Lord: Starting with Summoning the Regular Army of Earth

The following morning, the first phase of defensive fortifications and facilities at Emberstone Ridge was completed.

To celebrate the completion of the fortifications and the first victory against the wild goblin invasion the day before yesterday, Matthew decided to hold a celebration party.

The highlight of the victory celebration was to let the people, who had not tasted meat for a long time, have a real meat meal.

The order was quickly issued, and a ten-man team led by Zhao Gang, skilled in traps and hunting, was rapidly formed.

They were equipped with advanced hunting gear, including improved bows, spears, ropes, and knives.

More importantly, they possessed valuable intelligence provided by the Thunder Tiger reconnaissance team regarding the activity patterns of mammals on the outskirts of the Misty Mountains.

After all, the Thunder Tiger Squad had been scouting in that area for a long time, and with their extensive observation of the goblin tribe's hunting activities, they had gathered a lot of useful intelligence.

"Remember, keep your objective clear, act swiftly, and prioritize safety!" Sun Zhengwu instructed the team before they set off. "Prioritize prey of moderately sized animals like deer and wild boar, which are relatively easy to track and transport. Avoid areas frequented by large predators and goblins."

"Yes! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Zhao Gang pounded his chest, his voice booming.

His massive body seemed exceptionally reliable at that moment.

The squad quickly disappeared into the western treeline amidst the expectant gazes of the local people.

All afternoon, a restless anticipation permeated Jinshi Ridge.

Grandma Martha and the women scrubbed the large pots until they shone brightly, while the children ran around the makeshift stove, sniffing the air as if they could already smell the aroma of meat.

The remaining women were busy collecting more firewood to set up temporary dining tables and seats.

Whether the men were cutting down trees, mining limestone, or hammering iron, they all seemed full of energy. The thought of having meat to eat that night gave them something to look forward to.

As the sun began to set, the hunting party finally appeared at the edge of the treeline.

"They're back! They're back!" Karl, who was logging in the clearing to the west, was the first to jump up and shout.

The crowd immediately stirred, all eyes turned to that direction, and some children even ran towards it.

Zhao Gang was seen walking at the front, his nearly two-meter-tall frame carrying a sizable stag.

The deer's antlers were prominent, indicating that it had only recently fallen.

The team members behind him were even dragging a fat wild boar together, each with a tired but excited smile on their face.

"Good heavens! What a huge deer!"

"And there's wild boar too! Now we've got something to eat!"

"Catching two prey at once, that's amazing!"

"Long live the Lord! Long live the warriors!"

As the hunting party entered the territory, cheers and exclamations of praise resounded.

The people looked at their fresh prey with an almost greedy gleam of joy in their eyes.

This was undoubtedly a huge surprise, especially for those who had been starving for years and hadn't eaten meat in a long time.

The scene that followed was incredibly lively.

Experienced Sam, Kyle, and some veterans skillfully began skinning and butchering their prey.

Grandma Masha directed the women to put large chunks of meat into a boiling pot, adding simple salt and wild herbs with a special aroma.

The remaining meat is carefully cured with salt or smoked for preservation and to be eaten later.

As the large pot boiled, the rich aroma of meat spread like a tangible fragrance, enveloping the entire Jinshi Ridge.

This fragrance is more powerful than any words; it seems to dispel all the suffering of the past, ignite the most genuine smiles on everyone's faces, and inspire a longing for a better life.

Old Sam's granddaughter Lina, Grandma Martha's grandson Tommy, and the other children in the territory all held their wooden bowls and waited obediently by the side, their eyes fixed on the steaming pot, their mouths watering at the aroma of the meat.

In a corner where no one was watching, Bob's throat bobbed incessantly, and his eyes reddened.

He remembered the winter before last, when he was bedridden due to hunger and malnutrition, and his mother brought him meat soup.

He didn't know where the fresh meat came from until his mother starved to death.

He abruptly turned his back and fiercely wiped away the tears that welled up in his eyes with his dirty sleeve.

Carl noticed Bob's trembling back and couldn't help but walk over and silently pat him on the shoulder, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

These people finally saw their hardships end and began a completely new life.

And all of this was because of that man's arrival.

Carl looked at Matthew, then at Will and Conrad beside him.

He longed to one day stand beside the lord as a glorious servant, repaying the lord's kindness with his own life.

Even if it meant dying in battle for him, I would be willing to do it.

However, the thought of his meager skills made him feel somewhat inferior.

"My lord, why aren't your warriors coming over?" Old Sam asked as he walked up to Matthew, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the green-clad figures still working at their posts.

Even the goblin warriors who had been hunting and handling the prey had left to continue their work.

"They said the food is limited, and we can eat after you finish eating," Matthew said with a smile. He had just notified the group leaders to gather everyone to take turns eating the meat, but everyone refused.

On the one hand, these people from Earth have eaten all kinds of meat and fish, so they don't care about this little bit of meat. They'll be happy to have a bowl of meat soup to celebrate their partial victory.

On the other hand, they knew very well that these malnourished people needed the food more than they did.

When the territory is truly prosperous in the future, they would be happy to share the delicacies with all of Matthew's people.

Hearing Matthew's words, Old Sam nodded, feeling a complex and inexplicable emotion. He suddenly felt an indescribable respect for those green figures who, despite their goblin appearance, were more like humans than goblins.

As night fell, bonfires were lit, illuminating the open space as bright as day.

People sat around the fire, each holding a wooden or earthenware bowl filled with steaming, glistening stewed meat.

Old John the carpenter shakily forked a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth. He barely chewed it, but the long-lost aroma of juicy meat and fat exploded in his mouth, giving him a sense of satisfaction and happiness he hadn't felt in a long time.

He ate extremely slowly, each bite like a sacred ritual, savoring the lost and regained dignity and flavor of being a "human being".

"It smells so good, Grandpa! This meat is delicious!"

"It's so delicious!"

"This is the best meat I've ever eaten!" the children cheered indistinctly as they wolfed down the meat.

The adults, however, remained unusually silent, their lips curved in happy and contented smiles, but their eyes glistened with tears.

It was as if all the hunger, sorrow, pain, fear, and despair of the past had been compensated for in this moment.

After enduring hardship, they finally experienced the true taste of happiness.

Grandma Martha looked at her greasy grandson Tommy, her eyes filled with a smile of contentment. She stood up and walked to Matthew, her voice choked with emotion but filled with piety and gratitude: "My lord, thank you... thank you for giving us all this, for giving us a new life."

Seeing Grandma Martha's actions, the other villagers suddenly realized that they had forgotten to be grateful.

They immediately stood up, put down their wooden bowls, and bowed deeply in the direction of Matthew, saying, "Thank you, Lord, for everything you have given us."

At this moment, they felt from the bottom of their hearts that even the high and mighty God of Light was far inferior to the lord before them.

Looking at those faces, now bathed in the firelight and finally brimming with life and vitality, and seeing the overflowing gratitude in their eyes, Matthew felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

He raised a bowl of broth, stood up, and his voice carried clearly throughout the crowd: "My people, rise up! Let us raise this soup instead of wine to toast the homeland we built with our own hands! To toast the enemy we defeated with our courage! And to toast our warriors for everything they have sacrificed for us! The tomorrow of Jinshi Ridge will surely be better!"

"Respectfully, Lord!"

"Homage to the Ashes of Stone Ridge!"

"Salute to all warriors!"

"Our tomorrow will be better!"

"Long live the Lord!"

Shouts and cheers seemed to merge into a symphony full of hope, echoing in the star-studded night sky.

The firelight illuminated every face brimming with happiness and hope.

Not far away, in the shadows unnoticed by anyone, a black cat lay on a wooden stump, watching Matthew's figure, its dark purple eyes gleaming with an unfathomable light.

……

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