Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 318 The Waves of Rice, the Flying Birds, and the Lord's Sigh
Summer in Hanhailing is a vibrant summer.

Standing atop the brightly lit white rock platform of the lord's mansion and looking down, the landscape had been completely transformed, as if from another world.

This land once had an elegant yet bloody name—"Walking in the Snow to View Plum Blossoms." The "snow" was vast expanses of saline-alkali soil, and the "plum blossoms" were mottled spots of dried blood, seeping into the bones of the people.

Now, all of this has been overshadowed by the lush greenery.

Reclaiming farmland from the desert has always been a core task for the Han Hai Territory. As a noble steward from the old era, Helan's greatest achievement in serving as the chief councilor of the Han Hai Territory is that he has effectively organized agricultural production in the territory.

Today, the northeastern part of the entire Han Hai Territory is covered with seawater rice paddies.

The green of the rice stalks was not so bright, but rather a slightly deep bluish-gray. They stood in neat rows, and the full ears of rice rippled in waves as the sea breeze blew.

In the rice paddies, the local farmers are working.

This place presents a wonderful combination of primitive and modern. On the ground, a large number of people are working hard in the fields, while in the sky, drones are scattering feed and flying over these huge pieces of turquoise glass.

That's right, what's being spread is feed. A rice-fish symbiosis model has been established in these fields. The insects that breed in the rice paddies are natural food for the fish, while the fish's excrement, in turn, becomes high-quality fertilizer to nourish the rice paddies.

This model seems simple, but to achieve large-scale and efficient operation, it requires the support of a complete agricultural system.

For example, the operation guide issued by Hanhailing Agricultural Technology Service Station clearly states that fish ditches should be built between the ridges of rice paddies, and fish pits with a depth of more than one meter should be dug in a suitable location in the middle of the rice paddy as a refuge for fish when they are in high temperature or disturbed.

The guide also includes a bolded note after the "Fish Ditch Setup" section: "The fish ditch location must be clearly marked, and those of dwarf lineage are prohibited from approaching!"

Behind every regulation, there must be some untold stories.

For example, how to formulate feed to avoid water pollution, how to ensure sufficient water oxygen, how to adjust the water depth in the early and middle stages of the crop, how to deal with rice diseases and fish diseases, and so on. It is no exaggeration to say that without the support of the Dongxia agricultural department, it would take at least thirty years to complete this system, let alone three.

Of course, this system also brings some other interesting changes.

For example, once no birds ever stopped in this desert, but with the presence of forests and fish in the shallow waters, birds migrating from the south and north often stop here, making it a crucial transit point and resupply point on their migration route.

Tens of thousands of migratory birds, including egrets, geese, and ducks, inhabit and forage here. Their plumage, like clouds, forms a unique landscape in the vast desert.

The agricultural department proposed to dispose of these birds, but Lord Chen Mo waved his hand and said, "Excellent! Green mountains and clear waters, birds flying and fish swimming—this is the true beauty of the world!"

It is said that the great druids of the elven race are convinced that Chen Mo's style is either of ancient druidic lineage or an apostle of the god of nature walking among mortals.

For example, Lord Chen Mo's teacher, Archmage Downs, now has an additional leisure activity that doesn't require traveling far—he can simply walk along the paddy field with a fishing rod and go fishing.

Master Downs's exemplary actions sparked a fishing craze among the upper echelons of the Vast Ocean Territory.

Representatives from various countries' missions, priests from major temples, mercenaries on break from their duties, and even wandering poets who traveled around collecting folk songs all followed suit and went fishing by the fields.

Hanhai Agriculture Department reacted quickly and immediately issued the "Management Measures for Fishing in Rice Fields During Non-Harvest Season", which clearly marked prices and charged fishing fees. Unexpectedly, this generated a considerable amount of non-tax revenue, which can be regarded as another form of "return on investment".

The city's outskirts are no longer a scene of endless yellow sand. Layers of green barriers, composed of drought-resistant trees, low shrubs, and resilient turf, have firmly locked in the shifting sands around the city. The sandstorms that once blotted out the sky are gradually becoming a distant memory for the older residents.

Further into the distance, the outline of the industrial area is faintly visible under the azure sky, and even further away, the unseen but incredibly bustling docks and harbors.

After looking around in the second-floor corridor for a long time, Chen Mo seemed to feel much better.

There is sunshine and shadow in this world, there are evil people and good people. The Political Council holds its annual meeting on the 10th, and among the hundreds of officials in the Hanhai region, only one Lin Zhong has emerged so far.

That's how life is. As you walk, some people will stop because they can't keep up, some will get separated because they have different goals, and some, like Lin Zhong, will choose a path that goes in the opposite direction.

As for myself, I still have to keep moving forward step by step.

Just as Chen Mo was lost in thought, a soft thud was heard, and a graceful figure jumped up from downstairs.

The only person who can enter and leave the city lord's mansion so easily and with such agility is Liu Shuang.

This girl, I don't know when she developed this habit, after jumping down from here a few times, perhaps because she found it really convenient, she often abandoned the main gate and the stairs and chose this "shortcut", jumping straight to the second floor at the drop of a hat, making the guards below twitch their eyes.

Liu Shuang never expected that Chen Mo would catch her red-handed this time. Her face flushed red, and she subconsciously tapped the ground with her toes, turning around to jump down the way she came and slip away.

He turned around and was about to jump again when Chen Mo quickly stopped him.

"In a hurry?"

"without……"

What are you carrying in your hand?

"Oh, oh," Liu Shuang seemed to remember something and quickly raised her hand.

The bird she was carrying was the "Wise Bird," Little White Owl, which was said to be able to foresee good and bad fortune.

At this moment, the poor little creature was being held upside down in mid-air by her two fingers, one of its paws pinched between them. Its fluffy feathers were all taut, and it had curled itself into a helpless, furry ball. Its open blue eyes were filled with a sorrowful resentment that made it feel like it was living a life worse than death.

Because the warning in Fallen Feather Canyon was given too slowly, Little White suffered the merciless punishment of Prince Frost.

On the day she returned, the entire city lord's mansion echoed with Princess Liushuang's roar.

"You useless thing!" Liu Shuang's voice was urgent and crisp, and she spoke very quickly: "You eat my food, drink my water, and are fed with the special life spring water, and you gurgle and gurgle more happily than anyone else when you're being tickled! And this is how you let me down when it really matters?"

"The enemy is hiding right under our noses, where's your warning? Did the goblins carry it all away?!"

There was also a dedicated translator nearby, responsible for translating Elvish for "Little White," while also awkwardly mimicking Prince Liushuang's anger.

"Gurgle...gurgle..."

Little White was so dizzy from being shaken that it made a whimpering sound that was hard to understand. It also opened its other tightly closed eye a crack, revealing a faint light in its deep purple pupil, looking extremely aggrieved.

Clearly, this can be considered a kind of "fate prediction," as it reflects a pessimistic view of one's future.

"Speak up? Aren't you pretty good at predicting mahjong games? You just fall asleep when it comes to serious matters, huh?"

As Liu Shuang spoke, she grew angrier and angrier. She stretched out her other hand, her slender white fingers curling as if to flick the little owl's forehead.

Little Whitey's other eye snapped open, terrified, and its wings flapped wildly.

If Prince Liushuang's finger strength had landed properly, its little body probably wouldn't have many intact bones left.

"wait wait wait!"

"Husband... Madam!"

The first half of the sentence was Elvish, but the second half was addressed in Dongxia language. Although the speech was marked by obvious stuttering and a strange accent, comparable to that of a toddler who had just learned to speak, the correct address saved his life.

Next, Xiaobai tried hard to organize her thoughts, her little head twisting anxiously, uttering only fragmented words. The translator was completely bewildered and could only try to translate it as faithfully as possible.

"Danger, danger... I need... I need... But, it's incomplete!"

"The tree...the big tree is gone!"

"The fog is so thick, I can't see the fish or anything in the water..."

"Help...help!"

Seeing that Liu Shuang's face darkened again, it was the lord who rushed over upon hearing the commotion who saved the bird's life.

"Alright, stop making things difficult for it!"

"The situation in Fallen Feather Canyon is special. The enemy has taken control of the nest and made targeted arrangements. Even our many experienced scouts did not detect anything unusual in advance. After all, it is just a bird."

"Even if it can give an early warning, it is still an early warning and it is quite useful. We shouldn't let it really disappear."

For the next few days, Chen Mo didn't see the little thing, presumably because Liu Shuang had been keeping it by her side and "educating" it. Now that Liu Shuang had come to him, Chen Mo reached out and picked up the still-shaken little guy, carefully turning it over and placing it on his shoulder.

The little owl, as if granted a pardon, immediately nestled its fluffy body against Chen Mo's neck, clinging tightly to his hair, shrinking into a small ball of fur, only revealing one still-shaken eye, secretly observing Liu Shuang's unfriendly expression. Chen Mo changed the subject calmly: "By the way, how did the conversation with Lynn go?"

Liu Shuang slowly shook her head.

Lin Zhong's act of betrayal caused a huge uproar in the territory. Apart from some of his direct subordinates from the Security Bureau, the one who suffered the most was his uncle, Lynn.

He was arrested and imprisoned immediately. After the lord returned, the newly formed internal affairs department conducted a strict investigation on him and confirmed that Lynn was not involved in the incident.

However, upon learning that his nephew had been involved in the plot to murder the lord, the commander of the Hanhai brigade nearly collapsed.

Chen Mo had no choice but to send Liu Shuang over to offer some words of comfort.

Officially, Liu Shuang is the deputy commander-in-chief of the Supreme Military Command and the chief officer of each brigade commander. Privately, during the unpleasant and difficult time at the Royal Central Psionic Academy of the Qiyue Dynasty, Lin En, sent by Chen Mo, worked tirelessly for her and contributed a lot. In the Han Hai, Liu Shuang has always been regarded as Lin En's "background" and "powerful backer".

However, it seems that the reassurance was not very effective.

"I'll talk to him!"

"Most of the time he just kept his head down, saying he was sorry to the lord, sorry to Han Hai, and that he was no longer worthy of serving as brigade commander. He seemed not to listen to anything I said."

"I'll talk to him!"

Chen Mo sighed softly and pressed the button on the communicator. "Please ask Brigade Commander Lin En to come to my office... no, right here, to the second-floor platform."

Not long after, a slightly unsteady figure appeared at the top of the corridor stairs.

The former mercenary captain, now the commander of the Second Brigade of the Vast Ocean, burst into tears as soon as he saw Chen Mo.

Instead of bowing as usual, he knelt down with a thud from a distance, his head bowed, his slightly graying hair trembling slightly in the summer breeze.

"Alright, get up! You know I never like seeing people kneel!"

"Don't bother with any apologies. Since this has nothing to do with you, our Han Hai Territory doesn't practice the practice of punishing entire families."

“I have read your letter of apology. After such an incident, many people in the territory have indeed been looking at you with considerable hostility, and there have been quite a few rumors circulating. Letting you temporarily relinquish your post and go back to rest is a relief for you.”

"But, it's not possible right now."

Chen Mo gestured for Lin En to sit down, but the lame veteran simply stood to the side, his body trembling slightly.

"Why not? Because the territory's army needs to be commanded by humans!"

"The commander of the First Brigade is a centaur, the commander of the Fourth Brigade is an orc, the commander of the Second Brigade is a veteran of Cloud Mist Territory, and the Lord's Guard is now led by elves. Only you are the only high-ranking human commander who has been with me since I established the territory."

"If you leave now, I won't have a suitable person to take your place."

Chen Mo sighed deeply, his gaze sweeping across the vast land to the distance, his voice low and somber.

"Everyone says I like orcs and half-orcs, and elves and dwarves, but it's not that I like them, it's just that I have no other choice."

“When our Vast Ocean Territory first started, it was poor and dilapidated, and no one was willing to come. So, almost all the humans in the territory were slaves, and as you know, the adult slaves who survived were all… those whose spines had been broken…”

"So, I can only place my hopes on those children."

"The education over the past few years has gradually yielded some results, but there is still not enough time. Among these teenagers, we cannot produce a single military commander who can stand alone."

"If we follow the normal promotion process and have the lower levels nominate candidates for brigade commander, under the current circumstances, it would be almost impossible for a pure Han Hai human officer to make it into the final list."

"You know, although I'm the one who has the final say here, I try my best not to break the rules I set. After all, rules are incredibly difficult to establish, but incredibly easy to break!"

“One breach of authority reduces your prestige by half; two breaches and you’re no different from toilet paper.”

"So, even if you have to endure it, you have to stay in this position until a new human officer from the Han Naval Academy takes over your place, understand?"

Lynn nodded heavily, wanting to kneel, but forcibly restrained himself halfway and raised his hand to give a standard Han Hai salute.

“Look down here.” Chen Mo pointed to the vast territory. “Elves, half-elves, orcs, centaurs… they are now the backbone of the Han Hai Army and the main force on the battlefield. Why? Not only because of their individual strength, but also because of their family heritage.”

"Centaur have their own race, orcs have their own tribes, elves have their own elven families... but the human race of the Vast Ocean is the only race whose generations of powerful families from the Three Kingdoms and Nine Clans have been completely shattered; they are all ordinary people."

"They have only one identity: either Han Hai people or Xia Yue people!"

"Give us a little more time, and perhaps we can establish an era that doesn't need powerful clans!"

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Watching Lynn straighten his back and walk away, Chen Mo's face showed no relief; instead, his thick eyebrows were furrowed together.

Liu Shuang sensed his low spirits and silently carved a stone fruit for him with her hand and handed it to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo took it and asked with a slight hesitation, "Have you washed your hands?"

"..."

While crunching on fruit and gazing into the distance, Chen Mo seemed to finally make a decision after an unknown amount of time, when Little White was fast asleep.

"Frost Flows!"

"Ok?"

"I'm going to clean up the atmosphere!"

"Ok?"

"Our territory has developed too fast, and there are too few cadres with conviction. Various problems have already emerged behind the scenes. If these problems are not handled properly, they will slowly erode our territory."

"If we don't resolve this soon, once they enter the Summer Moon Alliance's system and mingle with that privileged class, they'll probably fall into depravity even faster, and we won't be able to deal with them anymore!"

"It's impossible to completely eliminate it, but we must apply the brakes and tighten the reins from time to time!"

“You are the person I trust the most. You are simple-minded, have enough prestige, and now you are the military leader of our territory. I want to entrust this matter to you.”

Liu Shuang looked somewhat bewildered, but nodded firmly nonetheless and asked, "What do I need to do?"

"Initially, you will be responsible for selecting the person to carry out this task."

"The primary requirements are loyalty, reliability, a clean background, and absolute obedience!"

"I will have an expert develop a detailed implementation plan outlining the specific operating procedures, review standards, and authority allocation. You can just follow it then!"

After a moment's thought, Chen Mo added, "We need to keep this a secret for now. The specific start time will depend on the scale and movements of the orcs' autumn hunt this year. If the defensive pressure isn't too great, we'll start the purge sooner; if there's a risk on the border, we'll postpone it a bit."

"But this is something we have to get done this year, no matter what."

"Frost Flows!"

"Ok?"

"I gotta Feeling……"

Chen Mo paused for a moment, then turned his gaze to the distant horizon.

"In the future history of the stars, no matter what kind of records we will be made, what we are about to do will probably be met with all kinds of criticism!"

In the summer of the vast sea, the sun is scorching and the breeze is gentle.

However, a storm is brewing on the distant sea, and the days to come are destined to be anything but peaceful!
(End of this chapter)