You became an emperor by letting me AFK.

It is unclear when exactly, but the religious nature of the Heavenly Ritual has gradually weakened, and it has become increasingly commercialized.

Behind this lies the powerful influence of the priests' inner sanctum:

The clerks constantly posted notices such as "High-priced purchase of high-quality tributes," "Free peripheral handicrafts included," and "Recruiting part-time workers with generous salaries," which were essentially official orders. Therefore, all industries prospered, everyone got their money's worth, and everyone made money.

From the public's perspective, it was all beneficial and without any harm, and even the tribute items were later repackaged.

It is all sent out under the pretext that "Heaven has received the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and is bestowing it upon its people again," without any waste.

The entire festival was seen by everyone as a distribution of benefits:

Throwing money around.

However, among the clerks, there is another set of sayings inherited from Feng Tianyin:

It's called "expansionary fiscal policy," and the meaning is pretty much the same.

During this period, carpentry and blacksmith shops in the suburbs worked non-stop, with a constant stream of horse-drawn carts transporting timber and iron ore. They also recruited a large number of temporary workers, among whom the clever ones were directly recruited as apprentices to become the technical talents of this era.

The neighboring slaughterhouse was filled with the squeals of pigs being slaughtered, and livestock would frequently break through the fences. Despite the noise and commotion, everyone was also laughing and joking as they frolicked around.

As a result, the streets and alleys prospered, with peddlers and laborers constantly calling out their wares.

City gate.

The nobles of the city-state were stunned by the massive city walls as soon as they arrived, staring in disbelief at the sight of the main city tower.

"Where did the Great Qian Dynasty get so many resources to build such a magnificent city?"

Little did people know that the effect of stacking bonuses was jointly promoted by Feng Tianyin's leadership agenda and Xia He's main city project. Otherwise, it would have been impossible with the productivity level of the Bronze Age. It would have been a miracle to achieve it.

The protection of Heaven has been constant throughout.

At this moment, Li Zhengxuan, who was in charge of providing backup, strode over and laughed loudly:

"What you may not know is that during the construction, the craftsmen could shape the stones with a light tap, the wood would fall with a light chop, the bricks would fit together perfectly, and the adhesive mortar would dry quickly... It was as if some unseen force made the whole project go smoothly."

He cupped his hands towards the sky and said, "Praise be to Heaven."

The nobles of the city-states looked at each other, bowed in unison, and dared not be negligent, their hearts filled with even more awe.

too frightening.

It seems that one can feel the divine power exerted by the Heavenly Dao in every detail.

On second thought, there's nothing wrong with living in Xiayi in the future. It is the most favored city by Heaven, the most prosperous, the most developed, and the most magnificent. It is a monument on the blessed basin, and it would be a great honor to share it with you.

"I will take you all to my residence."

Li Zhengxuan introduced the buildings along the way and led them to a cluster of buildings adjacent to the temple area, all of which were grand mansions.

"It's even better than where I lived in the city-state; it's so big!"

"Thank you so much. To be honest, I was quite nervous before, but I can finally relax."

No more living in fear.

Otherwise, considering Feng Tianyin's attitude towards nobles, she was truly uneasy. It should be understood that Xia Yi currently doesn't actually have a proper noble or aristocratic class. The fact that she promoted some large slave owners to become high-ranking clerks through examinations doesn't mean they've become nouveau riche.

Rather, her appointments and removals will have a further impact on the major slave owners.

Moreover, only a few decades have passed since the death of the previous group of large landowners, not enough time to form a generational aristocracy, and the length of their lineage is far shorter than that of these local nobles who have moved their entire families.

That's why they were so apprehensive.

In the city-state, it was the norm to act arrogantly and oppressively; the oppressors of one circle became a minority in Xiayi.

Without your circle, people like you would have died long ago.

"Gentlemen, now that we have met the master, it is time to speak with the High Priest. She has extended an invitation."

Yes, sir.

At Li Zhengxuan's reminder, everyone hurried to the temple to pay their respects. This was the highlight of today's schedule, as the high priest, who held absolute power, would determine their final ecological niche; otherwise, all talk was in vain.

The group entered the reception hall with great confidence.

Everyone was nervous about the situation, but quite at ease about the environment and not worried about ambushes.

With Feng Tianyin's power, there's no need for the elaborate scheme of "smashing a cup as a signal" to summon five hundred axemen, because she doesn't need such underhanded tactics. If she wants to defeat someone, it's simply a matter of saying a word.

The nobles in the hall obediently bowed in submission.

Fortunately, the high priest was in a good mood today. He sat sideways in his chair, carving a jade statue of the god as he announced the arrangements:

"I need your influence to mobilize the local area."

"The will of Heaven has revealed that the city-states need to cooperate in some northern deployments. Your work will be very busy, but you are also needed."

They buried their heads even deeper.

stable

Being needed is a safe thing; at least they won't be easily sidelined, especially since Feng Tianyin will support them in continuing to exert influence in the region. It's not like they've completely lost power; they're just kept close for easy control.

She didn't give any further instructions, but immediately instructed all parties to carry out the sacrificial ceremony.

The early morning sun isn't too harsh, and the Cifu Basin is relatively mild even in summer, making it a good time to visit.

Moreover, the weather always responds appropriately when the Heavenly Way descends.

Having organized five large-scale festivals before, the various units in Xiayi were very familiar with the process. At a command, they acted swiftly, and soon countless offerings were placed on the towering platform by the priestesses. At the same time, incense was burned and rituals were performed, creating a scene of swirling clouds and mist, resembling a fairyland.

The melody echoed.

As the musical instruments played, a sacred atmosphere was added, and the entire city quieted down.

Even the busiest markets came to a halt, and everyone looked up at the sky above the altar.

People who came from afar stared intently.

The long journey could not deter their enthusiasm and piety in wanting to see the Heavenly Way. Sure enough, with a gentle breeze, the clouds in the sky parted.

A gap appeared in the sky.

From a higher, more ethereal, and more majestic realm, auspicious clouds drifted by, more dazzling than the sun and more profound than the starry sky. They were not merely spatial distances, but rather projections from a higher dimension, hovering above the altar.

The rosy clouds were magnificent, and the auspicious clouds covered the sun, making it even more spectacular than the last time it descended.

It seems that as faith expands, even the imagery represented by the Heavenly Way expands further, becoming supreme and magnificent. All who witness this scene are deeply moved, their souls reverberating in awe.

No one dared to make a move; only the high priest continued the ritual.

She finished her dance as usual.

This dance style, inherited from the era of witches and shamans, is still beautiful. When the song ended, Feng Tianyin heard a revelation from Heaven:

"Prepare for the Great Expedition."

Author's note and reward upon release

First of all, I would like to thank all the readers for their support, which allowed Orange Cat to successfully advance to the recommendation position and achieve a full sweep of recommendations during the new book period.

Secondly, I will update with 10,000 words for the first three days after it is published, asking for subscriptions.

Unlimited Bounty:

Starting with 500 subscriptions, an additional 2000 words will be added for every 100 additional subscriptions (this is permanent). Thereafter, additional words will be added for every additional subscription.

Therefore, I hope everyone will support the author by clicking the first subscription button. Even just clicking the first day's chapter will encourage the author to add more chapters.

Every 50 blades counts as one chapter short.

The above reward statistics period is one week, and updates should be made gradually during this period.

The following are also permanently active bounties:

One chapter is counted for every 5000 book coins accumulated from donations.

In addition to the conversion of 5000 book coins, the rare and precious Golden Treasure Chest will be updated with 20 extra chapters.

Silver Treasure Chest, 10th update.

That's all for the essentials. Warning: Unstructured rambling ahead.

Thank you again to all my fellow readers. Seeing so many familiar faces and nicknames made me feel very warm and welcome.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Hedgehog Cat, and I've been writing here for 5 years, totaling over 900 million words. I'm very emotional about getting to know readers through this new book. This book is based on a sudden inspiration, but the insights are mature, reflecting my reflections and improvements on the farming and conquest genre.

Is it due to a lack of skill, changes in the website's mechanisms, or personal style? In recent years, books that have performed reasonably well all had mediocre initial subscriptions, but later saw their average subscriptions multiply several times, which cultivated Orange Cat's ability to write well, write longer, and update consistently.

But the initial "climbing phase" is quite nerve-wracking~~~ So please give me some encouragement with your first subscription. Of course, the author will still update frequently, frequently, and on time.

In short, I will use more experience and more updates to bring readers a long story. The longer we read together, the more we create together. I wish you all the best and no shortage of books to read.

In the end, Orange Cat still enjoys expressing herself on this story stage, and enjoys writing novels with you all—no, with us.

Chapter 61 Plans Can't Keep Up with Changes (First Update)

Yes, sir.

Feng Tianyin agreed without hesitation.

Xia He decided on the Great Expedition because the status bar updates with more information whenever an era is about to change, further supporting the judgment:

Our scouts have learned that a primitive belief in the Eternal Heaven has emerged in the northern desert.

【Eternal Heaven】

[Description: Originating from a nomadic tribal confederation on the grasslands, possessing a high degree of aggression, and capable of military missionary work]

[Trait: +3 combat power against alien races, +2 mobility]

The Great Qian Dynasty did not receive any news, but the players received a "Void Scout" notification, which is essentially a warning mechanism that cannot be ignored, especially during periods of change when the other side may use it to expand.

The religious progress bar is nearing 80%, potentially leading to the emergence of a true religion ahead of the Great Qian Dynasty.

This is unacceptable.

Xia He must ensure that Da Qian is the first to gain a leading advantage in the faith sector. Since the snowballing data is slightly behind, the only option is the most direct one:

It would be best to use force to interrupt the religious progress of the tribes in the northern deserts.