Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 370 A War-Torn Territory: Swallowing the Southeast, Reshaping the Vanguard (Evening)

The grand drama on Earth is slowly unfolding. At present, it is only in the warm-up stage before the prologue. The smell of gunpowder has just begun to rise, and the game is visibly heating up.

It is foreseeable that as the situation on Earth becomes increasingly chaotic, a series of dramatic and intense clashes will inevitably follow.

The world of stars, on the other hand, has just experienced a brief but intense climax and is now in the lingering afterglow of a slowly closing movement.

The main force of the massive orcish autumn hunt army has been completely defeated. The renowned general was publicly tried and executed in front of everyone. The supplies and people plundered in the south became the spoils of war of the Vast Sea Territory!
Of course, the biggest achievement of this battle was the "momentum" created by this thunderous strike, which completely extinguished the orcs' desire to continue their encirclement and annihilation in the short term.

With their gates tightly shut and shivering in fear, this is the most accurate description of the current situation for most orc tribes on the plains.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chen Mo immediately began to expand his territory.

However, the location of the land acquisition is very, very important.

From the south of the Illusion Flame River, west of the Orcs' Northern Camp, north of Flag Mountain, and eastward to the sea, the troops of the Vast Ocean Territory launched a comprehensive cleanup operation in this area.

Judging from the map alone, this area is a little over a quarter of the size of the Bailu Plain.

However, in reality, there are huge differences between the two sides in the conflict.

For the human race, the alluvial plain downstream of the Phantom Flame River is an undeniably fertile land. With its rich soil, abundant waterways, large population, and a considerable coastline, it represents the essence of the human race's homeland.

But the orcs' perspective was completely different.

The orcs prioritized the value of land on the White Deer Plain over that of the south and the west over the east.

The northern part is close to the ancestral mountain of the orcs and the orc royal court, which creates a natural sense of affinity in terms of race, faith, and region. This is similar to how people in Dongxia on Blue Star buy houses; those who enter the city from a certain direction will naturally feel that direction is more comfortable.

At the same time, the north is also the first strategic barrier protecting the core area of ​​the wasteland, and its military value is irreplaceable.

To the west, because it is close to the Misty Moon Divine Court, it has been on the front line of confrontation for many years, making early warning and defense functions crucial.

Moreover, during the invasion of the plains, the western region was the last to be conquered, and the orcs shed the most blood, making it all the more precious.

The tribal distribution map makes it clear at a glance: the strongholds of powerful core tribes such as the Lion, Tiger, and Bear tribes are concentrated in the north and west. This feels very similar to the ancient feudal dynasty of Dongxia, where the royal domain was surrounded by important ministers and powerful vassals of the same surname, truly the heartland and a country of great respect.

No matter how good the soil and water are in the south, or how strong the soldiers are, they are still southern barbarians.

Therefore, for the orcs, losing this area was like having a pebble in their shoe; it was certainly unpleasant, but not to the point of a life-or-death struggle.

In order not to provoke the orcs' sensitive nerves and turn the Vast Ocean from a "stone in the shoe" into a "thorn in the flesh," Chen Mo strictly limited the area his troops could occupy.

The southern part of Huanyanjiang was originally dominated by medium and small tribes. After eliminating a second-tier leader, the "Longtooth" tribe, the rest of the area consisted of small fry.

These already weak and powerless orc tribes, facing a ferocious neighbor like the Vast Ocean Territory, were certainly not going to be able to sleep soundly.

Let's get up and choose a path.

Chen Mo didn't condemn them outright, but instead offered them three options.

The first option is to surrender.

Lay down your weapons, fully accept the leadership of the Han Hai Territory, and relinquish your tribe's military command, administrative jurisdiction, and foreign affairs rights. Allow limited autonomy within the tribe.

For the orcs, this was equivalent to turning an independent tribe into a subordinate tribe.

Although much has been lost, the money and life remain. Theoretically, if one serves the lord well, there is still a possibility of wielding power in the future, or even greater power than before.

Look at that bull, a guy who lost the race for the inheritance, now swaggering across the plains with an army of tens of thousands of orcs and humans.

Whenever the beastmen saw Liu Zaiyue, that big, dumb guy with a broken horn, they couldn't help but think, "I can take his place."

It feels like you see the simpleton in your neighborhood become a famous expert, and Guo Xiaosi from the next village become the captain of the basketball team. Now you're given a chance to join them. Do you want to give it a try?
Even though the technology is now very mature and advanced, why is the ox's horn still not repaired? It's because it's used as a target for displaying the "horse bone" that was bought for a fortune.

Lao Niu's current status is certainly due to his loyalty, but it is also built on the foundation of his enormous sacrifice of his personal image.

The effect was immediate. The cattle and deer tribes, which were widely distributed in the south and considered large horns as a secondary sexual characteristic, all chose to come and serve them.

Some tribes that had broken ties with their mother tribes and were already on the verge of being expelled and exiled had no choice but to lay down their weapons and accept the leadership of this new leader.

The second path is self-redemption.

The tribe could retain most of its property, carry a small number of light weapons, surrender all slaves and war machines, and pay a more symbolic "ransom" for freedom.

Afterwards, the commander of the Vast Ocean sent troops to "politely escort" them safely across the Illusion Flame River, so they could head north to join their superior tribe or return directly to the Orc Wasteland to find a new place to live.

According to the thinking of most human generals, this should be done by eliminating the orcs completely and weakening their strength as much as possible.
Chen Mo firmly rejected this idea that was emerging among the officers.

"What we need to eliminate is the orcs' fighting spirit and resistance organization, not individual orcs. The more orcs who have lost their courage return, the more advantageous it is for us."

"Excessive killing will turn the weak into the hardliners, the neutral into the hardliners, and the hardliners into the positions of enemy leaders and leaders."

“If our goal is merely to occupy this land and live in seclusion, then such a weakening tactic can be considered.”

"If we are now able to break through the Beast Mountain and sweep away its dens, then killing them one by one is perfectly acceptable."

"However, we are now in a special phase of mutual struggle, and this situation may continue for a long time in the future. Therefore, based on overall strategic considerations, it is very necessary to pay attention to control methods, retain or even cultivate the 'friendly faction,' 'fear faction,' and 'compromise faction' among the enemy, and divide their camp!"

"Commanders of all units must keep this firmly in mind!"

The reason why a symbolic ransom must be collected is also based on this.

Once you start trading, you'll likely do it again!
Of course, there is a third way.

They refused to accept the above conditions, put up a stubborn resistance, and were then completely wiped out.

There are quite a few of these tribes.

This is quite normal. Orcs are a war-loving tribe. Their inherent bravery, the stubbornness of some groups, and the adherence to tradition and honor by certain tribes have all contributed to the emergence of such die-hards.

Undeniably, many orcs have some innate intellectual deficiencies; in other words, they put all their talent into muscle.

Some of the orcs had blind confidence that they couldn't see the situation clearly, while others, even if they could see it clearly, still chose to fight for the Horde!
Even in the White Deer Plain, which has been occupied for over two hundred years, there is still the "White Deer Restoration Society." How much more so now, with the orcs being so aggressive and brimming with arrogance.

Before the Vast Ocean Territory could even make a move against these creatures, the sea race and the newly surrendered beast race began howling and fighting over them.

The Tide Naga are driven by money. They have supplies for their marches, military expenses for their expeditions, a share of the spoils, and compensation for those who die in battle!

After being cooped up at the bottom of the sea for so long, it's finally time to come ashore and have some fun. How can we not strive to be the first?

The newly possessed orcs were motivated by merit. They were familiar with the environment, skilled in civil war tactics, and knew very well which tribes were tough nuts to crack and which were easy targets. With the advantage of home ground and guidance from the Vast Ocean Territory, they managed to fight the sea tribes to a standstill.

Those who live by the water belong to the sea tribe, and those who live by the mountains belong to the beastmen. Between mountains and rivers, each relies on their own abilities!
The newly appointed brigade commander of the defense force, Galen, was almost going crazy. He had finally made it through the garrison period and thought that the "Returning Righteous Army," which had suffered minor losses in the decisive battle with the orcs, would be able to get some fighting. But he couldn't catch up at all.

In the morning, news came from a tribe that refused to surrender, so Galen immediately led his troops out. By noon, news had spread that the tribe had been wiped out and that the chief's head was already on its way.

They couldn't even collect the bodies while they were still warm.

Galen, on the verge of tears, ran a long way back to headquarters, only to be surprised to learn that he had been promoted again.

He was promoted three ranks without even fighting a single battle...

Is this a matter of skill level? Obviously not, it's simply that they caught the wave of Han Hai Ling Da's expansion.

The territory has suddenly expanded by more than ten times, and the population by dozens of times. Unlike the Summer Moon Alliance in the south, these are all directly administered areas that require the Han Hai Territory to personally appoint and station personnel, and there is a shortage of talent everywhere.

People from various factions in the Han Hai Territory, including Han Hai City, Tian Shuang City, Xuan Shui City, Hai Luo Kou, the surrendered orcs, and the White Deer Restoration Society, gathered together to participate in this crucial administrative reform conference, which is historically known as the "First White Deer Conference".

Conquering a country is not easy, but defending it is even more difficult. Faced with such a complex geographical environment, Chen Mo had to make every effort to plan carefully.

The other 88 points came from the expert group from Dongxia.

At this conference, Hanhailing showcased its meticulously planned regional division scheme.

A huge projection, covering the entire wall, displayed a map of the southeastern region of the White Deer Plain in exquisite detail, causing the eyes of the "unsophisticated" humans and orcs on the field to widen in astonishment.

Maps are familiar, large maps are familiar, but no one has ever seen a map like this, with such clear, highly three-dimensional detail and zoom-in capability. As the operator continued to zoom in, mountains, rivers, forests, swamps, tribal settlements, roads, bridges… even the ripples on the river and the mist in the forest became faintly discernible. The officials and leaders present could even locate their own rooftops on the map.

An indescribable sense of overwhelming control, a feeling of looking down upon the world and having everything under one's command, arose spontaneously. Everyone couldn't help but turn their gaze to the young lord sitting in the side seat of the front row.

However, today's speaker is Helan.

Helan smoothed his meticulously combed hair, cleared his throat, and bowed to Chen Mo first.

This steward, who had been forced to follow the young lord out to make some money due to financial difficulties, could never have imagined that in just a few years, the Han Hai Territory would become a super power with thousands of miles of territory, hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and even the Xi Yue Federation would become its loyal follower.

Although this middle-aged political figure was visibly haggard and his hair had turned quite gray, the vigorous energy emanating from his eyes perfectly illustrated the saying: Power is a man's best hormone!
"First of all, thank you for your trust and support, Lord!"

"Following the Lord's instructions, during this period, while launching operations, the Han Hai Territory, while strictly adhering to the established strategic boundaries, organized a highly skilled team to conduct a comprehensive survey and planning of the new control area on the Bai Lu Plain. The goal is to integrate the dozens of previously fragmented control areas, which were previously independent of the tribes, into six counties and two districts. Now, entrusted by the Lord, I would like to inform everyone of the following—"

Press the button, and a section of the map turns red first.

“From the coastline in the east to Lanshan and Shuangniu Valley, all the tribal camps, scattered settlements, fishing villages, ports, etc. in the above-mentioned area are unified into one administrative planning area, named Linhai County.”

Looking up at the map, the second red area is highlighted.

"In the northeast of the controlled area, there is a long strip of land along the lower reaches of the Illusion Flame River. The environment here is quite complex, with many remnants of orcs and goblins. Across the river is the orcish Minotaur tribe's main control area. Therefore, in addition to farming, it also needs to undertake certain military preparation tasks. The lord named it Ning'an County."

"West of Ning'an County, centered around the former Black Mane Ridge, this area is backed by mountains and faces water, with gentle rivers and numerous shoals. It will inevitably be the first choice for the orcs' attacks in the future. Therefore, Dingshan County should be established here to stabilize the northern frontier and remain as immovable as a mountain!"

After introducing the six prefectures, including Pingjiang, Qinglin, and Woye, two special zones were established.

The Xuanshui Industrial Zone, centered around the former Xuanshui City and Xuanshui Swamp, focuses on developing core industries such as arms manufacturing, alchemy, and magical items.

Based on the Conch Fortress and natural harbor, the 'Conch Port Special Zone' will focus on developing shipbuilding, the navy, bulk shipping trade, and deep-sea exploration, marking the starting point for the territory's future journey into the deep blue sea.

Clearly, this is a borrowing of the political management structure of Dongxia, combined with the local realities of the Starry Continent, and dressed up in the guise of the ancient Dongxia system.

In any case, it still sounds quite rigorous and well-organized.

The reason for highlighting these two special zones, given that they are currently under direct administration and there is no need to differentiate them, is both to emphasize their special status and to take into account the long-term plan for the complete restoration of the entire Bailu Plain.

In the future, as the territory expands further and the population increases, in order to improve management efficiency and clarify the hierarchical governance structure, a state or province will be established above the county, and a county or township will be established below the county, forming a complete three-level administrative division system.

At that time, these special administrative districts will bypass the new superior authority after the merger and continue to be directly under the jurisdiction of the lord's mansion.

After clarifying the administrative areas and responsibilities of each county once again, Helan moved on to the next topic.

"Six counties and two special zones, the framework is set up first."

"A prefecture is headed by a prefect who is in charge of all matters related to production, people's livelihood, and public security in the prefecture. His authority is similar to that of the chief councilor of the lord's mansion, and he is directly responsible to the lord."

"At the same time, the main officials of the territory, such as the Commandant, Assistant Commandant, Registrar, and various levels of Merit Officer, will be set up to be responsible for the arrangement of the territory's defense, economy, finances, criminal matters, personnel and other work. The specific responsibilities will be subject to the official documents issued by the territory later."

The eyes of the crowd below darted around, their gazes gradually becoming intense.

In addition to the original two special zones with their own management teams, there are now six more prefectures and six prefectural governors, which is equivalent to at least six positions with real power comparable to those in Helan! In addition to the numerous subordinate officials and clerks, this means that there are suddenly many more chairs.

Who will rise to the top? Who will be able to even get close? Which people or orcs will soar to the top?
In any case, those who are able to attend this meeting today must all be participants in this grand event. While everyone is overjoyed, they can't help but speculate and weigh their options.

After a brief moment of excitement, Helan finished his speech, thanking the lord and his colleagues once again. The middle-aged man's face flushed even more.

Next, it was the lord's turn to speak.

For matters of utmost importance, the lord shall make the arrangements personally. So, what is more important than administrative divisions?
First of all, since the system of the Eastern Xia Dynasty was followed, it is natural not to mention the most important and core part of the Eastern Xia system - the dual chief official system.

"Everyone!"

As soon as Chen Mo spoke, everyone sat up straight, and dozens of pairs of eyes turned to look at him.

"As everyone knows, when I first arrived in the Vast Ocean Territory, I only had a dozen or so people with me. As for the slaves I bought, most of them had been beaten to a pulp by the orcs and were no longer of any use."

"I had to personally select and teach a group of teenagers, teaching them to read, to do arithmetic, and to understand discipline and responsibility. Together with them, we got through the most difficult period!"

"Everyone in the territory knows that the 'Torch Boys' are the lord's most loyal and trusted followers."

Led by former Torch Youth League leader Makaja and current leader Xia Yuanchen, at least one-third of the members present were from the Torch Youth League, and they all proudly puffed out their chests.

"However, this method also has its limitations."

“People like Chief Helan and Brigade Commander Xia, who are older, definitely won’t have the chance to participate in the ‘Torch Youth Corps’ again. They will always be seen as having temporary glory but no future prospects!”

“I don’t think we can do that. How can we determine our future based on our birth? We have many older members in our territory who are working diligently and tirelessly for the Han Hai and for all the ethnic groups living on this land! Their loyalty, experience, and abilities are also invaluable assets that our territory cannot do without!”

"Therefore, I have decided to establish a new organization, which will be called the Torch Vanguard!"

Chen Mo carefully considered the wording, trying to express the concept in a way that was closer to the understanding of the starry world.

"Regardless of race, age, or background!"

"Any advanced and proactive individual who sincerely agrees with HanHai's shared ideals and is willing to strive for HanHai's future can become a member of the Torch Vanguard Team through application and assessment!"

“The best representatives from each tribe, the most loyal and reliable soldiers in the army, and the most capable officials in the government system will be given priority in being accepted into the Torch Vanguard Team.”

"At the same time, members of the Torch Vanguard Team must undergo more rigorous training and study, shoulder more arduous and heavy responsibilities, play an exemplary leading role in all areas such as production, combat, and governance, and use their words and deeds to inspire and motivate more people to understand and devote themselves to our cause..."

"Of course, they also enjoy certain opportunities for priority training and promotion."

"We are not only going to defeat the brutal orcs of the wasteland, but also to establish a new order! A new order full of hope that belongs to all races, including humans, orcs, elves, orcs, dwarves, sea creatures, and more!"

Chen Mo, full of vigor and with a smile on his face, looked around.

However, after a brief silence, a lively but seemingly... off-topic discussion erupted from the audience.

Someone suddenly realized: "I understand! This is the legendary 'Knights of the Oath,' loyal knights who are invincible and devoted to their lord."

Someone countered, "That's not quite right. The Oath Knights are a combat organization. Whether we're warriors, mages, officers, or craftsmen, even if we can't fight, we all have the opportunity to become Torch Vanguard members and serve our lord in our own way!"

Others chimed in with their own opinions, each offering their own perspective.

"Yes, yes, I think this is more like the 'Brotherhood of Truth'!"

“That’s right, we are brothers, and we both serve our lord!”

An elderly official slapped his thigh hard: "That's great! I always thought those 'Torch Boys' were the lord's godson, very close! I just regret that I'm too old."

"Now that the lord has lifted the age limit, everyone has the opportunity to call the lord 'father'..."

The person next to him quickly covered the guy's mouth.

He was a member of the Torch Youth Corps. Having received the lord's earnest teachings, they could vaguely understand what kind of organization the lord was preparing to create.

Chen Mo's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and a few black lines appeared on his forehead.

No wonder the letters from home repeatedly emphasized the need to "proceed step by step" and "guide according to the circumstances."

"We need to try to understand and accept it in a way that they are familiar with first. In the future, we can gradually shape the true form of the vanguard team through specific charters, training and practice."

"In the current stage where the environment does not fully support it, it can be shaped into a political entity that conforms to the actual situation of the Starry Continent and the interests of the Vast Ocean Territory and yourself. In the future, through long-term and continuous efforts to enlighten the people, it can be gradually transformed into an ideal state."

The old man in the family also wrote a sentence that was both slightly sarcastic and somewhat poignant.

"We in Dongxia haven't even achieved this ideal state yet!"

Okay, let's take it slow...

A long way to go!

(End of this chapter)