Summoning Total War

Chapter 113 The Last Mountain Giant (Part 2)!

I touched the edge of hell with one hand. It was a realm of darkness and silence. The black Styx had no waves. The dark red land was like hot magma. The strong wind showed a ray of light, but it was extinguished like a flickering candle...

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Cool breeze.

In the hot August weather, today is a rare cloudy day.

A steady drizzle fell in Athens in the morning, which washed away a lot of the dry and muggy heat that permeated the air. After more than a year of construction, the official roads established in Athens are no longer the dusty roads they once were. Now, there are paved roads extending in all directions connecting various towns in Athens. Neat bricks and stone slabs are paved on the road, mixed with sand. Stone and clay would allow the road to bear heavy baggage trains.

As long as necessary, in the event of war, the army in Athens can reach anywhere in the territory within six hours.

As for the cavalry unit, it only takes an hour or two to enter the battle!

There are advantages to having a small territory. As long as the land is fertile enough to produce food to feed the population, then it is possible to concentrate on construction and turn it into a highly dense and fertile land. In this era, the utilization rate of land was quite low, and there were large areas of desolate land between the towns of various lords. Perhaps because the land was unsuitable for farming, or perhaps because there were dangerous creatures living nearby, these lands formed the wilderness areas of the Southern Plains.

These wilderness areas account for more than half of the total area of ​​the southern plains. Otherwise, with the vastness of the southern plains, there would be absolutely no problem in supporting a population of tens of thousands. There were no fertilizers in this era, and the technology of canal irrigation was not yet mature. There were not even many dams to store water, so it was quite difficult to open up wasteland! Moreover, the current farming methods of humans in the southern plains, and even the intelligent creatures in the entire world, are very primitive. They can only use some simple earth methods to maintain the fertility of the land. However, at this level, they can barely maintain food production. At a self-sufficient level. Like many places, intelligent races have no choice but to live a life of half fishing, hunting and half farming because the food produced in the ground is simply not enough to feed themselves.

This situation is very common. Currently, more than 90% of intelligent races that have not entered the era of civilization and enlightenment are like this.

In comparison, Athens is not one or two points ahead.

After the winter wheat harvest in June, Murphy ordered a large number of spies and intelligence agents to be sent to various parts of the southern plains. The intelligence they collect is not only limited to military intelligence, but also includes a large amount of information about daily life. Just like the recent batch of crops introduced by Athens, they are a batch of crops that have a relatively high yield and are rich in nutrients needed by human beings collected and sorted out by these intelligence personnel.

These crops are being cultivated in batches under the leadership of agricultural experts, and the best varieties will be selected for large-scale cultivation next year.

A city's food supply is obviously not enough. The current discovery worth mentioning is that agricultural experts introduced a plant similar to the rapeseed flower in the previous life from a place close to the half-elves. These plants grow and develop quickly. Planted after the winter wheat harvest in June, they will bloom around August. The flower seeds it produces not only have high oil content, but can also be used as rations for livestock, and this plant can also add fertility to the ground. This kind of rapeseed flowers just fills the vacancies in the fields after the winter wheat harvest. After all, it is impossible for Athens to plant hundreds of thousands of acres of potatoes and corn after the winter wheat harvest.

It’s too scary to think about it.

In addition to the necessary wheat, Athens also needed a large amount of vegetables and other crops.

This is also a very important part for a newly established city. After all, many people in Athens are already fed up with fish. If the pigs and beasts raised last year had not become fat and strong, I am afraid that the soldiers would not have much enthusiasm to face those dried salted fish. This is the bad nature of human beings and the driving force for human progress. When there is no food to eat, it is happiness to be full. But when I can eat enough, I think that having meat to eat is happiness.

Murphy doesn't care about this.

Because improving the living conditions of the territory's people gives them higher aspirations, it is also a sign of the territory's progress.

This is just the beginning.

Due to previous frequent wars and war reserves, there were still many omissions in other aspects of Athens' construction. The rare quiet time now can be used to complete these missing places. After all, a city or a kingdom contains too many things. These all take time to accumulate and improve bit by bit.

When the citizens of Athens gradually meet their material needs, they will begin to transform into spiritual pursuits.

At that time, the extension points of civilization in art, culture and other aspects will surely be born one by one. A territory, a country, a civilization not only requires unyielding, bravery, perseverance and sacrifice in the face of war, but also requires the extension of many spiritual civilizations in life, such as art, culture, education and other aspects. point.

This is something Murphy would love to see happen!

He wanted to build Athens into a military empire that focused on war and had unprecedentedly powerful combat capabilities. But he doesn’t want to turn Athens into a Spartan-style war machine without much sense! Because in his knowledge and understanding, only relative balance can continue, otherwise Athens will eventually collapse at a critical point like the Spartan city-state on earth.

He doesn't know if this world has eternity, but the relative balance can undoubtedly be maintained for a longer time!

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In the afternoon, a quarter past three.

Athens now has a lot of trivial matters to deal with. If it weren't for the education provided by the University of Athens, a group of middle- and lower-class management talents have been gradually cultivated in the interior of the territory, I am afraid that Murphy would be really busy now and would not even have time to eat. . As batches of talents educated at the University of Athens were cultivated, the governing bodies of various departments in the territory also began to be gradually divided. The Interior Department, headed by General Jerry Rivard and Lady Elizabeth, gathered a group of talented people in internal affairs management, who were responsible for trade, taxation, farming, etc. in the Athenian territory. The Military Aircraft Department, headed by General Riodalis, conducted a higher level of advanced training for the mid-level non-commissioned officers of various Athenian legions and laid the foundation for the formation of military headquarters in the future.

Although there are many administrative departments needed by a country, generally speaking, they are nothing more than two points.

One is internal affairs, and the other is military.

Everything serves these two points. Murphy does not appreciate the enfeoffment system of the noble lords in this world, because this enfeoffment system has too many disadvantages. And he will never allow the power of the territory to be divided into pieces. If there is really no better way, instead of continuing the system of this world, it is better to change the name of the entire Athenian governing system to the six divisions according to the division of China and Earth in the previous life. In this way, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Work were divided one by one.

A system that is too advanced is difficult to be accepted by this primitive era, but the six-ministry system of Middle-earth in the previous life can be fully accommodated by the current Athens. When the Principality of Athens was established, this six-ministry system could be used as the core of governance for the entire Athens.

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After handling some decision-making matters in the general territory, Murphy immediately led the general's guards to the port for inspection.

Today, the total population of Athens is about to exceed 40,000, and the number of citizens has reached more than 10,000. It is expected that it will not take long for Athens to be upgraded from a city to a big city. At that time, the entire Athens architecture will need to undergo new planning. Fortunately, Murphy had already carried out pre-planning before establishing the city. The current city of Athens can be rebuilt as an inner city as it expands outwards.

Otherwise, I'm afraid there will be a lot of trouble.

"Your Majesty the Governor!"

"Lord Governor!"

Murphy led the general's guards on a wide street paved with neat stone slabs. The entire street was wide enough for five carriages to run parallel. This is quite a broad road in this day and age. And a lord who could plan the city in an orderly manner was already qualified to be given various virtuous names. There were many pedestrians on both sides of the road, including businessmen passing by and citizens of Athens, as well as many adventurers and mercenary teams. Although after the Jackal War, the slave trade here stopped. However, Athens now sells some weapons made of cast iron and carburized steel to the outside world. Most of these weapons were eliminated by Athenian soldiers, or were reforged from weapons collected in several wars.

Although Athenian soldiers are now mostly equipped with weapons made of sixteen-forged steel or twenty-four forged steel, soldiers in other places may not have such good equipment. The weapons currently sold by Athens are comparable to the standard equipment used by some elite troops even if they are obtained elsewhere. There are many adventurers and mercenary teams who come to Athens specifically hoping to buy some high-quality weapons.

There is a misunderstanding here, that is, the equipment sold in town blacksmith shops is definitely not as good as the military-standard equipment. In such an era, it can be said bluntly that the standard equipment produced by the military can already be labeled as "sophisticated".

As for the so-called blacksmith shop, the equipment sold there probably does not even meet the steel standards and can only be regarded as first-grade pig iron.

After all, most of the truly outstanding blacksmiths have been hired by the army, and the remaining ones can only make kitchen knives and ordinary swords, and their level is definitely not very high. It is worth mentioning that excellent blacksmiths still have a relatively high status in this era, and can be said to be a relatively high-ranking one among many professionals. Even when an excellent blacksmith sees a noble, he only needs to lean over to acknowledge him, instead of bowing. However, most of these more important professionals are subject to stricter restrictions and control.

In the age of cold weapons, the value of an excellent blacksmith is absolutely immeasurable!

Especially in times of war!

The port of Athens has now expanded several times. If it were placed in other places in the southern plains, it could already be regarded as a large medium-sized city. The entire port is home to nearly 10,000 citizens. In addition to the previously reserved port trade points, additional residential areas, commercial areas, Victory Square, etc. have also been established.

Murphy led the general's guards on the road. Along the way, people bowed and saluted from time to time, either calling him 'Your Majesty the Governor' or 'Your Excellency the Governor'.

The former are mostly ordinary citizens, who call Murphy 'Your Excellency', while the latter are soldiers and lower-level officials, who mostly call Murphy 'Your Excellency'.

A group of people came to the door of the blacksmith shop, where many people were selecting weapons.

As riots continued in various places, the mercenary industry gradually grew. Similarly, a large part of the wealth in the hands of nobles and merchants also went to these mercenaries. Now there are goblin kobold bandits roaming everywhere, ranging from dozens to hundreds, attacking passing caravans or villages. In the past, the caravans that came and went could just bring a few guards with them, but now if they don't hire a whole team of mercenaries, I'm afraid there will be a lot of trouble on the road.

The mercenaries have money in their hands.

In addition to using it to improve your own life, the rest is of course used to buy life-saving weapons and equipment.

In this way, the spoils of the Orc war in Athens, the weapons and leather armor seized from the Orcs, would have ample sales. There were not many soldiers in Athens, but there was a lot of loot collected in that battle. It is fully equipped with leather armor and weapons for tens of thousands of people, which is the inventory of the entire Orc tribe for decades, plus the large amount of supplies provided by the Orc Empire.

In addition to the part consumed by Athens itself, Murphy has at least more than 20,000 pieces of leather armor and tens of thousands of swords in his hands to take action!

This is quite a fortune!

After the war consumed a large amount of money from the treasury, Murphy waited for the materials to be recycled into money for the construction of Athens after it was upgraded to a big city.

The weapons used by the orcs are relatively heavy and naturally heavy. A battle ax can be reforged and used to make two swords. With enough iron on hand, Murphy also asked his officials to start improving farm tools. Now that the forging technology has been improved, naturally it cannot be limited to war. The current level of civilization in Athens has completely gotten rid of the late Bronze Age and has begun to enter the standards of the Iron Age.

So naturally, all the bronze farm tools used in the past will be abolished. Although the steel tools in the territory are still used for weapon forging, it is time for iron tools to be used in all aspects.

Iron Age!

This undoubtedly means that Athens has truly stood up, and it means that Athens has the ability to equip soldiers with iron armor in large numbers. Those armors with relatively primitive manufacturing techniques can also gradually begin to transition to chain armor and steel knight plate armor. ! In such a magnificent era, Athens, which has officially entered the Iron Age, undoubtedly has its own right to speak!

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After glancing at the busy blacksmith shop, Murphy led the general's guards towards the compound at the back.

As soon as Murphy came in, a busy official immediately trotted over to get a bill, carefully handed it to Murphy, and said: "Mr. Governor, this has been sold in the past month or so. Weapons bill.”

Murphy doesn't like flattery, and his long-term military training has also sharpened his character, making him resolute, steady, decisive and direct in his work. This had a great indirect impact on other people in Athens. Coupled with the general Leodalius, a general with a very obvious Spartan style of conciseness, and the importance of Spartan warriors during the war, Athens did not have a previous life. of formalism.

In contrast, the way things are done in Athens is very simple and clear, with a strong Spartan style.

What is Spartan style?

It is said that once, a king threatened the King of Sparta and asked Sparta to obey his orders, otherwise Sparta would be razed to the ground. The King of Sparta responded with only one word: "Please!" The Spartans Their language is very concise and clear, and sometimes their answers are almost like military orders. However, what Murphy did not expect was that this Spartan language, which was initially mostly used by the officer class, quickly affected all classes in Athens. Invisibly, the efficiency of all aspects of work has been improved.

Murphy reached out and took the bill, looked at it, and nodded with satisfaction.

In one month, Athens sold three thousand pieces of leather armor and a large number of weapons. These weapons were transported to the mercenary class in various places to arm local forces so that they could resist the goblin kobolds spreading everywhere. robber. Similarly, Athens also received nearly 100,000 silver coins in revenue, and the treasury that was squandered by the Orc War began to become abundant again.

This is only a small part of the sale, if you add in the sales to barbarian humans and the horses obtained from trade with the centaurs.

The weapons and equipment captured by the orcs in the first battle are worth more than one million silver coins!

In about a week, the Centaur tribe will send a thousand horses from the trade exchange to Athens. These horses will be used as reserve resources after Athens is upgraded to a big city. Because after Athens is upgraded to a big city, Murphy will start preparing to recruit and train the Seleucid faction's heavy cavalry regiment - [Cavalry]!

After reading the bill, Murphy patted the flattered official on the shoulder to encourage him.

Immediately, he led the general's guards towards the direction of the Consul's Palace. Because there were a large number of alien bandits roaming the land, waterway trade became more and more prosperous. As the only city in the southern plains with a large port and a large commercial district, the port of Athens undoubtedly became an important transit point for waterway trade after the land route was blocked.

There were so many merchants traveling to and from Athens during this period that Murphy had to add ten full-strength troops to the port's escorts and patrols.

The migrant population has skyrocketed, and security problems have also arisen.

Those mercenaries and adventurers were all guys who used their muscles more than their brains. Although there were no major problems, there were fights in the tavern every day. Almost every day, some unlucky guy would be picked up by the patrol and thrown into a small dark room for fighting.

Walking on the broad street, Murphy suddenly felt a chill all over his body.

Then he felt his heart beat suddenly as if he was being targeted by something terrible!

He stopped and turned around, but unfortunately he saw nothing. There were businessmen coming and going and mercenaries coming to Athens everywhere. These people were all dressed in unusual costumes. A few lone adventurers even wore unusually large cloaks. Only half of their faces and a pair of unruly eyes were visible. s eyes. These guys who dare to walk alone in the wilderness are difficult to deal with. Some of them are even gladiators!

These people have no relatives or friends, and not many mercenary groups dare to accept dangerous people like them.

Many of them became wanderers in the wilderness after they were freed, and sometimes even served as assassins. They are all very dangerous people. Their career as gladiators has taught them to ignore life. These people are like poisonous snakes in the dark! Cruel and deadly!

etc!

assassin? !

Murphy suddenly remembered the feeling of being stared at just now, like a ferocious wolf, and the feeling like a thorn on the back was like the murderous aura in some artistic novels.

pity.

Before Murphy could find the guy who had murderous intentions against him among the people behind him.

The ground suddenly shook violently!

Murphy suddenly felt a shaking under his feet, as if the world was spinning, and he almost fell to the ground. The surrounding houses also shook violently, and some simple buildings even collapsed. The people inside were buried alive in the ruins before they could even scream!

"earthquake!?"

Murphy grabbed a flagpole in front of him to steady himself and said in shock!

Will there be an earthquake?

And it happened so suddenly? Not even a little warning in advance?

wrong!

Murphy suddenly remembered that the city of Athens has now been included in the scope of divine protection by the Olympus gods. Even if there is an earthquake, the priests of the Olympus gods will predict it in advance! In such an era, one of the jobs of the priests was to use the power of the gods to predict various natural disasters! Since the gods of Olympus exist, it makes no sense that the temple didn't even have any advance warning? Moreover, the southern plain is not a zone of crustal movement. It can be said that there are only a handful of earthquakes that have occurred here over the past thousands of years!

The earthquake lasted for about three minutes.

The violent shaking of the ground caused many buildings to collapse directly. Some people were injured by the collapsed buildings. Suddenly, screams of misery could be heard all around.

And at the same time!

The other side of the Karazhan Mountains, about 80 kilometers away from Athens, is within the scope of the White Dragon territory.

A nearly 100-meter-high 'peak' with only some weeds growing on it suddenly began to shake violently, and then a large number of rocks flew down. The surrounding birds and animals were frightened and fled, forming a formation in just a few minutes. The tide of beasts fled in the direction of Athens.

The trembling of the earth became more and more intense, and the trembling 'mountain' actually stood up strangely!

The sky echoed with the roar of the giant dragon. A white dragon with a length of more than thirty meters and a wingspan of nearly fifty meters appeared in the sky. The frightened beasts were intimidated by the dragon, and they crawled on the ground in groups, not daring to make the slightest move, but lying on the ground trembling non-stop.

The furious white dragon flapped its wings and flew towards the standing mountain. Its huge body covered the sky and the sun, covering the earth like a shadow.

Although he does not have much intelligence and is naturally irritable and irritable, as a dragon with true pure blood, the White Dragon is also standing at the top of the pyramid! Moreover, it is an adult white dragon that has broken through the constraints of its bloodline. Its strength is even strong enough to fight against an adult green dragon!

The roar of the dragon echoed throughout the earth!

The white dragon flapped its huge wings and flew in the sky, surrounding the strangely standing mountain peak.

Its limited wisdom cannot understand why this mountain peak stands so strangely, but as a pure-blood dragon, it cannot accept the provocative behavior of any creature in its territory!

This is absolutely unforgivable!

Only by letting the enemy turn to ashes under its dragon breath can the anger in its belly and chest be calmed!

Ouch!

The roar of the dragon echoed across the earth.

A flame with the smell of lava and sulfur spurted out from the white dragon's mouth. The dragon's breath with a diameter of more than two meters covered the strangely standing mountain peak. It immediately covered nearly half of the mountain peak. The mountain rocks could not withstand this. The high-temperature flames collapsed at an even more alarming speed!

Rubbles are falling!

There was a loud "crash", and a pair of huge arms suddenly stretched out from the standing mountain. They were nearly five meters in diameter and were entirely made of gray-white granite. They were like fists like a heavy truck. A punch hit the entire front of the mountain.

The sky is falling and the earth is shocked!

A crack appeared on the entire mountain peak, and then a series of spider web-like crack marks appeared at the center of the location where the fist made of gray granite was hit.

Amidst the loud rumbling sound.

The mountain itself began to collapse, countless boulders fell to the ground, and dust suddenly flew up all over the sky!

Dust falls to the ground.

After the mountain collapsed, a giant nearly a hundred meters tall and made of gray-white granite stood in the rubble. It raised its head and looked at the roaring white dragon in the sky, and seemed to have determined that the white dragon in front of it was the creature that attacked it before. Immediately, it leaned over and picked up a boulder from the ground, about five meters in diameter and weighing more than ten tons, and threw it towards the roaring dragon in the sky as if a normal person would throw a pebble.

The boulder was thrown out with a roar, but the white dragon flying in the sky easily dodged it.

There was a mocking smile on the corner of its mouth, and it flapped its huge wings and flew in the sky with unusual flexibility. A dragon's breath spurted down, and the scorching flames with the smell of sulfur enveloped the giant body made of gray-white granite!

The white dragon's mocking smile did not last long, because it soon stopped laughing.

After missing a hit, a very human expression of embarrassment appeared on the face of the rock giant made of gray-white granite. That expression was like that of a bowling expert from a previous life who suddenly failed to hit even one ball. It stood in the dragon's breath breathed out by the giant dragon, and moved its muscles and bones against the scorching flames without caring, and then shook its wrists.

Next!

Each boulder with a diameter of more than three meters and a weight in tons was thrown towards the dragon in the sky like a violent storm!