With all these settled, Zhong Yu planned to put campaigning on hold for the next couple of months. He’d rather use this time to fine-comb his domain’s administration.
It took him two months to get from establishing his seat of power to grow it to be a county. As more and more people would join, they would sooner or later devolve into more and more contradictions.
There had been many conflicts so far, that because of the lack of officials and justice office, they were oppressed by the army and made them dissatisfied.
Many more civic and economic decisions were handled by the army as well. While rough in their actions, they were strong, but also earned the public’s ire.
Humans thirsted for freedom, and too much control would bury the seed of hatred within; hatred for their ruler. Some radicals would even want his rule over, to form the nation they wanted.
Though most would fail and die, the constant mutinies weakened the nation and the population would decline. Letting the military in charge of a nation was never a good policy in the long run.
With him now having a county sized domain, he built the basic administrative division. With the military in order, all that remained was the executive part.
He had 25 novice scholars mingle among his people to inspect his lands’ condition. ‘The month is up and they should have an idea by now.’
His domain had 11 boroughs, each with 500 people, that could have a practical in charge of its affairs. It handled law and order, issued decrees, conscripted labor, everything important to connect the people to the county.
It was of low position yet great power, holding the fate of 500 people in his hands. Its importance was obvious.
He had planned to have them handle 500 people each and see the results after a month. But there were not enough boroughs to go around, so they would be responsible for the townships and the people in the county seat too.
He now had four townships with 1,000 people each. That meant 8 novice scholars. Regarding the county seat, the refugee camp brought 1,800 the first time and 1,700 the second to which were added the 600 savages from those early small tribes.
Removing from them the losses the fighting had brought, Luoyang had around 4,000 in total; meaning 8 novice scholars.
That brought his domain’s population to 13,500, needing 27 scholars to handle every aspect. Though having just 25 wouldn’t pose a problem, he’d just look over the last 1,000 himself for the next month.
With a plan in mind, Zhong Yu went to the great hall, telling the imperial guard to send waiting scholars outside.
“Greetings, Your Grace!” The men bowed.
“You may skip the formalities, rise. You can guess by now why I called you. Tell me, what conclusions have you drawn inspecting my lands this past month? Have you decided what post to take?” Zhong Yu smiled.
“We have, but we await the Lord’s decision.” The scholars spoke with respect.
“State your wishes and I will consider them when I appoint you to your stations.” Zhong Yu had them tell him their desires to get them to work on the double.
With the army in place they had no way to make it hard on him. In the case of the savages rising against him, he’d just send the cavalry and they’d be done in hours.
The scholars expressed their wishes with some’s desires even conflicting. But after a bit of debate, they all left the hall satisfied with the post.
With the proof of their official status in their hands, Zhong Yu rested the administration on them. As for the result, he’d see it in a month.
Besides, he’d use the next two months to shame his ruling. He’d deal with matters as they come, one step at a time.
With internal affairs over, Zhong Yu turned to the system, worried and excited over the answer to his most dying need, cultivation.
The system told him he’d need 10,000 people and a 50 km wide domain to form his nation. That would unlock cultivation, which made this down on the dumps ruler he couldn’t cultivate and be a king finding new hope.
With his objectives fulfilled, it was time for the system to upgrade his domain and his clearance. ‘What will I cultivate?’
“Upgrade now! I want access to the cultivation function.” Zhong Yu was eager and nervous.
“Upgrading… two hours until completion. Please be patient.” The system’s flat voice sounded from within him.
Zhong Yu’s worry soon ebbed out of him. He was more nervous than ever just on the eve of declaring, but now he just had to wait two hours, time in which he calmed down.
“System upgrade finished. Please read the update notes. Cultivation is now open and the host may see the status of every power and methods.”
“Cultivation methods? I knew you wouldn’t lie to me.” Overcome by joy, Zhong Yu grew frantic.
No one could ever keep calm in the face of eternal life and super power. To say nothing of rulers, holding the fate of others in their hands.
Or there wouldn’t be so many emperors thirsting for immortality and doing reckless things, even the likes of the first emperor.