Lord: Starting with Summoning the Regular Army of Earth

"Your Highness, Sir Conrad, I'm back. Registration is complete, everything is accounted for!"

Hearing Will's excited voice, Matthew and Conrad couldn't help but turn to look at him.

"Will, you've had a tough time. Tell me quickly, how did it go?" Matthew gestured for him to sit down and handed him a bowl of warm water.

Will gulped down several mouthfuls of wine, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and then spread the roster out on the table as if it were a treasure trove, pointing to the dense yet neat handwriting on it.

"Your Highness, the exact permanent population of Jinshi Ridge is currently ninety-seven, which is more than we previously estimated!"

He first gave a precise number, which invigorated Matthew and Conrad, who exchanged a glance.

"Among them, there are twenty-three young and middle-aged men aged sixteen to forty-five!" Will emphasized this number, and Conrad's eyes immediately flashed with a sharp light.

Twenty-three people, though few, are no longer a vague concept of "less than twenty," but a living force that can be organized and trained.

"More importantly, there are more skilled people among these people than we imagined." He pointed to the list, "Eric the blacksmith, although his furnace collapsed many years ago, he hasn't lost his skills. He can forge iron, repair weapons and farm tools."

"Old John the carpenter, although he is old and his hands tremble a little, he has two sons and can do carpentry work. He can repair doors and windows and make tools without any problems."

"And there's Grandma Martha. Don't let her age fool you; when she was young, she was a renowned leather tanner in the area. She was an expert at processing leather, making leather armor, and leather bags."

"In addition, Belle, Eve and the other four are very skilled at weaving and sewing, and can make clothes, ropes and even fishing nets."

Will grew increasingly excited as he spoke: "Your Highness, Sir Knight, what does this mean? It means we're not without resources! We have people, we have craftsmen. If we organize ourselves, we can forge tools, repair weapons, and even try to produce some things!"

Matthew was also deeply moved and excited. He wasn't happy about how much value these people could bring him.

Rather, this roster is like a map for someone who has lost their way, clearly marking out every bit of power that Emberstone Ridge possesses.

The vague concept of "citizens" has been transformed into individuals with names, skills, and potential.

This is the first step in scientific management—a clear asset inventory—which is of great significance to Matthew, the manager.

"Fantastic, Will, this is a huge achievement!" Matthew patted Will on the shoulder, showering him with praise. "This isn't just a list; it's the foundation of Emberridge's future!"

Conrad's face broke into the most relieved smile he'd had in days: "Will, you've done a great job. Twenty-three able-bodied men, and these craftsmen... I know what to do next. Tomorrow morning, I'll gather Eric and Old John. We'll repair the blacksmith's forge and the carpentry shed first; weapons and tools must be our priority."

Will nodded quickly and added, "Also, according to the registration, there are currently eleven people who are sick due to the water problem, mainly the elderly and children. I have taught them one by one how to take the medicine made of sugar and salt, and I believe their condition should be under control."

He solemnly placed the roster before Matthew: "Your Highness, this roster is now officially handed over to you for management. It contains detailed information about each person's name, age, special skills, family situation, and even general health condition. I hope it will be of assistance to you."

Matthew received the heavy register, feeling as if he were receiving a ray of hope.

He looked at Will and Conrad, his eyes resolute: "Very good, Will. With this roster, we'll have a clearer picture of what to do next. Tomorrow..."

He paused, then stood up, his voice filled with power: "Starting tomorrow when the sun rises, let's bring Emberstone Ridge back to life!"

"We will be loyal to our lord forever!" Conrad knelt on one knee, and Will did the same, both of them filled with enthusiasm at that moment.

……

On Blue Star, under the cover of night, a transport plane flew from the north towards the direction of Yang City.

The engine roared low and continuous, and the cabin lights illuminated two rows of soldiers sitting upright and fully armed, creating a somewhat serious and somber atmosphere.

They were not ordinary soldiers, but elites urgently selected from the "Sharp Blade" special operations regiment of a certain war zone. Their mission was codenamed "Shadow," and their purpose was unknown, but the requirements were extremely special.

"Hey, Xiao Chuan." Lei Hu, sitting by the bulkhead, nudged a fresh-faced but sharp-eyed recruit next to him with his elbow and teased, "You guys from Inner Mongolia, is it really like those short videos say, that you're born with horses as your cradle and bows and arrows as your toys? You go to school on horseback and do your homework shooting eagles after school?"

The recruit called Sun Xiaochuan looked up, smiled helplessly, revealing a set of white teeth: "Tiger Team Leader, don't treat this tourist promotional video like an educational film. We've had high-speed rail in our area for a long time; I used to take the school bus when I was in school. Horse riding and archery are skills passed down from our ancestors; now they're mainly used for competitions and performances at the Naadam Festival. There aren't many young people specializing in these anymore."

"Less, but not none, right?" Sitting across from me, a bespectacled man with a technician-like demeanor suddenly spoke, his voice calm yet insightful. "I've seen your selection file. Family lineage, a descendant of Jebe. Played with a bow at five, mounted archery at ten, and by thirteen, he could scare away a steppe eagle that was hunting sheep with a single arrow. That's not something you can learn through performance."

His name is Chen Mo. He is the team's strategic analysis and remote support expert, known for his calmness and precision.

Sun Xiaochuan, somewhat embarrassed by being exposed, revealed pride in his eyes: "Brother Mo, you've done a really thorough investigation. Yes, my grandfather was the best archer in the banner, and my archery skills were honed by him from childhood, crawling and rolling on the grasslands. It feels... as natural as breathing."

"No wonder you, a greenhorn, were selected for this special mission." Zhao Gang, with his stocky build and thick knuckles, interjected, his voice like a deep bass cannon. "But speaking of which, the selection process for this mission is really strange. It requires proficiency in melee combat, stealth and camouflage, wilderness survival, and at least one special skill, such as demolition, engineering construction, trap setting, archery, or crossbow."

"Yeah, Tiger Team, what kind of hellish place are they sending us to? We can't even use guns. Are we going back to ancient times to fight a war?"

As soon as he said that, everyone around him burst into laughter.

Sitting next to Zhao Gang, the reconnaissance soldier He Rui chuckled and said, "Maybe we're going to protect some isolated primitive tribe, or explore some ancient tomb with ridiculously strong signal shielding, so we can't use modern weapons. Either the environment is special, or there are rules restricting us. In short, we need to go back to basics."

"Who cares! I'll use whatever they tell me to use. With my skills and strength, I could smash an enemy's skull even with a fire poker!" said a burly man with a loud voice and bulging muscles.

His name is Li Yuangang, a muscular hunk in the team, a genuine martial arts expert, skilled in combat and fortification construction.

"But seriously, Xiao Chuan, you'd better make sure your bow is up to par. We can't use guns, so our ranged support will depend on your bow!"

Sun Xiaochuan nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, Brother Li. As long as the bow I'm given isn't too bad, I guarantee it will hit exactly where I point it and won't hold anyone back."

"I'm really curious about what this mission is all about?"

"Yes, this is the first time I've encountered such a strange mission."

"Stop guessing," Captain Lei Hu added. "The mission briefing will be clear once we arrive. Whatever we face, our 'sharp blade' will be drawn, and it will be a fatal blow!"

……

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