I, the heir of the great Eastern nation

On the tenth day after Liu Zhao arrived in Blackstone Territory.

Avril Lavigne has reappeared.

Besides the guardian knight Daphne, she was also followed by a young male priest.

"Your Highness Liu Zhao."

When Avril saw Liu Zhao, her expression was full of joy.

"Long time no see, it's great to see you again."

Liu Zhao smiled slightly.

"You too, it's been a long time, Avril."

With a gentle smile, Avril introduced the priests behind her to Liu Zhao.

"This is Priest Rich Rockwind, a prized disciple of Bishop Amora, and an outstanding believer in the Holy Light."

"After I told the archbishop and the others what you did in Blackstone Territory, everyone agreed with your righteous actions and was also very grateful that you respected the Church's position in this matter."

"Bishop Amora, in particular, highly praised your actions and said that he would definitely invite you to the cathedral for a personal exchange if there is an opportunity in the future."

"That's why he sent his most outstanding disciple to show his loyalty and respect to you."

As Avril spoke, the priest named Richie also bowed respectfully to Liu Zhao.

"Your Highness, I have learned from the Holy Maiden about your righteous deeds in Blackstone Territory. You possess such amazing wisdom and strength, and at the same time, you are able to uphold justice and kindness at all times. Your noble character has left me in deep admiration."

"I am deeply honored to be sent here to assist you in governing your territory."

Liu Zhao smiled slightly.

"I am honored to receive the Holy Light's approval."

Liu Zhao glanced at the sky outside and continued speaking.

"Avril, since you've come all this way, how about I take you for a stroll around Blackrock Territory?"

"Perfect timing, I'll also show you around, High Priest Richie, so you can familiarize yourself with this place beforehand."

Avril and Priest Richie both smiled and said they were very happy to oblige.

Soon, Liu Zhao led the two onto a country road in Blackstone Territory.

Priest Richie asked curiously:

"Your Highness, could you tell me the background and consequences of the remarkable deeds you performed when you arrived in Blackrock Territory to assume your post?"

Liu Zhao smiled and nodded.

"sure."

He talked as he walked.

"On my very first day in Blackrock Territory, I encountered bandits plundering the village. I was so anxious that I didn't even take the carriage. I cast a speed-boosting spell on myself and ran towards Whitewater Village."

"But we were too late. By the time we got there, the bandits had already escaped. Not only had most of the village's food and valuables been looted, but some villagers had even been killed and their bodies dumped by the roadside."

"To be honest, I was really angry when I saw this scene. Why did these bandits dare to be so arrogant in broad daylight? Then, just when I wanted to help them, something even more infuriating happened."

Seemingly recalling the situation at the time, Liu Zhao couldn't help but take a deep breath, his voice becoming lower and more subdued.

"When Will, the sheriff of Blackrock Territory, arrived in the village in a carriage with his private army, the first thing he did was not to chase after the bandits or appease the people. Instead, he ordered his men to rob the villagers of their life-saving food that they had hidden. He even tried to openly abduct women to be enslaved in front of me, the lord."

"When I saw this scene, I understood that as long as there are scumbag officials like him, the people under his rule will never be able to live a good life."

"So that very night, I arrested him and his accomplices and had them all beheaded."

Liu Zhao's tone gradually calmed down, but the priest next to him, Richie, listened with his eyes shining.

Just as the priest was about to speak, a group of villagers carrying baskets and tools suddenly walked up to the three of them.

When the villagers saw Liu Zhao, they were not afraid at all. Instead, they were very excited and waved to him, then quickened their pace and rushed to him to bow and pay their respects.

"Greetings, my lord!"

"Greetings, my lord!"

"..."

Liu Zhao responded to them with a smile as well.

"You're Pain from Aoba Village, right? Did you just come back from repairing the road?"

The young man named Payne nodded excitedly.

"Yes, sir, the main road at the entrance of our village is almost finished. Please tell Chief Steward Christine that next time she comes by carriage, she certainly won't be as bumpy and uncomfortable as last time!"

Liu Zhao laughed heartily.

"Okay, I'll definitely pass on the message. Good job, guys, I have high hopes for you!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Hearing Liu Zhao's praise, the young villagers were all so excited that their faces turned red. As they walked past Liu Zhao, they didn't forget to turn back and bow to him again.

And so, amidst laughter and chatter, the two passed each other across the road.

Seeing this, Avril and Priest Richie were both stunned.

"Your Highness... are all the people here speaking to you like this? They seem not afraid of you at all? On the contrary... they respect you very much?"

Liu Zhao smiled slightly.

"Why should they be afraid of me? I've only been here for a little over ten days, and I've not only helped them kill all the bullies and scum who used to bully them, but I've also distributed land to them and reduced their taxes. I've been so good to them, don't they have any reason to be afraid of me?"

"I ensure they have enough to eat and live a good life. They're not stupid, so it's only natural that they respect me."

These words immediately caused the two followers of the Holy Light Church to widen their eyes.

"Land redistribution? Tax cuts?"

Avril and Priest Richie exchanged a glance, both seeing disbelief in each other's eyes.

Then, their eyes lit up.

"Your Highness, please tell us in detail, okay?"

Liu Zhao smiled slightly and continued walking forward.

"Of course, since you want to hear it, I'll tell you..."

Walking on the newly widened road, Liu Zhao began to tell the two about the new laws he had implemented in Blackstone Territory.

The more they listened, the brighter Avril and Priest Richie's eyes became.

Unbeknownst to them, the three of them had wandered into the fields.

Liu Zhao pointed to the farmland ahead where farmers were working hard and began to speak.

"This large area of ​​land used to belong to Sheriff Will, but I have confiscated it all and distributed it to the villagers."

"Now, in addition to farming, they take turns patrolling and repairing roads every day, but few of them complain of being tired. On the contrary, they are all full of energy."

"Every time I see these results, I feel a great sense of accomplishment. What do you think?"

Liu Zhao smiled and looked at the two Holy Light believers beside him.

Avril's eyes were filled with joy.

"Your Highness, I've noticed that whether it's those young people repairing the road we just met, or these farmers tilling the land, they all seem... completely different from ordinary people in other places."

"How should I put it...yes, their eyes, their eyes were full of hope and light! I have never seen such eyes in the eyes of any ordinary person!"

Avril looked at Liu Zhao in front of her, her eyes full of admiration.

"It's simply unbelievable. You've only been in Blackrock Territory for less than half a month, yet you've managed to bring about such tremendous changes in them."

The priest next to him, Richie, was even more excited.

"By the God of Light, I am utterly speechless with emotion. It is as if I have witnessed a miracle of holy light descending upon earth!"

He looked at Liu Zhao.

"Your Highness, your kindness and wisdom have completely won me over, giving me a deeper understanding of the Holy Light doctrine bestowed by God."

"At this moment, I am absolutely convinced that working under you will allow me to go further and practice the true path of the Holy Light."

Liu Zhao smiled slightly.

"Is that so? I'm honored that you have this insight."

As the three walked and talked, Liu Zhao checked the time and led the two to a specially cleared, flat open space in the town.

As you approach, you can hear the powerful sounds of drills coming from ahead.

"Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime!"

"I am a soldier of my parents, dedicated to protecting our food, our land, and our homes."

"..."

As Liu Zhao led the two closer, they could see a group of young guards training.

The training was intense, and sweat dripped constantly, but no one complained of being tired or slacking off; everyone gritted their teeth and persevered.

Hearing the slogans they were chanting, Avril looked at Liu Zhao with curiosity.

"Your Highness, the 'military forces' they're referring to are...?"

Liu Zhao smiled slightly.

"This is the team I selected after integrating the troops from the original territory and then re-screening them. I told them that I, Liu Zhao, came here to be a lord and official, and I will treat everyone as my own people. As their parent official, I naturally hope that everyone can live a better life."

These guards, who were supported by the taxes paid by the people, were not only the biological sons of their own parents, but also the sons of every taxpayer in this land.

I demanded that they learn to read and write, understand morality, and realize that they are not only fighting for me, but also for the protection of their families and their land.

Therefore, this team was named: the People's Liberation Army.

This explanation left Avril and Father Richie stunned.

"The local officials...treat everyone as their own sons...people...soldiers..."

Avril couldn't help but keep chewing over Liu Zhao's words. These words, which she had never heard before, brought an immense shock to her mental world.

Father Richie, standing nearby, looked at Liu Zhao with even more fervent eyes.

"Treating the people as children, regarding oneself as a father, and loving and teaching each and every one of them equally... isn't this the timeless doctrine recorded in the sacred scriptures, spoken by the divine beings?"

"By the God of Light, there are actually people who can truly put this doctrine into practice to such an extent."

Priest Richie stared intently at Liu Zhao, his gaze now filled with deep reverence and piety.

"The God of Light, in His mercy on the suffering of mankind, bestowed miracles and doctrines, enabling His messengers to establish the Church of Holy Light, which, under the guidance of the Son of Prophecy, leads mankind to embrace the light."

"I understand, Your Highness. My being here today, hearing these holy words from you, must all be divine guidance!"

"You might be the one we've been searching for all these years... the child of prophecy!"

……

night.

Because she was so engrossed in her conversation with Liu Zhao during the day, Avril felt reluctant to leave, so she decided to stay another night and depart the next day.

Sitting in the living room of the manor, Avril also cast an apologetic glance at Liu Zhao.

"Your Highness, I apologize. Priest Richie is a person who is easily agitated. What I said today, and the so-called Child of Prophecy, is just a rumor. Please forgive me if I have offended you."

Liu Zhao smiled.

"Of course not. I'm so happy that he respects and trusts me so much, how could I blame him?"

That's good.

Avril smiled gently.

"By the way, Your Highness, there is something else I need to tell you."

Long before you executed those three noble officials in Blackrock Territory, Viscount Kevin and His Highness the First Prince were furious and petitioned His Majesty the very next day to punish you.

Although the matter was quickly resolved by the political enemies of the second prince's side, and with the intervention of our Holy Light Church bishop, it ultimately did not cause any major upheaval. However, before I came, Bishop Amora specifically asked me to convey a message to you.

He said that given the eldest prince's personality, he would never let the matter rest, and advised you to be careful. He added that if you encounter any problems that are difficult to resolve, you can simply mention his name, and he would be happy to assist you.

Hearing this, Liu Zhao was also somewhat surprised.

How could a high-ranking bishop of the Church of Holy Light think so highly of this foreign prince whom he had never met?

Not only did they send their prized disciple to this small place called Blackrock Territory, but they also took the initiative to make such a promise. Isn't that a bit too generous of them to invest?

Immediately, Liu Zhao secretly remembered the name of this bishop named Amora.

……

The next day, Avril and Daphne boarded a carriage to return to the capital.

Liu Zhao, on the other hand, continued to devote all his energy to the development of Blackstone Territory.

Under his absolute control and with the further implementation of his decrees, the entire territory is undergoing tremendous changes every day.

At the same time, in addition to farming, road construction, and military training, Liu Zhao also made sure to carry out ideological development simultaneously.

"Starting today, every evening after you finish your work, come to the town square to play and have some fun, and I'll tell you stories."

This news was naturally incredibly novel to these honest villagers who had never experienced any entertainment options.

Listen to stories! Everyone loves them!

What's more, since it's the lord telling the story, I have no choice but to go!

So, on the first night, almost everyone came.

Nearly two thousand people gathered in the small square, creating a lively atmosphere.

Then, Liu Zhao moved a table and chair, sat in the middle, casually lit a small fireball spell and hung it above his head as a light, cleared his throat and began to tell everyone a story.

"As everyone knows, my name is Liu Zhao, a descendant of the Liu clan, from a distant eastern country."

"On this first day, I'll tell you a historical story about one of my ancestors and his friends, a story called 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'."