stjorthotic Chapter 230 Living Up to One's Conscience
Chapter 230 Living Up to One's Conscience
Welcome to the fantastical world of fantasy novels! The entrance is here:
All that remained was a pool of blood mixed with bone fragments and clothing debris, which radiated outwards for three or four meters in the sinkhole...
Richard's face remained expressionless as he waved his hand, signaling the Apostle of Life to begin the rescue.
His original plan was simply to make some money treating the plague in the North and, incidentally, meet with other lords and discuss business cooperation.
I never intended to get into a conflict with anyone and expose the Chiffon Legion, otherwise I wouldn't have hidden them above the clouds.
But he simply couldn't turn a blind eye to the baron's evil deeds.
If this innocent massacre had happened elsewhere, he could have pretended not to see it and wouldn't have felt so terrible.
But it happened right under my nose. If I just leave without a care, will I still be able to get a good night's sleep?
He knew his actions were indeed somewhat reckless, but first and foremost, he had to be true to his conscience before considering whether it was right or wrong...
...
The gentle rain of light fell once more, like spring rain, slowly sprinkling upon this land filled with despair and death.
The people of the Ironwater Territory, now healed, could no longer contain themselves and began to wail and cry in anguish.
Some people hugged their loved ones, some knelt on the ground and kowtowed desperately, and some clasped their hands together and prayed haphazardly to the sky.
"The plague was bad enough, but that demon lord also wanted to burn us alive and steal all our money!"
"My wife and daughter were hacked to death by soldiers! This man is no lord, he's a beast!"
"If the Church of Light were still standing, this would never have happened!"
These words resonated with many.
Yes, if the priests and knights of light were still alive, would the lord dare to do this? He would even be so ruthless as to massacre the free people!
But what's the point of saying all this now?
...
People were crying in despair when suddenly a tall, burly man knelt down before Richard.
"Merciful sir! May I ask where your territory is? I am a blacksmith, and if you do not mind, I would like to come to your territory to make a living!"
These words stunned all the citizens of Ironwater, and the crying stopped abruptly.
They looked up, their eyes brimming with tears, at the young lord standing atop the rock-armored earth dragon, a man of extraordinary bearing and handsome appearance.
...
To become the other party's subject?
That's right!
This idea, like a seed, quickly took root and sprouted in everyone's heart.
The Iron Baron's betrayal and malice made them feel utterly disappointed and even disgusted with their identity as Iron Citizens.
This lord not only saved their lives, but also had the ability to help them rid themselves of the plague.
More importantly, the overwhelming strength displayed by the opposing army gave them an extreme sense of security and hope!
With such a powerful and benevolent lord by my side, even without the Church of Light, I will certainly never suffer such an undeserved calamity again!
What else is there to consider?
With the first person taking the lead, the other Ironwater citizens also reacted quickly, vying to shout loudly!
"Kind sir, please take us in!"
"Yes, we don't want to stay in this cannibalistic territory anymore. We're willing to contribute to your territory!"
"Me too! I want to be your subject too!"
The shouts in the square grew louder and louder as the people who had just escaped the plague and the slaughter all stared expectantly at Richard.
Richard was slightly taken aback.
He really didn't expect these people to ask to join Chiffon at this time. He raised his hand to suppress the noise in the room.
"My territory, apart from the places where the army and their families live, is still being developed, and there isn't enough space to accommodate you all for the time being."
The inner city was only recently completed and is still being refined; there isn't even a hint of an outer city that can accommodate free citizens.
Although a large number of stone houses could be built to house them within a few days, the supporting facilities were the real problem.
In particular, if underground pipe networks are not laid in advance, it will be extremely difficult and time-consuming to dig them up again after the houses are built.
You can't expect people to live in an empty shell without even a sewer system, can you?
...
Unexpectedly, the blacksmith who spoke first pounded his chest loudly!
"Merciful lord! I dare not presume to live with the knights. It is alright if we do not have houses; I can live in a tent and help you build your territory!"
"Yes! We'd be willing to live in a tent!"
"As long as I have food to eat and a safe place to stay, I'd be willing to live in a cave!"
Others echoed his sentiments, their voices rising and falling, their eyes filled with undiminished longing.
Listen to this!
Still clearing land and building?
That's exactly the kind of place where we're short-staffed! There are so many job opportunities!
...
Richard looked at the burly blacksmith who had spoken first and couldn't help but laugh.
This guy is determined to come; he's even willing to accept a tent. It seems he's truly terrified of the Iron Baron.
Free men are not serfs; they cannot be taught with whips. Some things must be made clear to them beforehand.
It would be pointless to go to the territory and then find yourself arguing with Chiffon's terms and conditions, finding fault with everything.
...
The blacksmith burst out laughing!
"Many rules mean good order!"
He gestured wildly towards the surrounding crowd and shouted:
"Just like forging a sword, are the results of hammering it a hundred times the same as hammering it a thousand times? Only a well-ordered territory can enjoy lasting stability!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! It's just changing where you poop! What kind of rule is that?"
"It's better than having my whole family arrested and burned at the stake!"
"As long as we can live a peaceful life, we'll abide by any number of rules!"
...
Richard was having a hard time keeping his composure.
Fine!
He didn't want to be pretentious anymore. As long as people were willing to follow the rules, why would he turn away those who came to him?
Especially those free people who have been frightened and are willing to work hard as long as they are given a stable meal.
Thinking this, he no longer hesitated, drew his dark sword, pressed the hilt against his right chest, straightened his back, took a deep breath, and shouted:
"I am Richard Chiffon! Baron of the Star Empire, Lord of Chiffon Territory and the Chaotic Stone Forest!"
"I swear by my noble honor that if you uphold the laws of Chiffon and serve the land with labor and loyalty, I will protect your lives and property!"
"Whether it be natural disasters or war, Chiffon's high walls and longsword shield will be a reliable barrier for you, sheltering you from the wind and rain, and protecting you for the rest of your lives!"
The vow was made, and the wind swept through the square, so loud you could hear a pin drop.
...
The blacksmith took the first step, kneeling heavily on his right knee, supporting himself on his left, his right hand on his left chest, and responded in a loud voice:
"My name is Cody. I revere your supreme authority, obey your noble decrees, and follow your lord's will. I humbly beseech Lord Chiffon to accept me as your subject!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the people who were still standing in the square knelt down in a rush, and countless voices overlapped and converged.
Richard looked at the crowd, and their eyes, filled with a mixture of fear, hope, and piety, inexplicably touched him.
He slowly sheathed his sword, then placed his right hand on his left chest, bowed slightly, and solemnly returned their salute.
"Welcome to Chiffon."
...
In an instant, shouts, cheers, and cries mingled together, sweeping across the entire square like a tidal wave!
People hugged each other, weeping with joy, their faces beaming with relief at surviving the ordeal and anticipation for the future.
From this moment on, these former Ironwater Territory citizens officially became Chiffon Territory citizens!
Richard was quite happy too.
Although it wasn't planned, the sudden influx of so many new residents is a great thing; at the very least, it boosts the area's popularity.
Next, Richard ordered the Chiffon Guards to maintain order and instructed the citizens to return to their homes to pack their belongings, preparing to follow a group of guards back to Chiffon territory ahead of them.
...
After quickly counting the number of people, Richard sighed. There were only a little over 10,000 left. Yes, out of 50,000, only this many remained!
The plague killed a number of the weak, and the Iron Baron then slaughtered a large number of the infected.
When they looted the property of the free people, those who resisted were also killed, and a large number of them died.
Only those who were too stubborn to reveal the location of their family's hidden wealth were tied up by the Iron Baron and prepared to be burned alive in his anger.
However, in addition to these free people, there were also more than two thousand serfs.
With an additional 12,000 people, the total population of Qifeng has surged dramatically!