I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 221 Population Expansion Plan
……

……

In the early spring of the wasteland, the wind at dawn was still icy cold.

The lingering stench of blood in Shattered Scale Valley drew the low growls of wolves and wild dogs.

Vultures circled in the air, occasionally swooping down on the monster's remains.

Raine led his hunting party around the area, turning the wild beasts that came to hunt into food and "real estate" for Frostleaf.

The daytime fighting had exhausted the soldiers, and Rhodes specifically instructed them to get some rest.

The task of cleaning up the corpses was left to the slaves who had arrived overnight.

Led by Lov, the slaves, their faces wrapped in coarse linen, dragged the corpses one by one into a large pit dug at the foot of the other side of the mountain.

Rhodes personally examined them and found that the corpses of these lizard monsters had almost no magical power, and might only be of some use.

There are far more than a thousand corpses to use; we can't just leave them there indefinitely.

Composting is its only value.

In the future, both the snow wheat and the herb garden can use the fertilizer made from the corpses of these lizard monsters.

The most valuable part is the flesh and blood of the giant lizardmen; their organs and blood are even more valuable than those of ordinary lizardmen.

Those were already transported away.

"Hurry up, everyone, don't slack off!"

"There's still a ton of work to be done in town!"

Love cracked his whip in mid-air and pointed it at the sluggish slave, who was cowering and moving slowly, cursing:
"The heroes slaughtered these beasts, and you're still cowering when asked to do menial tasks?"

"If you dawdle any longer, I'll throw you into Razorfen Downs to feed those lizardmen!"

This time, Love's curses were more effective than the whip. The slaves gritted their teeth, grabbed the lizard monster's ankles, and quickened their pace.

They'd rather go back to town and shovel manure than fight these deformed and ugly monsters.

In the border outpost camp.

Inside the wooden house, the lights were on.

"Those lizardmen have unclear intentions; we cannot let our guard down."

Rhodes pointed to the map and ordered, "Send two more scout teams to the northeast flanks, with eagles on them, and intensify patrols."

"In addition, send two more teams to Ice Edge Valley to investigate and see if there are any lizard monsters that we missed."

Rhodes thought for a moment and added, "Let's also go to Icewind Town, clean up any usable supplies and bring them back, and bury all the corpses as well."

"I understand, Your Excellency. I will make the arrangements immediately."

Durant bowed and withdrew.

Vivian stepped forward and draped the cloak over Rhodes' shoulders: "Baron, you should rest."

Rod looked out the window; the sky was gradually brightening.

“Send someone to tell Lawrence to prepare some fur coats and cloaks.”

Rhodes instructed Vivian: "I don't know what the lizardmen are up to. After the spring planting is arranged, find an opportunity to wipe them all out."

The lizardmen keep causing trouble, and Rhode can only feel at ease after wiping them out.

"it is good."

Vivian nodded and rose to relay Rhodes's orders.

Rod stretched and followed Vivian out the door.

Vivian was taken aback.

Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, Rhodes spoke first.
"It's already dawn, let's go check on the wounded soldiers."

Durant, Rein, and others can handle other things, but Rhode has to do this himself.

Before even reaching the wounded's tent, Rhodes heard undulating groans, and the smell of herbs mixed with the stench of blood wafted towards him.

Thirty-nine people were seriously injured.

Compared to a scale of five hundred, one thousand, this number sounds small.

But when Rhodes actually stepped into the wounded camp, he found that several tents and cabins were not enough to hold them all.

Doctors were moving back and forth outside the tent, treating the soldiers' wounds and changing their dressings.

Nessa, the lynx-woman, and her people were also busy among them.

Luna was there too, and she was the busiest person there.

She had just finished cleaning a soldier's severed limb wound when she stepped out of the tent and saw Rhodes, and she was clearly taken aback.

"My lord..."

Luna hurriedly knelt down to pay her respects.

Rod raised his hand to stop her.

"Luna, get up."

Luna stood up and looked at Rhodes, somewhat surprised.
“My lord, you don’t need to come to a place like this.”

"I've been through countless battles, so what does this matter?"

Rhodes shook his head slightly and asked, "How is it? What supplies do you need? Do you have enough medicine?"

"enough."

Luna nodded solemnly, "Fortunately, as you instructed, we stockpiled some military medical kits, hemostatic strips, and sutures for stitching wounds, and we have plenty of them."

“The pain relief is not quite enough, and Nesa has already led her people to speed up the production.”

"That's good. Do your best to save the soldiers' lives."

Rod solemnly instructed.

From a profit perspective

Slaves can be urged to work by whipping them.

There were overseers and soldiers present.

If soldiers are willing to risk their lives for you, then you must treat them genuinely well and arrange their welfare properly.

Honestly speaking.

Rhodes was even less willing to see these loyal soldiers lose their lives.

After saying that, Rod bent down and went into the tent.

The smell of blood and herbs was even stronger inside the tent.

The wounded lay on makeshift beds, and even with pain relief and ice packs, they couldn't help but groan softly.

After the war, without the blessing of magic, they were just ordinary people.

The young soldier lying on the outermost side had been staring blankly into space, but his expression changed drastically the moment he saw Rhodes.

"Lord Lord!"

His exclamation instantly interrupted the groans inside the tent, and all the soldiers turned to look.

Some even struggled to get up and bow.

Rod quickly waved his hand to stop him.

"Lie down and rest properly to recover."

The gentle voice carried a commanding tone, which made the soldiers stop moving and lie down.

"I'm sorry, my lord,"

The soldier closest to the camera shrugged slightly, his face contorted in pain as he looked at his right arm, which was bandaged and partially severed.
"I can no longer fight for you..."

"Then you should take good care of your injury and go home to rest once you've recovered."

Rod smiled warmly. "Just relax in the sun and tend to your flowers. Don't worry about anything else. I'll take care of you."

"Then, then won't I become a useless person...?"

The soldier blushed and couldn't help but lower his head.

"How many lives did you save by completely eradicating the invading lizard monsters?"

Rhodes chuckled and countered the soldiers' question, "If you are useless people, then what are those slaves you are protecting?"

"Don't underestimate yourself just because you've been hurt temporarily."

"Everyone has a different mission at different times. Your mission before was to protect Frostleaf Town."

Rhodes looked up, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers. "Your mission now is to survive. Did you all understand?"

"I heard you clearly, my lord!"

The soldiers answered in unison, their eyes reddening.

"I have asked Durant to set up a veterans placement department. Your future lives will be taken care of. You don't need to worry about anything."

Rhodes sensed the soldier was still somewhat downcast, and looking at the one-armed soldier again, he gave a joking order.

"But someone like you can't be lazy. You need to raise fish and feed horses in the territory. Frostleaf Town needs you in many places."

Those who are willing to charge fearlessly on the battlefield all hope to have a chance to use their skills.

Rhodes understood, so he added a sentence on purpose.

Sure enough, after listening, the soldier's eyes immediately lit up.

"Yes, Lord Lord!"

"Alright, you guys get some rest. I'm going to check on the other tents."

After saying that, Rhodes stood up.

The soldiers nodded and saluted, watching Rhodes leave.

Then, Rod went to each tent, comforting and encouraging the seriously wounded soldiers.

Perhaps they didn't expect the lord to come, or perhaps they were infected by Rhodes's [Pseudo-Dragon Slayer] aura.

The seriously wounded soldiers' spirits improved significantly, and the groans in the tents decreased considerably.

The atmosphere was more relaxed in the camp where the lightly wounded soldiers were located.

Many soldiers were fast asleep, while others were drinking and chatting. They were especially excited to see Rhodes.

Many of these wounded soldiers will be promoted.

Especially the reserves, after this battle with the lizard monsters, will become the regular army of Frostleaf Town, or even the Winter Guard.

Rhodes didn't stay long; he took a quick walk around and returned to his post.

……

……

The icy mountains remain, still shrouded in snow and wind.

Deep inside the cave, the flickering flames of the brazier illuminated the aged and gaunt silhouette of the lizardman shaman.

At that moment, the great shaman was meditating on a high platform covered with animal skins when he suddenly opened his eyes.

He seemed to sense something, got up and walked to the stone table, picked up the bone fragment carved with intricate runes with one hand, and placed it on the human skull next to him.

The high shaman closed his eyes, his withered, branch-like hands slowly pressing against the bone fragments, chanting obscure incantations. The bone fragments trembled, flashed with a ghostly light, and emitted a faint hum.

Click.

With a crisp crack, bone fragments shattered, and foul-smelling black blood flowed from the skull.

The great shaman's eyelids snapped open, his pupils contracted, and he stared intently at the shattered bone fragments.

"Vadraga has been killed..."

His voice was low and tinged with doubt.

The bone fragments came from Vadaka's body and he had a deep connection with them.

The great shaman used this bone fragment for divination to predict Vadaja's life and death.

The high shaman frowned, then picked up another bone fragment and tried it again.

This time, the bone fragments were completely pulverized.

This indicates that the owner of this bone fragment had already been dismembered.

The great shaman, undeterred, picked up the bone fragments again and tested them one by one.

All nine bone fragments were broken.

This means that all nine giant lizardmen, his masterpiece, have been killed.

"Call Gaka here."

The high shaman's voice was calm yet chilling, clearly suppressing his anger.

The lizardman guards at the cave entrance rushed forward without hesitation and hurriedly went to call for help.

Soon, the scarred lizardman appeared at the cave entrance, crawling on the ground.
"Great Shaman, what are your orders?"

The scarred lizardman Gaka knew that something important must have come up to him before dawn.

"Vadraga's entire legion has perished."

The Great Shaman's calm voice immediately made Gaka's eyes widen.

"How, how could it be?"

Gaka looked up in disbelief, "The human lords of Icefang Valley couldn't possibly have such strength!"

"It should be the human lord of Black Pine Ridge."

The high shaman fiddled with the bone fragments in his hands, saying, “I have a premonition that the human lord of Black Pine Ridge has become a terrifying lord.”

"Vadraga should wait for our Bloodscale Legion!"

Gaka frowned, slamming his fist into the ground in a fit of rage.

"If we work together, we can definitely wipe out that Black Pine Ridge lord!"

"If the Bloodscale Legion were to go, they might be slaughtered by the human lords, and the Bloodscale Tribe would fall into the abyss."

The high shaman's tone grew increasingly calm, as if he too had been convinced by his own words.
“It was our Lord’s guidance that warned us with the life of Vadaga to be wary of the lord of Black Pine Ridge.”

The high shaman's words clearly startled Gaka, who then lowered his head.
"You're right, so what should we do now..."

"We need to accumulate even greater strength."

The great shaman had a deep gaze.

Gakka looked up, his eyes filled with doubt: "Great Shaman, we only have a little over a hundred of our hybrids left, what should we do..."

“The power of death is far greater than we imagine; we can exploit seal people, humans, and other alien races.”

The great shaman slightly raised his hand, summoning Gaka to his side.

Then he pulled out a rough animal hide map, spread it on the stone table, and pointed to the northwest, saying:
"There are human towns in the Frozen Bone Wasteland and the Ice Breath Hills, and there are even more foreign tribes waiting for us to conquer in the Frozen Bone Ridge. They will bring us even greater power."

"The Ice and Snow Clan has been wiped out by us, and there are no obstacles on the outskirts of the Icefield Mountains."

"After the Bloodscale Legion eliminated the Sealmen, they continued to migrate northwest, temporarily avoiding that human lord."

The high shaman's command puzzled Gakka.

"Honorable High Shaman, do we need to be so afraid of that human lord?"

"Follow the order."

The great shaman did not offer much explanation.

Because this was just a danger he sensed intuitively.

"Yes, Your Excellency Great Shaman."

Although Gaka was unwilling, he still nodded and obeyed the order.

"Then I will go and convey your orders now."

Just as Gakka was about to turn around, he was suddenly stopped by the Great Shaman.

"You wait."

After saying this, the great shaman walked into the cave inside.

A moment later, he came out with the antler cup and handed it to Gaka.
"Drinking it will enhance your stamina."

"This……"

Gaka glanced at the dark red viscous liquid in the cup and swallowed hard.

Compared to the lizard people's food, this color isn't so scary.

The key point is that it was made by a great shaman.

"Drink it, and for the sake of the Bloodscale Tribe, I will not harm you."

"……All right."

Gaka was helpless. He took the antler cup with both hands, closed his eyes, and drank it all in one gulp.

After finishing it, I took a closer look and found that it wasn't bad.

It even tastes a bit good to the lizard people's palate.

This relieved Gaka.

Gaka returned the cup to the high shaman with both hands.

"Then I'll make the arrangements."

"Ah."

The great shaman watched with a smile as Gaka left.

"No one can escape fate."

……

……

Rhodes did not stay at the border outpost for long and returned to Frostleaf Town the next day.

Most troops withdrew to rest and recuperate, with only the seriously wounded remaining to recover.

Baron Bronn also remained at the camp, recuperating with the seriously wounded.

These people will need at least half a month to recover before they can go back.

Rod couldn't wait.

The appearance of the lizard monster made Rhodes realize that the enemy was far more complex than he thought.

Living in such a world, no one knows what kind of opponent they will encounter tomorrow.

Heisongling lacks sufficient manpower, military strength, infrastructure, and material reserves.

The whip must be raised again, and the slaves must work harder.

After receiving more than 700 refugees, Rod felt that his previous plan to cultivate 10,000 acres of fertile land was not enough.

If the war in the West continues, the number of refugees in the south will continue to increase.

The population density in the south is five times, or even ten times, that of the wasteland, with even a small town having more than a thousand people.

In the southern provinces, wheat can be sown twice a year, with other grains added in between.

The rivers don't freeze in winter, and fish in any pond can survive year after year.

The land is fertile, livestock are plentiful, and there is no freezing cold that could kill you.

However, Rhodes now has a large amount of land to rely on, and as long as it expands its arable land, it can easily receive these refugees.

Only with a larger population can infrastructure be developed and the military strengthened.

With the support of the Commander series of stats, even a greenhorn can quickly become a veteran.

Rhodes needs to carefully plan how to gather refugees and increase the population.

Rhodes hadn't thanked Linda for bringing the refugees to Frostleaf.

Just then, Rhodes wrote a letter thanking Linda for her kindness and asking her to guide more refugees to the area.

However, Rod was having some trouble deciding what gift to give.

Linda was no ordinary girl, after all.

Witches have long been immune to ordinary jewelry and ornaments, and pursue the extraordinary and mysterious.

Rod didn't need to worry about this himself; he simply passed the problem on to Avril.

Both were witches, and both were women.

I believe Avril Lavigne can provide a perfect answer.

After finishing writing the letter, Rhodes had his guards summon Durant to the manor hall.

Durant strode into the hall, bowed respectfully, and cautiously inquired.
"Your Excellency, what are your orders?"

Seeing Durant's reserved demeanor, Rod casually remarked, "You don't need to be like this, Durant. We can be as casual with each other as before."

"As you command, Your Excellency."

Even so, Durant remained obediently standing in place.

Rhodes sighed helplessly and didn't dwell on it further, asking, "How's the background check on that Makuru Wheel going?"

"His background is clean; he is a baron with three children in the western provinces."

Durant, recalling his inquiries with refugees and the reports from the Night Talks, slowly said:

"According to the investigation, compared to other merchants, Makuru is a good person and is not stingy with his caravan crew."

"The only flaw is that he has two lovers."

“This is not a flaw; it’s the human instinct to reproduce. No one can love gold coins as much as Lawrence does.”

Rod's lips curled slightly as he looked at Durant.
Even if you have a lover someday, it won't change my opinion of you.

"This……"

Durant was momentarily at a loss for words, nodding slightly in a somewhat awkward response.

"Thank you for your kindness."

Seeing that Durant remained reserved, Rod stopped joking and then gave the order:

"Alright, since you've treated him quite well, go and call him over."

(End of this chapter)