Chapter 1075

This time, Mengying brought a million troops, but they were not elite forces; only twenty thousand beastmen troops were elite.

The other eight hundred thousand troops were all local garrison forces.

In addition, the Flame Empire brought over a number of administrative personnel—officials—but their numbers were not large.

As soon as Mengying arrived at the administrative center of the western region, after a brief assessment, she issued a large number of decrees, then immediately issued a summons ordering all nobles who chose to remain in the west to come for an audience.

In fact, these nobles had already been waiting there; after all, with the western region of the Zi Yun Empire changing hands, the nobles who stayed behind were all worried that the new empire would strip them of their rights.

But to their surprise, at the collective noble assembly, the Flame Empire did not infringe upon their rights; instead, it granted them certain benefits.

Instantly, these remaining middle and small nobles rejoiced greatly!

On the same day, over every major city of the Zi Yun Empire, winged people dropped leaflets from magic bags, blanketing the skies.

"Wow, look, look! If you believe in the Lord of Flame and are willing to submit to the Flame Empire's rule, you can cultivate ten mu of land—and the Church will distribute a divine bean that yields ten thousand jin per mu! My heavens, is this real?"

In one city, a commoner who had been deeply anxious picked up a leaflet and was instantly stunned by its contents!

Then he shouted out loud.

"Is this true? Where did you see it? John Xun, aren't you illiterate?"

Someone beside him didn't believe it.

"Leaflets like this are everywhere outside. I don't know why I can understand the text on them."

Said the commoner named John Xun.

"Let me see."

The man beside him snatched it and looked, his face also showing an expression of disbelief.

"These are magical characters—no wonder I can understand them. The seal on this is exquisitely crafted, with incredibly fine printing, and to distribute it so widely suggests it's almost certainly real!"

The man beside him took a deep breath.

"There's more—look, the Flame Empire now needs a large number of officials. Anyone, regardless of birth, who has ability can go to the city hall and register once the Flame Empire's administrators arrive!"

"Charlie, your chance has come!"

John Xun said happily.

The man beside him trembled as he held the paper; the four characters "regardless of birth" made tears stream down his face!

"Yes, my chance has come. In the Zi Yun Empire, over ninety percent of officials are chosen from noble families, and even the remaining ten percent are essentially only open to the wealthy. I never imagined the Flame Empire would be so good—Heaven has eyes indeed!"

On this day, after seeing this leaflet, the entire western region of the Zi Yun Empire erupted in excitement among the commoners!

Not only the commoners were excited—vast numbers of capable commoners were electrified!

On the Continent of Gods, nations are not all the same.

Otherwise, why would nations with the same population differ in strength?

This is the same principle as before Lin Yan's transmigration.

More population does not determine everything.

Among the current Celestial Gods, many were once privileged nobles on the Continent of Gods.

Though they have lived for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, and their thoughts have changed greatly since becoming gods,

humans are sometimes like this.

The experiences of the first dozen years of life shape one's understanding of the world and form behavioral and cognitive patterns that influence one's entire life—even if one lives ten thousand or a hundred thousand years, the influence gradually fades, yet the latent impact remains.

The same is true for gods.

Every god's philosophy is different.

These philosophies ultimately manifest in their nations.

For example, the Zi Yun Empire.

The Zi Yun Empire's social hierarchy is extremely rigid.

Although the lives of commoners are somewhat better than in some small empires or kingdoms, commoners find it nearly impossible to rise in status—they are likely to remain commoners generation after generation.

In fact, this is the case across the entire Continent of Gods, though some nations are slightly better.

In the Zi Yun Empire, even the most capable commoners cannot become officials.

Unless they earn battlefield merit in war.

Thus, the Flame Empire's decree had an unexpectedly powerful effect.

Originally, when the Zi Yun Empire withdrew its administration from the western region, it removed a large number of officials and high nobles, leaving the entire western region with a severe administrative vacuum.

If the Flame Empire sent its own local officials from within its borders, they would likely suffer from cultural and environmental dislocation.

But after this decree was issued, as countless flying ships carrying Church personnel arrived in each city, vast numbers of capable commoners eagerly signed up to compete for local administrative posts.

Even before the Flame Empire's Church had officially settled in, Zi Yun Empire's commoners spontaneously cleaned and refurbished the churches, decorating them anew and planting Flame flags on every one.

The overwhelming enthusiasm of the people left the Zi Yun Empire's officials assigned to assist the Flame Empire in stabilizing the west utterly stunned.

Thus, across every city in the western region of the Zi Yun Empire, the Flame Empire's administrative centers were established at maximum speed.

Mengying was about to issue decrees via magical letters.

After issuance, each city's administrative center would be responsible for dissemination.

Mengying issued a great number of decrees at once.

For example, the Flame Empire now conscripts local garrison troops; each unit receives weapons, armor, and food from the Flame Empire, and soldiers receive twenty gold coins monthly—plus, if one joins the military, the entire family is exempt from taxes!

"Twenty gold coins a month? My heavens, that's more than the salary of some teachers who tutor noble children! I'm joining!"

Upon hearing this, many young men of the Zi Yun Empire rushed to enlist.

Another example: the Flame Empire conscripted vast numbers of laborers for road construction, offering equally high pay.

One decree after another was issued; within just one week, the hearts of the people in the western region of the Zi Yun Empire stabilized—not only stabilized, but commoners erupted with extraordinary enthusiasm, all participating in construction and development.

"Your Majesty, as you commanded, we have redistricted the administrative regions into eight provinces, with a population just over five hundred million. However, when the Zi Yun Empire withdrew its administrative apparatus, it also took away vast wealth."

A female official reported to Xiang Mengying.

Meng Ying nodded slightly.

The Zi Yun Empire would certainly take the wealth; Meng Ying did not value that small amount, as long as they caused no trouble.

Of course, they would not dare cause trouble.

Not only would they not dare cause trouble, they probably feared the Flame Empire would strike at their other half of the territory.

After the administrative regions were redrawn, these five hundred million people and eight provinces became the Flame Empire's Eight Eastern Provinces.

However, the Eight Eastern Provinces were effectively an exclave, far removed from the Flame Empire.

Immediately after, Meng Ying began constructing a space gate.

This time, she intended to build the space gate herself.

Meng Ying had long since gathered sufficient materials, many of which came from the Eternal Night Empire.

But the most important thing in building a space gate is not the materials, but understanding the spatial laws.

The more one understands the spatial laws, the farther the space gate's range, and the less energy it consumes during transmission.

This time, the transmission distance of the space gate Meng Ying intended to build was extremely long.

Fortunately, Meng Ying had long ago received guidance from Lin Yan through prayer.

Thus, just two days later, Meng Ying completed the space gate.

Once the space gate was built, even if the Eight Eastern Provinces were far from the Flame Empire, Meng Ying could arrive at any time.

After completing the space gate, Meng Ying even returned to the imperial capital of the Flame Empire.

"Huh? Sister Meng Ying, has the space gate been built?"

The fox woman, Sister Qing Ling, said upon seeing Meng Ying.

Meng Ying nodded.

Sister Qing Ling showed a hint of interest: "Sister Meng Ying, take me to see the Eastern Provinces!"

Thus, the two women transmitted together to the Eight Eastern Provinces.

One transmission consumed considerable energy, but for the Flame Empire, it was entirely affordable.

"Report, Queen! It's bad—the Savage Tribes are launching a massive attack!"

Yet, as soon as Sister Qing Ling arrived in the Eastern Provinces, she received a report from a female official!

From the south, vast armies of Savage Tribes surged forth!