“Better early than late, this Months of Deep Winter, Dawn City will pull off something big.”
Unlike last year, when he’d made decisions in haste, having only just arrived in Glory, still harboring some suspicion toward the vampires. With only two hundred blood descendants and himself a Level 10 Vampire Progenitor, as the strongest force, no stored provisions in the warehouse… Everything had been unimaginably difficult.
He’d begun by purchasing from the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild, then buying grain from the Alex Merchant Guild and transporting supplies from Green City to Dawn City, then dispatching most of his vampires to seize population.
Truly starting from nothing.
Just one year later.
Dawn City now commanded several top-tier combatants, and even possessed a bone dragon, such a legendary creature.
Over three hundred vampires, more than a thousand Whispering Bats, a six-hundred-strong human army, over a dozen cyclopes, and more than ten thousand loyal residents of Dawn City.
As for supplies, the granaries held enough food to feed one hundred thousand people for an entire year. The dwarves were forging armor for them, and the livestock farms produced enough meat every month for every resident to have their fill.
Compared to Dawn City one year ago, its strength had increased by dozens of times, if not more.
A true city had taken shape in his hands.
And this year, he would make it even more prosperous and powerful.
This coming Months of Deep Winter would be the climax of Dawn City’s great expansion.
After confirming the news of the beastmen invasion, Li De summoned Harrison.
“Patriarch,” Harrison said with an excited look as he entered the office, “you must have received word that the beastmen are invading the human border again!”
Li De smiled faintly.
“That’s right. We can begin the population-raiding operation. The border is extremely dangerous. Right now, the vampires don’t have the strength to fight the beastmen head-on, we only want the people.
If you encounter battle, avoid it if at all possible. Never try to stand and fight.”
Once the beastmen invaded the border, that land would belong to them. Hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of beastmen. Even ten times the number of vampires would be ground to dust.
“As you wish. Our scouts have already been dispatched. In three days, we’ll officially send out the army.”
Li De nodded. “Raiding population is the most important task for Dawn City, nothing is more important.
At present, aside from essential production and construction, all focus must be shifted to acquiring people.
Logistics and supplies will be coordinated centrally by City Hall. You will personally oversee this during this period.
Also, how are things going with logistics in the Dwarven Valley?”
“All supplies were delivered there three days ago.
We’ve sent enough food to feed ten thousand people for half a year. It will be sufficient to see them through this winter.”
Li De thought for a moment and then shook his head.
“No. It’s not enough.
The Months of Deep Winter isn’t just an opportunity for our own development, it’s also a crucial chance for the Lionmane Tribe.
Send an equal quantity of food again. Also, instruct Stanley and Craig that I expect them to gather beastmen in great numbers during the Months of Deep Winter. They must build a strong army of at least five thousand warriors.
Those five thousand must be mid-level warriors of Level 5 or above.”
Li De’s tone was firm and left no room for doubt.
“Although things are stable for now, after the Months of Deep Winter, the Dwarven Valley will inevitably face greater threats. Only strength can answer them.
Our supplies are enough to raise a massive army.
And when spring arrives next year, our wheat harvest will refill the granaries. None of this will be an issue.”
Since he had decided to build a beastman city in the Dwarven Valley, he would not waver in this resolve.
This city would become the foothold of Dawn City deep in the Barren Plains. There would be a force there that belonged solely to Dawn City.
It was also a strategic contingency, never mind the mithril vein, which was an invaluable treasure that must be defended. Even without it, if Li De had the opportunity, he would extend his reach into the Barren Plains regardless.
Dawn City’s location meant it was isolated from outside contact. While that brought security, it also limited its influence and ambitions to some extent.
The forces he was arranging would become the claws of the magic dragon, spreading Dawn City’s power far and wide.
One day, when others tried to challenge Dawn City, these blades would cut those enemies down.
Afterward, Li De and Harrison continued discussing the details of the population-raiding plan. After all, this was the most important task for Dawn City, and it had to be arranged with utmost care.
Once everything was finally settled, Li De let out a long breath.
He had always disliked dealing with administration. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, he would rather hole up and research magic than handle all these trivial matters, it was simply too tedious.
“If that little girl Niko has nothing else to do, have her come help out at City Hall. The Dawn Order is stable as a mountain, nothing can go wrong there.
Also, you should start training an advisory team. Find the smartest people you can to assist you. No single person’s strength is limitless.”
“Yes, Patriarch,” Harrison replied respectfully.
“All right, go and make the arrangements. Oh, call Betty and Grote over too. I’m going to make a trip back to Green City. Once the population raids begin, I won’t have any time to leave.”
Li De stretched lazily in relief.
The players had been here for over three months now. He wondered if they had stirred up any waves in Green City during this time.
And how was the production at the Magic Factory going? What progress had been made with the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild’s branch plans?
Was his cheap old teacher still getting drunk every day before setting up magic arrays for him?
And his little maid, that girl who was utterly devoted to him, had she encountered any trouble?
And little Isha, had that child with the Golden Bloodline learned even more spells from Spark, the Grand Mage?
At that moment, he found himself thinking of the Mage Tower that was entirely his.