Lord: Starting with Summoning the Regular Army of Earth

Golden Stag Tavern is one of the most famous and busiest taverns in Ironrock City.

When Conrad pushed open the oak door carved with a stag's head, the sounds of music, conversation, and clinking glasses rushed out.

The air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat, spices, and fine wine.

A waiter approached and said, "Welcome to the Golden Stag Tavern!"

"I'm looking for someone," Conrad said in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping across the hall from under his hood. He quickly spotted a familiar figure in a quiet corner by the window.

Matthew was already sitting there, leisurely sipping a glass of amber mead, looking like an ordinary rich kid.

He saw Conrad come in and nodded slightly.

Conrad walked over and sat down opposite Matthew, whispering, "Sir, we've shaken off the tail. The two lads are still wandering around the lower town."

Matthew nodded, pushed another full glass of wine on the table toward him, and then, seemingly casually, kicked an inconspicuous suede bag at his feet toward Conrad.

Conrad instinctively picked it up; it felt heavy in his hand. He opened the rope in confusion, and a dazzling golden light instantly stung his eyes.

His pockets were full of neatly stacked gold coins, gleaming with an alluring luster.

"So many?" Conrad gasped, his eyes widening instantly. He never expected that thirty bars of soap could sell for so many gold coins.

"It'll be sixty in total. After you finish eating, go and buy the items according to the list," Matthew said in a low voice.

"Sixty... one is worth two gold coins..." Conrad calculated in his mind, his eyes filled with disbelief.

His old friend only sold for forty gold coins, but the soap made from those buckets of offal and entrails sold for sixty gold coins. This was truly beyond his imagination.

However, this also made him more confident that he would be able to buy Nightshade back soon.

"Come on, cheers." Matthew smiled and raised his glass. He had made a fortune today and wanted to treat himself and Conrad to a good meal.

Soon after, two large platters of sizzling, fragrant pork ribs and a dish of boiled wild vegetables sprinkled with coarse salt were served.

Matthew and Conrad put aside their worries for the time being and began to enjoy this belated "victory celebration."

This was the best meal they had eaten since leaving the capital.

The ribs were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the honey wine was sweet and refreshing. The two of them ate to their hearts' content.

The tavern was bustling with noise, and all sorts of information drifted around with the aroma of wine.

The traveling merchants complained about the various tax provisions introduced after Augustus IX ascended the throne.

The adventurers were talking about a silver-ranked adventurer in the Kingdom of Dorne known as the "Goblin Terminator".

Several mercenaries also mentioned news of tribal conflicts in the southwest wind-eroded highlands.

After a satisfying meal, Matthew and Conrad parted ways at the tavern entrance to go shopping.

Matthew mainly purchases medicines, daily necessities, office supplies, and most importantly, fragrances, which are the raw materials needed to make higher-end soaps later.

Conrad, on the other hand, bought three nag horses and three wooden carts, and hired three coachmen.

Then they began purchasing iron, coal, cloth, grain, salt, sugar, cheese, and dried fish, as well as animal sinews for making crossbows.

Finally, they went to the butcher shop and bought several buckets of "offal" as raw materials for a new batch of soap.

After a long while, the three fully loaded carriages left Iron Rock City. Matthew lay on the grain cart with his hands behind his head, the warm sunlight shining on his face, giving him a lazy afternoon feeling.

The fresh air and clean sky gave him an unprecedented sense of freedom and relaxation.

About an hour later, Conrad called a halt to the team.

"Thank you all for your hard work. This is enough. You can go back now." Conrad paid the three drivers and sent them on their way.

After all, Matthew didn't want others to see the current situation of Emberstone Ridge, especially the goblins, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble. At least until Emberstone Ridge became stronger, it was best to keep a low profile.

After the coachman left, Conrad drove one of the carriages back to Ember Ridge first, while Matthew watched over the other two carriages.

And so Conrad went back and forth, and when he drove the third carriage back to Emberstone Ridge, the sun had already set behind the Misty Mountains, and the entire Emberstone Ridge was still a scene of bustling activity.

Almost all the people were involved in the labor, even the children were busy doing what they could.

After eating two hearty meals yesterday, the previously sallow and thin people all looked much better. Most importantly, when a person is full of hope, their expression and eyes become energetic and radiant.

Matthew asked Will to gather all the people to help unload the goods.

He did this for two main purposes: firstly, to show the people the "strength" of the lord's mansion.

After all, people in this kind of environment are more realistic. If they see the lord's powerful wealth and resources, they will be more loyal, at least to their own bodies and lives.

Another objective was for him to announce a brand-new system, a management system developed for him by the Blue Star Think Tank—the work point system.

Sure enough, when the people saw the three carriages piled high with goods, they couldn't help but burst into a chorus of exclamations and discussions.

"Lord, you've bought so much food again. Is that flour?"

"Wow, so much fabric!"

"And cheese! I can smell cheese!"

"Don't just stand there!" Conrad stood on the wagon shaft, his voice steady and powerful. "Unload the goods in groups according to Will's instructions. Handle them gently, stack them by category. Put the grain in the temporary granary, move the iron to the blacksmith's shop, and move the cloth and general merchandise to the open space in front of the lord's manor. Be quick, but be steady!"

With Will and a few other quick-witted young men coordinating their efforts, the villagers sprang into action.

The men were responsible for carrying heavy sacks of grain and iron, the women carried cloth and miscellaneous items, and even the children ran around excitedly, helping to pass small items.

Although the unloading process was busy, it was exceptionally well-organized.

Everyone was full of energy because they knew that these supplies held a part of their hope.

Just as unloading was nearing completion, and the people gazed longingly at the mountains of supplies piled up in their sorted categories, Matthew appeared at the lord's mansion gate, his voice booming, "My people, you see! This is the hope for the future of Emberstone Ridge, the foundation for our survival and well-being! But this doesn't belong to me alone; it belongs to everyone who has toiled for the survival and development of Emberstone Ridge!"

He paused, letting his words resonate, before continuing, "From today onward, new rules will be implemented at Emberstone Ridge: the more you work, the more you earn, and rewards will be distributed according to your contributions!"

"Will!" Matthew looked at Will.

Will immediately stepped forward, holding a simple wooden board and a charcoal pencil, and loudly announced, "By order of the Lord: Effective immediately, a work point system will be implemented!"

"Work point system?" The crowd murmured in confusion, as they were hearing this name for the first time.

Will continued, "Work points are proof of the value of your labor. Regardless of gender or age, anyone who participates in labor can earn work points!"

He began to explain in detail: "Work points are divided into four types: basic work points, skill work points, task work points, and support work points. Basic work points are obtained in the following ways:"

1. Participate in collective labor, such as building fortifications, reclaiming land, collective hunting, and transporting materials. Depending on the intensity and duration of the labor, the group leader will assess and award 1 to 3 work points per day.

Second, those who possess special skills and utilize them effectively can receive additional skill points rewards based on their contributions and value.

Third, completing specific urgent or high-difficulty tasks will earn you a high amount of work points as a reward.

IV. For elderly people and orphans who have genuinely lost their ability to work, the territory will provide basic living security, but they are encouraged to engage in light work within their capabilities to earn work points.

Matthew continued, pointing to the supplies, "And the work points you earn can be used to exchange for this food, cloth, salt, and even a better house in the future! The more work points you have, the better and more you can exchange for!"

"In other words, the more you do, and the better you do, the more you and your family will eat and wear! The future of Jinshiling depends not on my charity, but on the hands of each and every one of us!"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing a huge reaction among the people.

They had never heard of such "fair" and motivating rules.

This completely overturned all their previous understanding.

You should know that, according to the established rules, everything within the territory belongs to the lord, including the land and the lord himself.

These people had been dependent on the land for generations, working like livestock for their lord.

They had to pay heavy rent in kind and endure countless labor services—repairing castles, digging moats, and transporting supplies for the lord. All of these were often unpaid, and being rewarded with a little black bread and thin soup was considered a mercy.

The vast majority of their labor did not belong to them; they were lucky to even survive.

The so-called "reward" depended entirely on the lord's mood and was more like charity, having nothing to do with the value of the labor itself.

"This...this means that as long as I work hard, I can get a new piece of cloth to make new clothes for my grandson?" An old woman excitedly pulled at the clothes of the child beside her, which were already tattered.

"I'm strong, I'll definitely work my ass off moving stones from now on!" Karl waved his arms excitedly.

"Old John, your craftsmanship is worth a fortune!" someone said enviously to the old carpenter.

Even Bob, who had been somewhat lazy before, had a glint in his eye, clearly plotting how to earn more work points.

Old Sam couldn't help but recall Conrad's words: the lord hadn't come here to exploit them, but to lead them out of their predicament.

Although most of the people cannot fully understand all the profound meanings behind this system, nor can they predict its long-term effects, the most direct sense of fairness that closely links labor with improved living conditions acts like the strongest stimulant, injecting it into everyone's heart and igniting their yearning and fighting spirit for a better life.

"Gentlemen, what are you all standing there for? Why don't you thank the lord for his favor!" Conrad, standing to the side, said in a loud voice.

Upon hearing this, the group of citizens snapped out of their elation and immediately knelt down, saying from the bottom of their hearts, "Thank you for your grace, Lord!"

……