The sun had just risen, and the temperature had not yet climbed, when a commotion broke out in the camp for refugees and slaves outside the Golden City, throwing the crowd into disarray, with many people fearfully running out of their temporary shelters.
The camp, which housed refugees and slaves, consisted mostly of tents and simple wooden huts, hastily constructed by the True Dragon's dependents and human artisans who had settled there, so there wasn't much space; every tent and hut was packed with people.
And now, those people packed into the tents and huts were forcibly driven out by Kobold Soldiers wielding spears and swords, then gathered into the open space in the camp.
The young girl Nora, supporting her grandmother and the village chief Farn, was among them; these fellow villagers, in an unfamiliar environment, spontaneously gathered together, which brought them a trivial sense of security.
The Bronze Dragon Alina, using shapeshifting to take on a human form, stood in front of the open space, quietly waiting for the refugees and slaves to gather.
Beside the tall Alina was a thick, long flagpole, made entirely of wrought iron and quite heavy, but in Alina's hands, it was wielded as easily as a teaching rod.
The flag, woven from fine silk, was not unfurled on the flagpole but was rolled into a bundle.
These refugees and slaves gradually gathered, waiting quietly before the swords and spears of the Kobold Soldiers; although they showed some panic, their mental state was still good.
This was because for the past few days, the territory had consistently provided enough food for these refugees and slaves, distributed in two meals a day, and enough for them to eat their fill.
One must know that many refugees might only get a full meal every few days, and even those humans living in the wilderness lived frugally, unable to eat their fill at every meal; only the primary laborers in a family could ensure they ate enough at each meal, which was already good.
Seeing that everyone in the camp had been driven over by the Kobold Soldiers, the Bronze Dragon Alina slowly untied the silk ribbon binding the flag; a gentle breeze blew, and the flag unfurled in the wind.
All the refugees and slaves couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
A beautiful, magnificent, and majestic flag shimmered with captivating brilliance under the morning sun, and the image on the flag seemed to come alive, as if it could leap off the flag at any moment.
Six lifelike shadows of the True Dragons were woven onto the exquisite flag, spreading their wings and soaring, each of six colors, guarding the central Red Dragon among the True Dragons.
The head of that particularly prominent Red Dragon was majestic and ferocious, as if it could break through the flag at any moment; unlike the other True Dragon, whose eyes were adorned with various colored gemstones, the Red Dragon's eyes were two large, crimson, crystal-clear gemstones, appearing as if they were looking down upon everyone, reflecting a soul-stirring halo in the sunlight.
The Bronze Dragon Alina's long, grayish-blue hair fluttered in the wind; she held her head high, her gaze sweeping over every face in the crowd, and her clear voice resonated in the ears of the panicked and bewildered people.
"This is the token of the Dragons, the flag of the Dragon clan, representing the will of the Lord of the Dragon clan and all the True Dragons," Alina effortlessly raised the fluttering flag and loudly declared, "Those who submit to the Dragons and accept the rule of the Dragon clan, kneel immediately and pay homage to the will of the True Dragons!"
Village chief Farn, without hesitation, led the young girl Nora and the elderly grandmother to prostrate themselves on the ground; the knight's decisive action caused a chain reaction.
In moments of confusion, people subconsciously follow the first person to make a decision and an action, so instantly, the crowd rippled, and the rest of the people also knelt down one after another; the surrounding Kobold Soldiers, holding swords and spears, also knelt facing the fluttering flag, praising the name of the True Dragon.
Bronze Dragon Alina's keen gaze observed everyone's reaction in the crowd, and she began to speak: "And I, Alina, as the appointed leader and chief officer of the New Reclamation Expeditionary Force by the True Dragon, declare that all of you will be under my jurisdiction."
"As the first military unit established within the Dragon Clans Territory, you will all become members of the Firstborn Reclamation Expeditionary Force and be bound by military law. The territory will provide you with food, housing, and farm tools, but you will first be regarded as serfs, working for the territory to reclaim barren land and build cities."
Alina's words astonished everyone; although these refugees and slaves did not have very beautiful visions for the future, becoming serfs for life would be a terrifying prospect.
The crowd began to buzz, many disregarding the Kobold Soldiers' supervision and whispering among themselves.
Even Farn was worried about his future; this seemed to be different from what those bandit mercenary groups had said.
"Silence, all of you," the Bronze Dragon Alina's clear voice suddenly rose, and the True Dragon's might on her body flashed and disappeared, but the pressure from the young True Dragon made everyone close their mouths.
The noisy crowd instantly fell silent; even village chief Farn, with his current strength, was not enough to resist the True Dragon's might of a young True Dragon.
"A long time ago, the prophets on the earth led the people to part the sea, and walked for decades in the wilderness, only then leading the people behind them into the Gods' Promised Land,"
Bronze Dragon Alina raised her voice, like a priest of the gods' church preaching doctrine to lost lambs, proclaiming to everyone with an unquestionable will: "And the generous and benevolent Lord of the True Dragon, the supreme ruler of this place, the mighty Red Monarch, Kalon Kogmora, you should thank him, for his grace, you only need three years."
Village chief Farn's expression shifted; what the woman calling herself Alina said was similar to the stories preached by the church, only Alina applied them to the Dragon clan; this woman, or rather, this True Dragon, understood much about human knowledge.
TheBronze Dragon Alina's voice was carried by the breeze sweeping through the camp to everyone's ears, "Under the witness of the Lord of the True Dragon and the will of the True Dragon, I, Alina, hereby, at this time and place, make a covenant and promise with you: after you work as serfs for the True Dragon for three years, you will regain your status as free citizens, and this is also the promise of the True Dragon!"
"And by then, you will be eligible to redeem the land you cultivated with your own hands, or you can choose to cultivate new land yourselves, becoming independent farmers with your own land,"
"Or you can also enter the Firstborn Reclamation Expeditionary Force based on your excellent performance, becoming members of the military unit serving the True Dragon, enjoying unique status and treatment."
"But in any case, after you gain your freedom, you will automatically become the first generation of free citizens in the city you built with your own hands!"
The crowd stirred; although some of the words were not fully understood, these refugees and slaves knew that as long as they worked for the territory for three years, they would gain freedom; their panic and worries faded, and they began to look forward to the future after three years.
Only Nora, with a worried expression on her small face, looked at her elderly grandmother; her grandmother had told her that as long as one lived well, there would always be a way out.
Young Nora did not fear the impending life as a serf; she only feared that her elderly grandmother would have a hard time making it through.
"Now, salute the Dragon clan's flag, recite your name, in the name of the True Dragon! Swear allegiance!" Bronze Dragon Alina finished speaking, then plunged the flag into the dirt in front of her.
Although Bronze Dragon Alina felt that having everyone come forward to swear individually would be more ceremonial and solemn, there were too many refugees and slaves; this batch of people numbered about three thousand, and individual oaths might take a whole day.
But time was very precious to Bronze Dragon Alina now; she was eager to prove her ability, achieve success, make the True Dragon look at her with new eyes, and prove that she had not failed Kalon's trust.
Village chief Farn immediately took the lead, bowing his head low and reciting his name, "I, Farn, in the name of the True Dragon, offer my loyalty, thank the Lord of the True Dragon for his generosity, and thank the True Dragon for its virtue!"
The others bowed their heads one after another, imitating Farn, reciting their names, and swearing allegiance to the True Dragon; for a moment, the camp was bustling with voices.
"Very good, next are some policies and regulations regarding your future lives; I hope you value your future and do not miss out on this knowledge,"
The Bronze Dragon Alina gestured for everyone to stand up, then handed a thin booklet to the human scribe standing by, signaling him to read out the future policies of the military unit.
The human scribe was an old mercenary; although he had no profound knowledge, he understood most of the common language, and having experienced many adventures, he remained unperturbed even in front of such a large crowd, reading fluently.
Most of these slaves and refugees were uneducated, but since it concerned their future lives, they still pricked up their ears and listened.
These refugees automatically summarized these policies and regulations into terms they could understand in their minds.
For example, after becoming a free citizen, one could choose to cultivate new barren land, and the cultivated barren land would belong to them, and no taxes would be required for six years; if one redeemed the barren land cultivated during the three years of serfdom, a certain tax would need to be paid.
Furthermore, for cultivating barren land, one could apply to the territory for livestock such as cattle, horses, and Earth Dragons to help with farming, and the territory would also provide grain seeds for cultivation within ten years.
Moreover, the merit for cultivating land would be calculated by area: one hectare would earn a reward of one chicken or duck poultry from the territory, and two hectares would earn livestock such as pigs or dogs.
Three hectares would earn rewards of large livestock such as cattle and horses, four hectares could apply for rewards of Dragon beasts like Earth Dragons, and five hectares or more would allow one to become a low-level agricultural official within the territory based on the merit of cultivating land, enjoying certain tax exemptions.
There were also policies to reward childbirth: every child born to a serf, regardless of when, would automatically gain the status and rights of a free citizen and no longer be considered a serf.
If a girl was born, the reward was two barrels of wine and one pig or dog; if a boy was born, the reward was two barrels of wine and one cow or sheep; if a third child was born, the territory would also provide a dedicated wet nurse, or one could apply to use animal milk to raise the child.
Moreover, as long as a child was born, one would receive aid from the territory, not only being rewarded with two mu of cultivated land, but the child born would automatically be enrolled in the Dragon clan basic Academy and would enjoy the right to free food and lodging in the future Dragon clan Basic Academy.
One must not underestimate these things; in a situation where life was polarized and commoners were extremely separated from the noble elite, resources were extremely scarce for these commoners; often, a family of three would only own one thick winter coat.
Whoever went out in winter would wear this thick fur coat; the rest could only huddle indoors for warmth.
The rewards distributed within the territory were enough to make these refugees and slaves incredibly excited.
Even Farn, the former leader of the Church Knights, after living in the wilderness for so long, started considering finding a wife to settle down with when he heard about the policies rewarding childbirth.
There were also other regulations: the elderly and children would support the expeditionary force on the logistical line, including herding chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep, washing clothes, cooking, and receiving supplies.
This allowed Nora, who had been listening intently, to relax.
She patted her chest and let out a soft sigh; although her elderly grandmother's senses were failing, she felt she could handle two people's worth of work, as long as her grandmother could stay by her side.
Once all the announcements were made, Bronze Dragon Alina immediately directed the Kobold Soldiers to lead these people into teams and head towards their destination.
These Kobold Soldiers would also become the first generation of guards for the newly established city, responsible for protecting the people who were opening up the wasteland.
As the first pioneering force within the Dragon Clan Territory, Alina also received a lot of material support.
Huge, sufficiently docile Earth Dragon pulled long wagons laden with supplies that Giant ogre Fafna had allocated from the Golden City's warehouse.
The vast majority were food and tools forged for reclamation.
Of course, the carrying capacity of these Earth Dragon was astonishing, and to avoid delaying the journey, some elderly and children were able to rest in the Earth Dragon's wagons.
They followed the paths opened by the DragonKin, stopping and going, traveling for nearly ten days before finally reaching the spot the Bronze Dragon Alina had specifically chosen for the new city.
This was partly because the team was too large, with old and young, so their progress was slow, and partly because Alina took the opportunity along the way to register and household all the people for easier management.
Along the way, they also passed several small villages established by free people, which were populated by humans who had voluntarily settled and pioneer immigrants recruited earlier.
Under the diligent labor of these people, tracts of wasteland were developed, residing along the river.
Now, the cultivated lands were already filled with various crops, a vibrant green.
There were also vegetable patches opened in the villages, with a dazzling array of vegetables; some gourd vines even climbed onto the wooden houses in the village, creating a pastoral scene, quiet and peaceful.
And on the opposite bank, in the land opened up by the DragonKin, some Kobold and Gnolllived together.
Occasionally, human children would make plans with the young of these monsters, then paddle small boats and gather together to fish in the shallow waters by the bank.
But it wasn't long before they were discovered by the adults on both sides, though the reactions of the two sides differed.
The human parents would scold the children to be careful and cautious, lest they encounter danger; although the river had been cleaned, there might still be fierce species lurking.
As for the Gnolls and Kobolds, they would slap their bellies and laugh heartily, ridiculing whose young was too scrawny and got flipped into the water by a fish tail.
The Bronze Dragon Alina then pointed to these villages and said to everyone, "Look, that life, tranquil and beautiful, is also your future life.
This is my promise to you, and the True Dragon's promise to you."
Upon seeing this harmonious and beautiful scene, the entire team's pace unconsciously quickened significantly.
All faces were no longer bewildered; instead, they were filled with longing and yearning for a beautiful future life.
Many children even clung to their parents, arguing about what kind of pet they would raise in the future!
On the twentieth day, the Eldest Son Pioneer Regiment finally reached their destination.
During this period of integration, the team had initially solidified, becoming somewhat orderly and disciplined.
Under the command of Bronze Dragon Alina, they followed the Kobold into the forest to cut wood and build temporary shelters.
The elderly and children set up tents at the foot of the mountain as temporary resting points.
The Bronze Dragon Alina, meanwhile, ascended the low mountain, gazing at the spot she had chosen for the new city.
This was where the Golden River, which traversed the forest, flowed gently and converged.
Aside from a few low mountains, the rest was low-lying flatland and river valleys, with many splashing waterfalls cascading from the back of the low valleys.
It could be said to be a place of scenic beauty with mountains and water.
A sufficiently large city could be built on the plains of the mountain-backed river valley, and she would construct the Dragon's palace, the governing residence of the territory, on the low mountain.
The land on both sides of the river was also sufficient to open up many fertile fields, and through the connection of the Golden River, the territory's connection with the Dragon Nest was very convenient.
In the future, as long as small and medium-sized boats were built for use in the river area, they could travel between the Dragon Nest and the territory, which not only facilitated material transportation but also made river transportation far more convenient than land transportation.
Therefore, when Alina requested Kalon's approval, she named this newly built city Bay Stream City.
...
Kalon's massive body was half-submerged in the hot, bubbling magma, with only his large head exposed, quietly listening to Red Copper Dragon Alfred's incessant chatter.
The Red Copper Dragon and Red Dragon share similar habits, both preferring to build their nests in warm places.
However, Red Copper Dragon do not have the innate physical conditions of Red Dragons that allow them to bathe in magma, but the dryness and heat of the Red Dragon's nest did not make Red Copper Dragon Alfred uncomfortable.
Only the increasingly powerful field pressure made Alfred uneasy, and this was still the result of Kalon deliberately restraining himself.
Nevertheless, the Red Copper Dragon, in order to occupy a nest on the mountaintop, had thrown caution to the wind, enduring the immense pressure to converse with the Red Dragon.
"I've thought about it, Kalon, my other abilities are not outstanding compared to the True Dragon of the True Dragon, but I like to tell stories, I like to talk, and I'm good at making friends.
So, perhaps I could become the diplomat for the Dragon Clans Territory?
Although my contribution to the Dragon clan might not be significant!"
Red Copper Dragon Alfred cautiously probed the Red Dragon's reaction.
In his own opinion, even this characteristic wasn't considered a special ability; if Kalon refused, his idea would be for naught.
Kalon narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No, Alfred, perhaps the role you can play is far greater than you imagine."
Kalon knew deeply that the stability of a kingdom, besides its economic foundation and armed forces, also had one particularly important point: cultural consciousness.
This was an indispensable foundation, and also the basis for unifying all the kingdom's power.
Moreover, cultural consciousness could, in some aspects, manifest as cultural propaganda, which was a fundamental position that had to be controlled by the Dragon clan .
It could not only consolidate the spiritual will within the kingdom but sometimes also allow for a wave of reverse cultural output.
However, when the territory was first established, there was no foundation or energy to manage this aspect.
Now, it could be influenced and controlled through the Red Copper Dragon Alfred, starting with some simple preparations.
"Alfred, sometimes by telling stories, you can also influence others' views and opinions, making them change their minds," Kalon said.
"I will appoint you as the Chief Officer for External Cultural Exchange of the Dragon Clans Territory.
Next, write down the stories I tell you.
I want you to spread these two stories; remember to find those bards and have them spread them together, and they can also be printed as books and sold cheaply."
Red Copper Dragon Alfred nodded solemnly, took out a small notebook, and began to prepare to record.
"These two stories are called 'True Dragon and the Game of Power' and 'Ogre and the Princess,' respectively," Kalon whispered, and he began to slowly narrate the stories retrieved from the memories of the sub-brain cluster.
Kalon replaced all the Dragon characters in "True Dragons and the Game of thrones " with Chromatic Dragons, and positioned these Chromatic Dragons as being moved and invited by humans, voluntarily forming partnerships with humans, wanting to end that era of widespread war, along with some subtle distortions and adaptations.
In short, it was done in whatever way was most beneficial to the image of the True Dragon.
As he spoke, even the Red Copper Dragon Alfred expressed regret, exclaiming, "How could those True Dragons sacrifice their precious lives for the despicable human struggle for power and gain?
It's truly regrettable for True Dragons; these humans are too hateful."
Kalon shook his head and smiled.
These two stories were primarily meant to weaken the evil nature of the Chromatic Dragon, highlighting some of their positive aspects, and they shouldn't take up too much space, otherwise, it would appear overly deliberate.
Regardless of how the other Chromatic Dragon reacted, as long as he and the Dragon clan benefited, it was fine.
There was also the story of the Ogre and the Princess; these were Kalon's simple attempts at cultural propaganda, also beneficial for the future integration of various races within the kingdom.
Regardless of whether others believed it or not, cultural propaganda should be like brainwashing; over time, individuals' inherent views would always be influenced.
Moreover, Kalon's memories also contained some interesting games, which could also become one of the unique cultural activities of the Dragon Clans Territory.
Imagine walking down the street in the future, and a group of people suddenly invite you, "Hey, want to play a round of True Dragon Cards?"
Kalon suddenly found it quite interesting.
While Kalon pondered future possibilities in his mind, he simultaneously multi-tasked under the control of the sub-brain cluster, narrating stories to Red Copper Dragon Alfred.
After a long time, the speaking finally stopped.
Kalon finally instructed the Red Copper Dragon, "Alfred, in the future, you can also create similar stories yourself, and for those bards, those who perform exceptionally can be rewarded with some gold coins.
You can start preparing to establish a department under your direct management."
"Also, remember to promote more of the territory's highlights and unique features, Alfred.
I believe in your vision and ability; you will surely do this well!"
The Red Copper Dragon Alfred nodded excitedly, shouting, "Kalon, I'm already boiling with enthusiasm!
I can't wait to do something!
Don't worry, I won't let you down!"
"Perhaps if you stay any longer, not only will your blood boil, but the True Dragon meat on your body will also emit a charred aroma," Kalon said with a laugh, looking at the Red Copper Dragon's scales, which were already slightly scorched yellow from the high temperature.
"Ah, damn it, if my beautiful scales get burned, how will I ever pursue those proud female True Dragons in the future!"
The Red Dragon's nest immediately echoed with the earth-shattering cries of the Red Copper Dragon.