You became an emperor by letting me AFK.

This year has been a mild winter, with mostly sunny days and no oppressive dark clouds.

But most importantly, one thing is different from the past—

The expeditionary force returned in triumph.

This large-scale campaign was unprecedented in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty, and in terms of time, manpower, and food consumption, it was the most demanding, breaking previous combat records. Therefore, everyone was deeply concerned, as many families had relatives or friends among the soldiers.

They had been praying for at least one year of family reunion, and their wish was finally fulfilled.

The central thoroughfare was lined with countless stalls, their tables piled high with dried persimmons, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Hanging in front of the stalls were bright red Spring Festival couplets and colorful paintings of blessings and longevity.

Many of these are figurines made by Xia He.

It is now an indispensable treasure in the Great Qian Dynasty's sacrificial ceremonies.

The streets and alleys were bustling with activity, and the flowers were in full bloom, all in preparation for the arrival of the elite troops on the grand expedition, enough to feed them well.

Xia He's gaze shifted to the outskirts of the city, where a grand procession arrived as promised, treading on the gradually melting snow. Villages along the way immediately sent out many people to greet them: "Praise the High Priest!"

【hint】

The current state of emergency has been lifted, the region is at peace, and the tension level has decreased by 30%.

The log message bar has also been updated.

Last year, her long-awaited expedition finally came to fruition. Despite numerous close calls, she ultimately succeeded. Now, she just needs to maintain her momentum.

Xia He looked at the triumphant procession and saw Feng Tianyin and Gegentana riding horses at the front. The former remained as calm as ever, while the latter waved excitedly in response.

The clerks, however, were abuzz with discussion:

"Who is this person, standing in the same row as the high priest? Judging by his attire, he looks like a shaman?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. This is an immortal being who has been elevated by the Heavenly Dao, known as the Great Prophet. We'll be spending a lot of time together in the future."

The clerks at the lower levels were unaware of this, but the official clerks were very familiar with it.

They are observing.

The key to being a good official lies in having insight into the future. The permanent clerks should remain vigilant about the person who will be in charge of religious affairs in the future, and wait and see what happens next.

"Even if I authorize Gergentana, in the end you still have to rely on yourself."

Before Xia He looked away, she didn't forget to add a special effect:

The brilliant light of the heavens enveloped the Great Prophet, and every person of the Great Qian Dynasty felt that majestic gaze linger for a brief moment.

"—Thank you for your kindness!"

Gedentana wisely dismounted and bowed deeply in the direction where the colorful glow had disappeared.

She then nodded to Feng Tianyin, saying, "I also want to thank the High Priest for the recommendation."

"Ah."

The girl didn't really understand what "recommendation" meant, but it probably meant giving her own evaluation; in short, she appreciated the favor. So she added, "You must use your talent to repay the blessings of Heaven."

Those around witnessed this scene and had no doubts, completely convinced.

Xia He didn't need to give any special instructions or speak; a single glance was enough to signify the will of Heaven, and the entire Great Qian Dynasty understood.

They will also assist the great prophet.

"I never imagined that at my age, I would witness the second person to be promoted."

Some of the elderly people exclaimed from the bottom of their hearts that they had witnessed Feng Tianyin's miracle and were actually alive to be the next one; their lives had been worthwhile. They could boast about it later, saying they were definitely veterans.

The crowd looked at each other, feeling as if history had flowed by in a hurry.

"Congratulations."

The clerks at the city gate immediately bowed and saluted, while General Zhang Zhongsi, who was accompanying them, introduced the two sides to each other.

After all, High Priestess Feng Tianyin was too lazy to engage in pointless social interactions. In her mind, "You've all probably already done the investigation, that's basic HR etiquette, I don't need to say anything more," so she wouldn't introduce herself.

As for Gegentana, she was completely unfamiliar with the place and had to hold her apprentice's hand when she dismounted.

She seemed nervous, but more than that, she was curious.

After exchanging pleasantries, the Great Prophet gave his first command, or rather, request:

"Since it's a holiday, could you show me around Xiayi? It feels so big, with so many things I don't recognize..."

The clerks were beaming with excitement as they prepared to agree.

This is an opportunity!

Unexpectedly, Gegentana grabbed Feng Tianyin's jade-like right arm and laughed, "You've governed Xiayi for 40 years, so you know it best, right? You not only know its present state but also its development history. How about you be my tour guide?"

She originally intended to refuse because it didn't align with efficiency at all, but the creators seemed to be looking forward to change.

Since that's the case, let's just let nature take its course.

"That's a very specific request. The Great Prophet wants me to introduce Xia Yi in the style of a tour guide. So I will refer to relevant guide databases, search for information, and express it in a more conversational way."

The focus is on the cultural landscape of Xiayi, and since the Great Prophet mentioned history, my introduction will not only cover the present but also the historical context…”

Feng Tianyin nodded and then instructed, "I'll walk around with her for a while; you all go back to the barracks on your own."

Before he could finish speaking, Gegentana grabbed him and dragged him away at a brisk pace.

The clerks who remained looked at each other in bewilderment and had no choice but to obey orders and lead the troops back to camp, since so much equipment needed to be stored back in the armory.

on the street.

The high priest and the great prophet traveling together naturally attracted a lot of attention, and everyone quickly greeted them.

Although Gegentana was a new face, it was the first time I had ever seen Feng Tianyin strolling intimately with someone else. It was unprecedented. This person was obsessed with efficiency, yet she actually took the time to cooperate? It was clear that she was no ordinary person.

They absolutely must not underestimate this girl dressed as a shaman.

The two women, without any guards and needing none, simply strolled together through the various stalls, like two close sisters visiting a temple fair. Yet, they stood out from the crowd; their气质 (qi zhi, a combination of temperament, bearing, and presence) and appearance were impossible to ignore.

However, everyone should try not to disturb them and treat them as ordinary customers visiting the stall.

"I want this string of sugar balls."

"It's called candied hawthorn."

Feng Tianyin handed over the copper coins, and the stall owner replied with a smile, "I'll give the High Priest a string of coins as well, buy one get one free."

"Thank you."

Luckily, I always carry some cash with me, otherwise it would be awkward to eat and drink for free. Although no one intended to accept money, and some were even eager to give it away, it's still better to support the market economy and set a good example.

She couldn't help but weigh the few copper coins in her hand; after rubbing and clanging them together, they felt heavy.

"They're all irregular and too fragmented. We need to standardize the form of copper coins in the future. It's time to consider minting coins..."

The Great Qian Dynasty currently has various forms of copper coins, but lacks a unified standard.

Moreover, its popularity is low.

In places like villages and towns, transactions would be conducted directly with grain, which is cumbersome and hinders economic flow. Moreover, different forms of copper coins could pose potential risks, so they should be regulated as soon as possible.

While Feng Tianyin was lost in thought, Gegentana beside her was enjoying a delicious candied hawthorn.

"It's so sweet, I've never eaten anything this sweet before."

"Many things on the grassland are raw and unprocessed, with a fishy and gamey smell. I feel like I'd start to smell bad if I ate too much of them."

While complaining, she suggested, "We must expand sugar production."

"Sugar is a strategic resource, so of course I will expand production. But these are mainly extracted from sugar beets, which are not as good as sugarcane. To cultivate sugarcane on a large scale, we need to go to the land in the south."

"That's easy, just take the south."

"We went to the temple fair together, how did it become you making all these demands?"

Nevertheless, Feng Tianyin still noted them all down in the memo and prioritized them accordingly.

Upon hearing this, Gegentana was not embarrassed at all. Instead, she leaned closer and smiled, saying, "You're finally showing some liveliness, High Priestess. That's more like a normal person. You're quite cute."

She leaned on the girl's shoulder, the air filled with a sweet fragrance.

As expected of someone blessed by the heavens and protected by divine power, he was as steady and experienced as sandalwood.

"Don't push your luck."

Feng Tianyin poked the other person's forehead hard, causing him to stick out his tongue and back away. To be honest, she was still a little afraid of this superior, so she couldn't help but restrain herself.

Unexpectedly, the other party took the initiative and pinched Gegentana's cheek.

“疼

"If you know it hurts, then take it seriously. We're not just here to stroll around. I'm going to introduce you to the various facilities in Xiayi one by one. Listen carefully and remember them well; you'll need them for your work later."

Then the other person took her shopping.

Gengtana blushed, thinking to herself, "How could I do this in front of so many people..." But the High Priest didn't seem embarrassed at all.

She led the younger generation through the training grounds, academies, and other areas in turn.

The sheer size of Xiayi was truly awe-inspiring to the young woman from the grasslands.

A collection of miracles!

The newcomer, Gegentana, only felt its grandeur, but Feng Tianyin said it was all created by human hands, the result of everyone's labor. Therefore, this place represents the limits of human ingenuity, a symbol of the forefront of this era.

Hearing the older generation describe the changes over the past 40 years made me feel even more profound...

"Ahead is the temple area, and the largest building inside is the priest's shrine, where you will work in the future."

"Thank you."

"Why say thank you now?"

"Although I am fortunate to have received blessings from Heaven, I still want to thank you, senior, for saving me first. And thank you for finding me a new home."

Chapter 79 Congratulations on becoming an emperor! (6K)

"It was Heaven that sent me to save you."

Feng Tianyin spoke frankly, seemingly not intending to accept this gratitude.

However, Gengantana insisted: "But it was the senior who took action in the end. You rushed into the fire, you carried me away, you gave me a future."