On the throne, the young emperorâs face was cold and his eyes were dark. Below the steps, the administrator bowed and gave advice, neither humble nor overbearing.
After a long time, Xu Siliâs lips twitched. He looked at Wen Jishan, who was respectful on the surface but was somehow arranging him inwardly and said, âYou said the mercenary town isnât an important place⌠Administrator, do you really think this?â
Wen Jishan frowned. He easily noticed the change in the little emperor. Previously, this person would never dare to talk to him like this.
However, he never took the little emperor to heart. In Wen Jishanâs opinion, even the oldest prince and second princess werenât worthy of the throne. In this empire, he only admired Si Sheng.
It was a pity that Si Sheng had a rigid brain.
He didnât know if it was true loyalty to the emperor, a patriotic heart or other difficulties. Obviously with Si Shengâs strength, it would only take a matter of minutes if he wanted to overthrow the emperor.
Whatâs more, Wen Jishan really didnât see any respect in Lord Si Sheng toward the Roland royal family.
Nevertheless, he never rebelled. He even overturned the beast wave many times. It could be said that if there was no Si Sheng, the Roland Empire wouldâve been wiped out in that beast wave three years ago.
Si Sheng was extremely powerful but also a mystery. In many cases, Wen Jishan couldnât understand his thoughts.
Wen Jishan noticed the change in the little emperor and felt a bit of surprise, but not much shock.
This young man was still a bit too immature. In terms of aura and a cold face, who could compare to Si Sheng, the number one powerhouse of the empire? Yet Wen Jishan had worked with him for so long.
Thinking this way, Wen Jishan continued to bow and answered calmly, âYour Majesty, it is indeed like that.â
The mercenary town truly wasnât an important place!
âBullshit! Xu Sili let out coarse words as he watched the other person calmly. It wasnât until this moment that he noticed the favorability label on top of Wen Jishanâs head.
[Indifferent]
The favorability was even lower than that of Si Sheng! Xu Sili suspected that if his popular support rate went below 50%, this guy would definitely be the first to jump out and rebel.
He narrowed his eyes. Those who could be used by him were talents. Those who couldnât be used by him werenât much better than trash. At the very least, trash wasnât capable of making trouble!
At this moment, Xu Siliâs gaze toward Wen Jishan changed. He was very happy but now he didnât want to see this person.
Sure enough, Li Zhecheng was good. At the very least, he was loyal!
Wen Jishan heard the words and his expression slightly changed. He endured it and finally maintained etiquette. âWhy does Your Majesty say so?â
The little emperor was scolding him! Just now, he felt the young man had a kingly temperament but it seemed he had been blind.
Xu Sili stared at him, showing no signs of weakness.
âThe mercenary town is on the road that leads from the outside city defenses to the inner city. It is the node that connects the inside and outside. No matter whether you are going to the front lines or coming back from the front lines, you must pass through the mercenary town. How can you say that it isnât an important place?â
Xu Siliâs eyes slightly narrowed.
âIâm not just talking about the geographical location. Letâs talk about the population composition of the mercenary town. I would like to ask you, who are the mercenaries?â
He didnât give Wen Jishan a chance to speak and continued, âThey are ordinary people. None of them are elementalists! Yet they are still fighting at the front lines, licking blood from the edge of their knives and fighting with interstellar beasts. They use their experience and their skills while risking their lives! It is true that they are doing it for the high bounty but you canât deny that they are also guarding the empire. They are an indispensable force for the empire to fight against interstellar beasts! Administrator, you dare say that they arenât important?â
Wen Jishan looked up at the emperor, his face solemn as he answered in a deep voice, âYour Majesty, the army also consists of ordinary people!â
The elementalists might be basically conscripted by the army but that simply wasnât enough. Out of the one million front line troops, the elementalists made up only a few thousand.
This was also the accumulation of a long time. It was because the Elementalist Academy could only send hundreds of one star elementalists to the front lines every year and in the beast wave before, many elementalists died in battle. There were only so many left.
Xu Sili sneered.
âThen you mean, let these mercenaries be enlisted again? Letâs not forget the fact that most of them originally retired from the front lines but if they are recalled to the army, can the empire afford it?â
It was an army of one million but they were scattered around the five main cities, so each city had around 200,000 troops.
The Roland Empire had a population of over 90 million and there were 30 million alone in the Imperial City. There was no shortage of manpower if they really wanted to conscript soldiers.
But⌠they couldnât afford it!
The army was a state machine but it was also a gold swallowing beast. The army accounted for 50% of Rolandâs annual financial expenditure! If there was another enlistment, the nationâs economy would collapse.
Fortunately, todayâs frontline war wasnât so urgent.
After the beast wave three years ago, the roads between the main cities were occupied by various interstellar beasts. These interstellar beasts were basically between one and four stars in strength.
They rarely attacked human cities because the remaining five main cities were protected by large magic circles.
It was only possible for the magic circles to break if there was another beast wave and they were hit by the impact of the herd.
Therefore, the current frontline war mainly focused on clearing out the interstellar beasts and opening up the roads to the major cities as soon as possible.
There would still be danger encountering three or four star beasts but it wasnât a big deal to retreat to the magic circles and start a guerrilla warfare.
Due to this, the current frontline army of 200,000 was enough to protect the Imperial City. Any more and it would be a burden!
Wen Jishan was the administrator and he naturally knew this truth. Therefore, it was absolutely impossible for these veterans to be recalled to the front lines. It was their personal choice to become mercenaries and continue to fight. The empire didnât need to pay anything extra for them.
He had wanted to say, âIf we need to allocate funds to improve their welfare because mercenaries are ordinary people who are still fighting, what about the soldiers on the front lines? Arenât they in more danger? Donât they need more benefits?â
Now the little emperorâs words blocked him.
It was because he knew that there were some mercenaries who actually werenât old enough to retire. It was just that the nation couldnât afford them and could only force some people to discharge.
These people often became the main force of a mercenary group.
If they didnât have the experience of fighting on the front lines, how could they dare to use the body of an ordinary person to fight against an interstellar beast with at least half a star of fighting power? Still, it wasnât any fun to put it out in the open like this.
At the same time, he was also secretly frightened. How did this little emperor suddenly know so much? Wasnât he previously someone who wasnât diligent and was an incapable ruler who couldnât distinguish between the five main crops?
Was it all an act before?
Wen Jishan thought about it for a moment before saying, âThis servant knows that Your Majesty is kind and sympathetic to these veterans, but this servant thinks the limited resources should be used in places where it is more needed.â
âOh, where is it more needed?â Xu Sili sneered again. âDo you mean the inner city?â
âYes, for the past two years, this administrator has managed the inner city very well. The other four main cities might be far away but I think they shouldnât be too bad under my remote control.â
Wen Jishan might look humble on the surface but he was actually a proud person inside. He couldnât help feeling a bit complacent.
Yes, he had only been in office for two years but his achievements were real. He was an ordinary person who couldnât go into battle to kill the enemy but his contribution to Roland was no less than anyone else!
âHowever, that isnât enough.â
The young manâs soft voice was heard, making Wen Jishan become startled before he frowned.
âNot enough?â
There was a touch of doubt in the eyes behind the glasses. Where was it not enough? Who could do more and do better than him?
âYes, not enough.â
Xu Sili stared at him and declared in a resolute and decisive manner, âIn terms of the Imperial City alone, there are more than 35 million people of which the inner city accounts for only 3 million! These 3 million people are really rich but what about the other 32 million people? How many of them are still struggling for food and clothing?â
Wen Jishanâs expression was slightly green. He felt that this young emperor was deliberately making things difficult for him.
He had only been in office for two years. It was great that he was able to make the inner city like this. Yet according to the emperorâs meaning, he wanted to make everyone rich?
Was this possible? First of all, those nobles wouldnât cooperate!
In addition, his words just now didnât have the meaning the emperor implied. He felt that if he wanted to improve the welfare of the mercenaries, it was better to give them more equipment. How useful could it be to renovate and rebuild a small town?
Most of the people who lived in the small town were family members of the mercenaries. They didnât necessarily need a good house to live in and the living allowances were basically the same. He never expected that the little emperor would despise him! It was also in front of Si Sheng and Li Zhecheng!
No matter how good Wen Jishan was at acting, he was a bit annoyed right now.
âYour Majesty, this servant only has a bit of talent and I really canât take care of everyone in just two years!â
He gritted his teeth and especially emphasized the words âjust two years.â
âSince you know you arenât capable enough, be humble!â
Xu Sili stared down at him and spoke in a sincere and earnest tone.
âChief Wen, if you are haughty and donât show initiative, you wonât go far. The empire still needs you. This emperor hopes you wonât make such mistakes again in the future.â
Wen Jishanâs face was green. The little emperor took advantage of this flaw to step directly on him!
His eyes narrowed and he instinctively glanced at Si Sheng. However, Si Sheng wasnât looking at him but at the little emperor. There seemed to be a flash of light in his gray-blue eyes.
Didnât Si Sheng think the little emperor was too much?
The little emperor could step on Wen Jishan like this. Then one day, he would also step on Si Sheng! At that time, would Si Sheng be able to bear it? Would he support the royal family as usual?
Wen Jishan gritted his teeth and glanced back at the little emperor. He endured it, neither angry nor admitting to it.
What a joke! How could his achievements be offset with a few words from the emperor?
âIt seems that Chief Wen isnât convinced.â
Xu Siliâs mouth twitched. âAm I wrong? You think it is unwise to allocate funds to renovate and rebuild the town, but who told you that I want to allocate funds?â
Wen Jishan was startled. How could the town be rebuilt without funding?
Did he want the local residents to do it? Was he fooling around? How could it be rebuilt without money and personnel?
âThe Elementalist Academy is solely responsible for the reconstruction of the town,â Xu Sili spoke lightly. âDean Justin is in charge of this matter. He took the initiative to issue a military order to this emperor. If the reconstruction plan isnât completed in half a month, he will ask for the financial subsidies of the elementalists to be cut by 50%.â
Wen Jishan sucked in a breath.
My god, this was a direct âMy god!â
When did the little emperor hook up with the dean of the Elementalist Academy? No, this wasnât like hooking up!
Decreasing the financial subsidies by 50%, was Justin crazy to mention this?
Li Zhecheng, who was guarding by Xu Siliâs side, couldnât help staring.
Was that said yesterday? Did Dean Justin take the initiative to issue a military order? Didnât you force the old man?
Having personally experienced the scene in the office yesterday, Li Zhecheng was also an elementalist and couldnât help silently mourning for Dean Justin.
As for the possibility that his monthly subsidy of 30,000 Escher Coins will be cut? A 50% cut was still 15,000. This salary as a guard wasnât low and he didnât feel much. He just thoughtâŚ
His Majestyâs heart is too dark! The old dean is too pitiful.
As for Wen Jishan, he asked with pleasant surprise, âYour Majesty, are your words true?â
He had just been full of complaints but now his eyes were full of excitement.
âIf Dean Justin fails to complete the reconstruction plan in half a month, he will ask to cut the subsidies of all elementalists by 50%?â
Xu Sili saw this personâs shining eyes and felt strange. He thought for a moment before reminding in a low voice, âRebuilding the mercenary town is a very important first step in my next plan. Chief Wen, I donât want anyone to get in the way!â
Wen Jishanâs mouth twitched and he nodded to show his understanding, but his expression revealed his regret.
Of course he felt regret! He had been eyeing the elementalists for a long time. This bunch of people got paid to do nothing. He wouldâve cut their subsidies by 70% if it wasnât for his lack of strength!
Now there was such a good opportunity and that old guy Justin was willing to take the blame. If he didnât do something, wouldnât he feel too sorry for the kindness of the old dean?
Wen Jishanâs eyes shone and it seemed he hadnât given up on his intention to make trouble.
Xu Sili saw it and inexplicably got a headache while Li Zhecheng shuddered.
Damn, too dark!
He just wondered if the old dean could complete the task on time. He didnât expect that Wen Jishan even wanted to destroy it? No, he must go back to remind the old dean to be on guard and to not be fooled by Wen Jishan!
Xu Sili opened his mouth and wanted to say something. He hesitated for a moment before finally stopping. If it was destroyed then it was due to Dean Justinâs insufficient ability.
He was the dean of the Elementalist Academy and a two star elementalist. If he was afraid of an ordinary person like Wen Jishan, what else was there to say?
Xu Sili thought of this and continued to talk about the mercenary town. He had some ideas about this experimental base.
âIt is like I said. Rebuilding the mercenary town will be the responsibility of the Elementalist Academy.â
Wen Jishan controlled his expression and looked at the little emperor with some confusion. He didnât know why the emperor had to emphasize it again. Was the emperor really so worried about him engaging in small moves?
Then he heard the little emperor say, âWhat I mean by being responsible isnât to let them pay to rebuild it. I mean to let the elementalists rebuild it themselves.â
Wen Jishan was taken aback. The words were a bit roundabout but he soon understood.
Was it what he understood? It wasnât letting the ElementalIst Academy pay for it but to have the elementalIsts build the town directly? How could that be?
âYour MajestyâŚâ Wen Jishanâs mouth was a bit dry. âIsnât it a bit overkill to use elementalists to build a small town?â
âWhat is overkill? What isnât overkill?â Xu Sili chuckled and the young man gave off the feeling of a strategist in this moment. âChief Wen, do you know the elementalists?â
Wen Jishan pursed his lips.
He was an ordinary person and had no elemental ability. He mightâve learned some things about elementalists due to his convenient position but it was all superficial. Still, if he remembered correctly, the emperor was also an ordinary person right?
âOh, I forgot to tell Chief Wen.â Xu Sili adjusted his robe and spoke softly. âThis emperor went to the Elementalist Academy yesterday and tested my talent. I didnât expect that I would have the talent of a spiritual elementalist and it is also the rare sound element.â
Wen Jishanâs expression was filled with momentary confusion. No, wasnât the emperor 18 years old? How could his talent still be measured?
âYour Majesty meansâŚâ
âThe Elementalist Academy has made a major mistake not just in terms of education but also in terms of testing methods.â
Xu Sili didnât hide it. There was nothing difficult about saying this.
âThis has led to some children who had tested their talent being assigned to the wrong department. Yesterday, a warrior student participated in the test with me and it turned out that he was also in the spiritual department. In other words, we might add a number of spiritual elementalists.â
Wen Jishan was a smart person. Once Xu Sili made it clear, he understood why Justin made such a military order. If it was true, the mistake was too big!
The next moment, he thought of something else.
âDoes this mean⌠are there some ordinary people who were judged as having no affinity for elements but are actually talented? They were just wrongly judged?â
It was just like His Majesty! It could actually be measured after so many years!
Xu Sili looked at Wen Jishan and wanted to tell him, âDonât think about it. You really donât have an elemental affinity. You are just an ordinary person.â
But⌠he saw the hot expectations in this personâs eyes and hesitated. He thought better of it. Todayâs shock was already enough. It was best to take it slowly. There was no need to collapse the other personâs mentality all at once.
Xu Sili nodded. âYes, but for those people, it might not be measured if they donât persist in practicing the basic training methods and donât make progress.â
Having said this, he didnât continue the topic.
âThis is a matter for the future. It isnât the current focus. The focus right now should be: we will add a group of spiritual elementalists who have practiced martial arts. The young students are okay but those who are between 15 and 18 years old are basically wasted.â
Wen Jishan frowned and his expression became a bit heavy.
Yes, only one star elementalists could go to the front line. Obviously, the spiritual elementalists who practiced the wrong method couldnât reach the one star level in such a short period of time.
They would be assigned to the local guards but in that case, wouldnât their talent be wasted?
Should graduation be postponed?
Yet even after the postponement, could they become one star elementalists? This was an unknown variable.
In fact, it wasnât impossible for them to go to the local forces but they are all seedlings of spiritual elementalists! How strong were spiritual elementalists? They could often affect the situation of the war!
Crucially, he felt that this might not be a small number There was probably more than one hundred. Hundreds of spiritual elementalistsâŚ
Wen Jishan couldnât help gulping. At the same time, he hated the Elementalist Academy even more. Sure enough, they were all useless! How many children had been delayed after so many years? How many fighters had been delayed? Cutting their financial subsidies by 50% wasnât enough!
Xu Sili saw Wen Jishanâs slightly crazy expression and couldnât help sympathizing with Dean Justin. He coughed and pulled the administratorâs attention back.
âSo for those children, I plan to let them participate in the construction. The five main elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth are actually very suitable for infrastructure construction.â
âThe warrior path focuses on itself but spiritual elementalists are able to directly manipulate the elements.â
âMetal can make weapons and build fortresses.â
âThere is no need to talk much about wood and water. They are very powerful in planting and healing.â
âFire can work with metal to forge more powerful weapons and equipment. Earth is definitely good for building bridges, roads and houses.â
âThey are elementalists and they can do this much faster than ordinary people.â
Xu Sili raised an eyebrow while speaking lazily, âDo you think Dean Justin is stupid? How can he agree to the half a month deadline without any certainty? He is a top two star elementalist of the earth system. It might be a bit hard for him to rebuild a town in half a month but he isnât the only elementalist at the academy.â
There werenât just the teachers, there were also the students.
The students of the elementalist department were all gifted students with powerful teachers and he didnât believe there were no civil engineering talents among them. So in half a month, the Elementalist Academy could do it!
âRebuilding and renovating a small town in half a month doesnât require much human, financial and material resources. It might just consume a bit of the magic restoring treasures. Wen Jishan, donât you think this is a good deal?â
The people in the hall listened to Xu Sili and couldnât help falling into deep thought.
As Wen Jishan listened to the description, his expression became more serious and his eyes became brighter.
Once he was named, he nodded hurriedly.
Was it a good deal? Didnât he want to engage in construction? Didnât he want to use those resources? Didnât he know the gap between the rich and poor in the inner and outer cities?
However, what could he do when he had no money or strength? Now it was different. There was free labor! It was also very high quality labor!
Let those elementalists who were usually haughty or even spiritual elementalists do construction. Wasnât it cool to think about? He had been greedy for these people who could control water, earth and wood for a long time!
He had actually thought about it before but he didnât dare go deep into planning because he was just an ordinary person.
Meanwhile, the position of elementalists in the Roland Empire was very high! Even if he was the chief administrator, he wasnât able to command them.
Letting these noble and powerful elementalists do civilian work would definitely cause a huge backlash. NowâŚ
On the throne, the young emperor he had looked down on smiled at him and continued, âFor these wasted elementalists, I donât expect them to go to the front lines. Rather than letting them waste resources locally, it is better to use them to build the empire!â
âYes, Your Majesty is right!â
Wen Jishan nodded in a very excited manner.
All the previous dissatisfaction he felt toward the emperor had been forgotten because the feasibility of this plan was too high! He hadnât expected the little emperor to think further than him and to have a crueler heart than him.
He listened as the young manâs voice continued to ring through the great hall.
âOnce the mercenary town is rebuilt, I plan to gather all the elementalists in the local area and let them form elementalist mercenary groups or join some regular mercenary groups. All the elementalists below one star must become mercenaries!â
Mercenaries also had a mercenary association.
They had to complete one mission every year in order to maintain their status as a mercenary. Upgrading, obtaining resources and receiving the corresponding level task was also done with the mercenary association!
âAll elementalist mercenaries must complete a large number of mercenary missions every year. If they fail to complete it, their elementalist subsidy will be cancelled! Of course, there will be rewards for those who over-complete the requirements. They are elementalists and this means they are stronger than ordinary mercenaries. If ordinary mercenaries can do it, they must also be able to do it!â
The young manâs words rang out loudly!
There was a moment of silence in the great hall. After a long time, Wen Jishan pushed up his glasses that were falling down. He raised his head, his green eyes staring deeply at the young emperor on the throne as he replied firmly and feverishly, âYes, Your Majesty is right! They must be able to do so!â
The author has something to say:
Wen Jishan: Si Sheng, His Majesty will step on your face in the future!