Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 208 Return to Reorganize: Big Calculations and Small Sentiments
September 18th! September 18th!
We remember!
-----------

The lord has returned.

He was covered in frost and snow, weary from his journey, and came riding the waves from a distant place!

The lord's return was like a ray of sunshine, dispelling the gloom that shrouded the land; like a gentle breeze, scattering the dust from the territory; like a flash of lightning, illuminating the deep night; like a rainbow, shining brightly on the vibrant, boundless sea...

Hearing that magnetic and impassioned voice, the weariness on Chen Mo's face was instantly replaced by shock, absurdity, and embarrassment, and a black line seemed to appear on his forehead.

Facing Helan, who had come to greet him, Chen Mo was furious: "Who wrote this broadcast script? Make them stop right now!"

"Now! Immediately! Right now!"

After a period of chaos, the lord angrily emphasized at an emergency meeting.

"First, personality cults are forbidden, especially open personality cults!"

"Secondly, the propaganda front is of paramount importance. Drafts must be reviewed, and multiple reviews must be conducted. From now on, all publicly broadcast drafts must be reviewed by the State Council, and reports on major events must be submitted to the City Lord's Mansion!"

"Third, those newly arrived bards first underwent ideological reform, then labor training, and after they understood the spirit and purpose of the territory, they went to work in the fields, mines, and factories, and went among the working people."

"Only those who can learn well, persevere, and stay are allowed to join the publicity department!"

That's right, the matter is not complicated; it's just that a few bards have recently arrived in the territory.

This group of people had traveled all over the country and were very knowledgeable. They were excellent at writing and had excellent physical appearance, which quickly won them the favor of the propaganda department.

Moreover, these guys have traveled all over the country and have some talent for languages. In just a month or two, they mastered a standard Dongxia language and their broadcasts were incredibly vivid and expressive.

The lord's return was only announced shortly before he arrived in the territory, so the propaganda department had not prepared any scripts in advance. The person in charge hurriedly instructed the broadcasting station to briefly announce the important news of the lord's return before rushing to the dock to prepare to welcome him.

The broadcaster, who was originally a bard, was so passionate that he improvised a segment.

Is it absurd? It doesn't seem absurd at all.

Everyone in the territory knows the great lord, whose brilliance shines brightly, so the bard should hold back on saying more.

However, what would be considered flattery in other territories is tantamount to cutting off a horse's leg in Chen Mo's eyes!

After dealing with this mess, Chen Mo hurriedly returned to the city lord's mansion.

There was another thing that really annoyed him, but he had nowhere to vent his anger.

These people... are really too fond of trying to guess what their superiors want when it comes to certain details.

When Liu Shuang came to Han Hai, I happened to be away. The reception staff directly arranged for the little girl to stay in a guest room in the Han Hai City Lord's Mansion on the grounds that "the reception conditions at the post station are rudimentary, the security is insufficient, the leader of Liu Shuang is of important status, and the city lord's mansion is temporarily vacant".

You say there's a problem? The conditions at the post station are indeed quite poor. Theoretically, if an enemy were to make any moves, it could easily lead to adverse consequences.

If they can defeat this near-fifth rank.

But if you say there's no problem, something just doesn't feel right.

After entering the city lord's mansion, Chen Mo first privately summoned Lin Zhong. As the head of the intelligence department, Lin Zhong's answer was not unexpected.

There is indeed someone behind this.

"Reporting to the lord, this matter was actually deliberately pushed forward by Skyfrost City."

"???"

"After the last military reform, although you gave Tianshuang City considerable power, appointed Princess Liushuang as the deputy commander-in-chief, and appointed Xia Er from Tianshuang City as the commander of the Second Brigade, many people believe that Tianshuang City's power has been further compressed."

"As long as you, the commander-in-chief, give the order, Skyfrost City will have no choice but to obey!"

"The Vast Sea Frost, in many people's minds now, is the same thing!"

Lin Zhong spread a stack of files on the table and carefully explained to the lord in detail: "Those officials, big and small, in Skyfrost City are all old officials from the Emerald Duchy, and they're very shrewd!"

“They know that without Han Hai, Tian Shuang City will have a hard time surviving, but they always feel that they are good at governing and are unwilling to be localized and marginalized. They always want to find an opportunity to move up in our system in the future.”

Chen Mo nodded. He knew a little about these things, but these people had acted positively and made their efforts in a constructive way without resorting to any underhanded tactics, so he didn't take any action against them.

"The last time the elves were invited, there was evidence that it was these guys who pushed for it with all their might, intending to use the elves as a backdrop for Princess Liushuang to enhance the status of Tianshuang City."

"However, I never expected that your communication with the elves would be so successful that it ended up putting Princess Liushuang aside, which made them even more anxious."

Chen Mo sighed: "All you do every day, instead of doing anything productive, is is this tinkering with all this stuff..."

Lin Zhong said with a forced smile, "The main thing is, they are indeed getting a little anxious."

"Forgive my rudeness, my lord, but you have your considerations, and these people also have their perspective."

“These days, from the city lord to the general of Tianshuang City, you have summoned them at will and dismissed them at will, but you have never been to Tianshuang City once.”

"In the eyes of these officials, it seems to confirm that you don't care about Skyfrost City at all."

Chen Mo nodded slightly.

Although he had his own concerns for personal safety and was busy with territorial affairs, it was inevitable that others would speculate about him.

"As for the many favors given to Princess Liushuang, firstly, they don't know how long they can last. After all, from the perspective of interests, the current interests of Hanhai and Tianshuang are not equal."

"Secondly, they are also worried about you..."

Lin Zhong paused, then lowered his voice: "I'm worried that you only want the princess, not Tian Shuang!"

"..." Chen Mo fell silent again.

Is it possible? Absolutely!
If the young princess were to settle down in Hanhai now, in Chen Mo's eyes, the officials and commoners of Tianshuang City would be no different from the refugees of Dongguan, the old servants of Emerald City, and the slaves of White Deer City, and would not receive any extra care.

To put it bluntly, though it may sound harsh, the administrators of the Vast Ocean would instinctively favor a slave with no background, who is hardworking and grateful to his territory, over a Skyfrost human who might have old-fashioned aristocratic habits and a shrewd mind.

Because they are "cheap, obedient, and easy to manage"!
Lin Zhong made this clear, Chen Mo understood it, and the old bureaucrats and politicians of Tianshuang City naturally understood it as well.

It could even be said that they were the first group to understand this and feel anxious about it, without exception.

Chen Mo tapped the stack of files lightly with his fingers, pondered for a moment, and finally asked the most crucial question: "So, after going through all this trouble, what exactly are they trying to do?"

Lin Zhong looked slightly embarrassed, subconsciously scratched his head, coughed twice, and then replied, "Well... the information I found can't be said to be 100% certain; it's more based on intelligence and clues."

"Based on the current analysis, it seems that these old guys in Skyfrost City in Cloud Mist Territory are... they seem to be hoping to facilitate a... um, alliance between you and Princess Flowing Frost as soon as possible?"

"Let the territory produce a legitimate eldest son! In their eyes, the foundation of Skyfrost City will be secure!"

I see, these guys really do think things through.

In the feudal system of Fanxing, the eldest son of the legitimate wife was of great significance, so much so that he could be called the foundation of the state.

To put it simply, if Chen Mo were to suddenly disappear right now, neither the territorial officials like Helan nor the proud and fierce Torch Youth would likely pay any attention to Liu Shuang.

But if Liu Shuang were holding a legitimate eldest son in her arms, the situation would be entirely different. A considerable core force within the Han Hai Territory would be surrounding this heir!

Given Chen Mo's current aloof attitude towards women, he has gained the upper hand and might very well achieve a complete victory!

Chen Mo pondered for a long time, but still didn't know how to deal with those old guys from Tianshuang City. He could only put the case file aside for now and bite the bullet to go see Liushuang. The little girl was practicing her sword in the courtyard, and the whooshing sound of her weapon cutting through the air could be heard from a distance.

Chen Mo stopped at the gate of the courtyard. He carefully checked all the passively triggered protective gear he was carrying, and then signaled the guards to open the gate.

The Lord's Mansion in the Vast Ocean is a key project overseen by the Chief Councilor of Helan. The overall style emphasizes grandeur and magnificence, but the interior has always appeared very rugged.

After all, conditions are limited in the desert, and Chen Mo has always opposed using funds in meaningless places.

For example, the backyard of this city lord's mansion, according to the original design, should have trees, grass, fountains, birds, beasts, and artificial hills.

Chen Mo rejected the idea outright. Although he had the money, he wasn't going to spend a single extra penny on this wasteland.

The result is that, apart from the compacted and leveled ground, the courtyard is almost indistinguishable from the vast expanse of shallow, hard sand outside. There are no flowers, birds, insects, or fish, not even a single blade of green grass to be seen.

By a twist of fate, it became the city lord's private martial arts arena.

Snowflakes fluttered down, and sword energy whistled through the air.

Liu Shuang's figure darted and weaved through the swirling snow, her longsword transforming into streaks of silver light as she slashed, charged, and parried... precise, sharp, and fluid.

Chen Mo stood under the eaves, not immediately making a sound to disturb them, but simply watching quietly.

Every few months, the little girl's progress is visible to the naked eye, and this is even in the case that there is no one left in Tianshuang City to teach her, and she can only learn by herself.

In contrast, Chen Mo's academic performance on the path of cultivation is exceptionally stable.

It's all thanks to cheating!
Qiyue's swordsmanship style follows a swift and agile approach, while Tianqiong's swordsmanship emphasizes a grand and unrestrained style, simple and elegant. Liushuang's swordsmanship, on the other hand, has now become somewhat unrestrained and free from rigid forms.

Seemingly sensing Chen Mo's arrival, Liu Shuang's figure became even more graceful. With a few leaps and bounds, she left several afterimages on the field, dazzling Chen Mo.

A gust of wind swept by, and the surrounding snowflakes seemed to suddenly receive some kind of instruction, slowing down visibly and then moving away as if separated by an invisible force field, creating an open space in the yard.

In the center of the open space stood Liushuang, sword sheathed.

The little girl was dressed in a fitted swordsman's outfit, her breathing slightly rapid, and fine beads of sweat were faintly visible on her forehead, turning into wisps of white vapor in the cold air. Her eyes sparkled, as if they contained a few stars.

"Chen Mo! You're back!"

Liu Shuang tossed her longsword to the guard standing beside her, took a few strides, and arrived at the corridor. Her face was beaming with an unreserved smile, which seemed to radiate a warm, sunny feeling in the icy landscape.

Lin Zhong, who was accompanying him, turned his head. It was too dazzling. Han Hai used to have only one sun, but now... there are two!
"Yeah, I just got back." Chen Mo nodded, opened his arms, and made a welcoming embrace gesture.

Ever since Liu Shuang used the "Swallow Returns to the Forest" technique on Chen Mo, the greeting between the two lords has changed from the standard noble etiquette three to the less standard noble etiquette twenty-six.

However, no one has any objection to this relatively intimate greeting etiquette. Han Hai Ling is happy to see it happen, but Tian Shuang Cheng feels it's not enough.

Liu Shuang gently leaned closer, carefully turning her head to rest against Chen Mo's chest.

Every time she wakes up in the middle of the night, she always thinks of that lonely star shining in that big dream, feeling isolated and helpless. This makes her feel particularly at ease in her current state.

The guards nearby breathed a sigh of relief. Great, the protection hadn't been activated!
Safety, safety! Safety alert!

After a brief greeting, Chen Mo led Liu Shuang outside, chatting about swordsmanship, territory, orcs, weather, and all sorts of other topics, flying and jumping around, as they walked out.

As I stepped out of the city lord's mansion, the snow was falling heavily. The rooftops of buildings near and far were covered with a light layer of white, creating a scene of silver-clad beauty.

Young men and women walked in front, followed by dozens of guards in neat rows, maintaining a perfect distance—just enough to avoid hearing the private conversations between the lords while still allowing them to see the leaders' agile figures.

Soon, upon hearing that the lord had gone out, Helan and the old clerk followed, the two political leaders of the territory whispering among themselves.

"Are they going out for a walk?"

"Who knows? Speaking of which, your lord is really carefree. He hasn't even asked where we're going, and he's just following along..."

"Sigh... You don't know my wife, even if Lord Chen Mo takes her all the way to the sea, she won't ask a single question."

"That's true. Last time on the ship, he was shaking so badly that he clung to the side of the ship and refused to leave. The lord had to carry him off the ship himself."

"It's so good to be young, we're getting old! It's easy to be moved by these heartwarming scenes. I hope we won't have any conflicts in the future."

"I don't think things will escalate. My lord is no match for your man..."

Chen Mo and Liu Shuang walked for more than ten minutes before stopping at a bus stop platform.

Liu Shuang completely withdrew her fighting spirit. The two tilted their heads and approached each other, talking in hushed tones. Snowflakes fluttered around them, falling on their hair and shoulders, creating a tranquil and beautiful scene.

Not long after, a wooden van pulled by two ground-mounted tractors slowly pulled up at the station, accompanied by the clear sound of a bell.

Although she had been to Hanhailing several times, this was Liushuang's first time experiencing public transportation like this. Her crescent-shaped eyes were full of surprise and curiosity as she looked around, examining everything.

These wooden vans, excluding the driver, have twenty seats. During peak commuting periods, they can accommodate twice as many passengers, including those with standing tickets and roof tickets, making them the mainstay of public transportation in the territory.

It was well past work hours, and with heavy snow falling, there were only a handful of people on the bus. When they saw Chen Mo, they were so excited that their voices trembled as they greeted him.

No one kowtowed anymore; after two years of careful education from Han Hai, this habit had finally been broken.

It's just that superficial habits are easy to change, but the imprints left in the heart are hard to erase.

Even in modern countries on Earth that have developed for decades or even centuries, there are still many people who like to kneel before others and enjoy watching others kneel.

Chen Mo smiled and reassured the people, took out two copper coins from his pocket, threw them into the box next to the coachman, and then sat down in the front row with Liu Shuang.

Liu Shuang tucked her hands in and squeezed herself next to Chen Mo, asking in a low voice, "You have to pay for the ride?"

"Yes, I should give it to you! I don't need the money."

"But as a leader, you have to be mindful of the consequences of your superiors. Humans are inherently greedy creatures; if the higher-ups dare to let in a single speck of dust, the lower-ups will dare to tear down an entire mountain."

"I'm just using this as a way to remind these officials in the territory; they understand!"

"Do you often ride in this kind of vehicle? Uncle Charles and Grandpa Clerk told me that I must maintain the dignity of a lord and keep my distance from the people, otherwise they will look down on me. But why is it different here?"

Chen Mo smiled and said, "What they said isn't entirely correct. Whether or not to keep your distance depends on your own level."

“If someone is like your brothers, of course you have to keep your distance from the people. Otherwise, they’ll soon find out, ‘Oh, our lord is a fool!’”

Liu Shuang giggled, her little head bobbing back and forth, making Chen Mo unable to resist reaching out and tugging at it.

“Getting closer to those below you will cause some people to lose their sense of awe, but it will also strengthen your emotional ties with others and cultivate your own loyal followers. In terms of value to the territory, the latter type of people are definitely more significant than the former.”

"The former can only be called a mercenary at best, while the latter is a true partner!"

Liu Shuang seemed to understand, but her eyes were full of admiration.

The vehicle moved slowly forward, and the scenery outside the window gradually receded. Cavalry guards could be vaguely seen scattered in front of and behind the bus, and the driver would occasionally shake the bell on the roof to announce the arrival of the stop.

After three stops, the vehicle slowly entered the Hanhailing Industrial Zone and stopped at a platform called "Reduction Workshop".

"We've arrived at our stop, let's get off!"

"I'll take you to do that trial mission!"

(End of this chapter)