have its own independent element crystallization production line - he already had the technology, but mainly no raw materials.

However, Leianling has no relevant technical reserves at all.

This is the restriction that the empire places on the mountain people... As long as the element crystals are blocked, the mountain people will never be able to develop high-level alchemy skills, let alone create a variety of powerful alchemical artillery and armor and other war weapons.

For two hundred years ago, this policy was indeed good.

But two hundred years later, especially now that it is Ian's turn to rule the Ryan Territory... then this problem will be huge.

"Currently, I can produce it on my own and can still use it, but I have to build it later."

Ian raised his left hand and frowned slightly.

The surface of the arm hosted by the ether crystal is flowing with cyan source material lines, and under the secret method of the Dragon Worship Cult, the constantly rotating ether crystal has been producing high-concentration source material crystals, and now there are as many as a small bag.

It is troublesome to drive the armor, but it is no problem to meet the daily needs of the troops.

This is why Ian has the ether crystal - if anyone else does this, it is equivalent to using himself as a mine, and he will be useless after a few days of mining.

“There’s a lot to do.”

Putting down the document in his hand, Ian sighed: "The principle of the element crystallization production chain is not complicated. I can make it myself, but from the source of raw materials to the production line, it is at least a one-year project."

"Let's put it aside for now. Who knows what will happen in the future? Maybe the Marquis of Barton will give me one as a gift because he sees my merits in resisting the mountain people in Nanling?"

Giving away factor crystal production chain will definitely not work, but giving other things will definitely be fine.

Imperial Capital, Shangcheng District.

Marquis Barton was drinking tea with the second prince Mikael.

The old general suddenly interrupted the conversation between the two about the Western Theater and made an expression as if he was listening.

Then, the Marquis smiled and nodded, and said to Mikael, who raised his brows and looked interested: "Did you hear that, Your Highness? He calmed down the Ryan Territory in two days and solved all his competitors by the way."

"It is said that he is still developing new weapons... This kid has amazing potential!"

Having said this, he smiled and took a sip of tea: "With force, determination, and strategy, you really can't underestimate young people... I won the bet we made, right?"

"Indeed." Mikael also looked in the direction of Nanling in surprise.

After Marquis Barton came to the imperial capital, he chatted with him about how Ian would develop after returning to the territory. After learning that some mountain people in Nanling had some conflicts with the empire, he still lamented that Ian was really unlucky. , originally planned to return to the territory with funds to build an alchemy workshop, but now he can only put the war on hold, wasting time for no reason.

But he never thought that Ian could actually take down the Ryan Territory with the force of thunder, and even fully understood the meaning of the Marquis of Barton and Colonel Mayowa, and eliminated all the mountain knights without leaving any trace behind.

After hearing that Ian sent people to spread the ashes of those knights, even Mikael, who was used to big scenes, couldn't help laughing.

"But he is still young. The power of alchemy weapons is naturally huge, but the military only uses them by elite troops. There is a reason for this - the element crystals of the Ryan Territory must have been used up, and he is probably worried now."

Marquis Barton secretly sighed that Ian's ability could be described as a first-rate genius in his many years of military career.

His own son Mayova is far inferior in comparison, especially at such a young age. The protagonist of Nanling Province in the future will definitely not be anyone else but him.

In this case, let's make it convenient for him.

"Opening trade channels for factor crystals to the Rhian Territory."

Thinking silently in his mind, Marquis Barton communicated remotely to Colonel Mayowa in Nanling: "No one can give it to him, but the supplies must be sufficient - ask Ian what other materials he needs and sell them to him at cost price."

"General?" Colonel Mayowa also called his father this way on weekdays. He was a little surprised: "Didn't Ian just capture the city of Ryan? Now he hasn't blocked the forward, so why did he suddenly open up so much..."

"Lian City? If he just expelled the mountain people, then you are right, but he destroyed the core combat power of three mountain people tribes." Marquis Barton said: "What's more, it was business before. Now it’s a private investment, and it goes without saying that His Highness Mikael lost this investment to me.”

"But don't make it too obvious. He looks very arrogant. He might not accept it if he gives it to you."

This is obviously another person who overestimates Ian's moral sense - arrogantly asking for no benefits? Is he such a person?

If it is really a free gift, Ian will only accept it with a smile, or at most say a sweet thank you.

Colonel Mayowa understood: "Roger."

On the third day since then, Ian received supplies from Nauman City.

The people who led the team to escort the supplies were not soldiers, but a well-known mercenary from Nauman City and his team, known as the Iron People of Blue Lightning.

Of course, he couldn't really be a mercenary. In fact, Lan Dian is one of the many spies under the Governor's Mansion who collect information. However, he is getting better and better at hiding his identity as a mercenary, so that he has become bigger and stronger in the mercenary industry and has made a name for himself, so he simply So he registered his name in the Governor's Mansion and received two salaries.

The Marquis of Barton was never stingy with his capable subordinates, and paid them as much as they could do as many jobs as they could, so his subordinates were always loyal.

When the iron people with dark blue hair and big beards came to Leian City, they were a little surprised to find that the city, which had been in dilapidated state due to the harm of the mountain people a few days ago, had almost been repaired.

The damaged buildings on the outskirts of the city were cleared, and the bases were surrounded by railings for future reconstruction. Some tents were also set up on both sides of the road, forming a small camp so that people without houses could have a camp.

As winter approaches, sawmills are operating at full capacity and every household begins to stock up on fuel.

Ryan City has returned to normal.

But what really attracted Lan Dian was not these scenes of post-war recovery, but a peculiar tower on the edge of the city.

This tower has obviously been modified. The top floor of the original tower was removed and a huge metal coil was installed. It stood high in the air, with obvious arc flashes on it, and it looked like it exuded a dangerous atmosphere.

As a thunder attribute sublimator, Lan Dian couldn't help but feel a touch of kindness and curiosity - he asked a hurried-looking resident and quickly got the answer he wanted.

"Magnetic storm coil?"

I feel like I don’t have the ability to write the evening one and then the daytime one, so I moved the 12 o’clock one at night to 8 o’clock in the morning!