When the old bell of the territory was sounded again, everyone knew that a new batch of residents had arrived in Graywhite Territory.
In order to expand the population of Graywhite Territory to catch up with the levels of other major towns in the western Northern Border, Lind chose to simply recruit people forcefully, after all, there were plenty of homeless outside the territory.
Moreover, these individuals were originally from Lars, or rather, they were people of the Northern Border, and could quickly integrate into the territory.
As usual, Isha arrived at the gate of the territory, directing the church personnel to start taking care of the newcomers.
Perhaps due to the church personnel being more approachable than soldiers, or maybe because these individuals had already received assistance along the way, the commoners who arrived here were quite orderly. In winter, not many had the energy to cause a commotion.
Many tightly wrapped themselves in their tattered clothes, leaning by the fire pit as they waited for registration.
Although such a rough selection would surely allow spies to slip in, Lind insisted that one shouldn’t discard food due to choking; population was more important than anything else.
Isha agreed with this view as well; saving one more person was still saving one. They couldn’t ignore the commoners outside just because there might be spies mixed in.
Moreover, with Lucanus overseeing matters, they could ensure that ordinary spies wouldn’t sneak in.
While watching group after group of commoners register into Graywhite Territory, Isha also started chatting with the commoners waiting, just as she usually did.
Topics included but were not limited to the situation in places beyond the western Northern Border, daily meals, family sizes, commodity prices, and so forth. From this patchwork of information, Isha could piece together what the outside world had turned into.
The conditions outside might be worse than when Isha first arrived at Graywhite Territory. To repay debts, Fang Ge·Lars had even rented some territories to the Demon Clan, and the Demon Clan had complete autonomy and enforcement power in the rented lands. The laws of the Northern Border did not apply in these leased areas; they had to abide by the laws of the Demon Clan.
It wasn’t illegal for the Demon Clan to kill people from the Northern Border within the leased areas, and there were even places where Northerners and dogs were not allowed.
Ironically, some people from the Northern Border were trying desperately to squeeze into these leased lands in search of work.
Why? Because the Demon Clan was genuinely restoring production order, and as long as you became a servant of the Demon Clan, you could even exploit your fellow clansmen under the guise of authority.
When Isha’s situation summary appeared on Lind’s desk the next day, Lind’s face turned red with anger; he fiddled at his collar, feeling as if the heating array in his study was set too high.
Lena even slammed the door and several maids couldn’t hold her back. It was Lind who called Lena, who was about to go and beat up her uncle, back.
She was almost fainting from anger.
“Deploy troops! We must deploy troops!”
In a fit of rage, Lena smashed Lind’s desk in two. Lind calmly asked someone to repair the desk, as it was still usable, while wiping the sweat from his forehead and said, “Even if we attack, we won’t hold it; it’s too far from us.”
From the damaged desk, Lind pulled out a map of the Northern Border. The Demon Clan’s chosen rental areas were very insidious, all of them as far from the western Northern Border as possible, some even reaching the boundary of the eastern Cape Kingdom.
“Can we initiate a war directly?”
As soon as Lena said that, she stomped her feet in anger. The current strategy was the outcome of discussions between Lind, Lena, the Grand Elder, and some military officials.
Although they had already stabilized their foothold in the western Northern Border, the Northern Border was indeed too vast. The entire western defense was certainly more than adequate, but if they were to attack, the supply lines would stretch long.
No one understood the strategic depth like Lind, a transmigrator. As long as the other side wasn’t filled with fools, there would be ample time to regroup and reassemble the army. Clearly, one could not rely on the expectation that the opposition was entirely composed of idiots.
Moreover, according to the Grand Elder’s speculation, the royal capital and Anju Kingdom would likely engage in battle next year. Once war broke out, it would be the best opportunity for Lind to reclaim the Northern Border. If they declared war now, they wouldn’t just be facing the Demon Clan and Fang Ge·Lars; the royal capital certainly wouldn’t sit idly by.
That was why Lind had issued production tasks for the winter, allowing for peaceful cultivation and development during this long winter.
Of course, war was always dynamic; even Lind’s campaign to reclaim the western Northern Border had not truly ended. Until now, Lind’s territory was still slowly expanding, but since there was little resistance and it hadn’t reached the borders of Fang Ge·Lars’ territory, it hadn’t stirred much of a commotion.
Both sides were stabilizing their internal affairs, assuming Fang Ge·Lars indeed had internal concerns.
Lind thought for a moment; it wasn’t without a solution. If production capacity was fully utilized, the production of weaponry and equipment would surely exceed demand. Adding some economic measures, even if they couldn’t directly collapse Fang Ge·Lars, they could at least remind the Demon Clan that the Northern Border wasn’t something they could dictate.
The stronger Graywhite Territory appeared, perhaps other Northerners could have a better life.
Just as Lind was about to finalize the strategy and summon Lila and Lucanus to carry it out, Isha suddenly said, “Lord Governor, actually I didn’t just come to report; I also came to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye? Where are you going?”
Lind was somewhat confused. Isha had practically become the religious leader in the territory, and only she could connect the radical faction of the church with the ordinary church to foster cooperation.
The church was generally more willing to follow Isha’s arrangements.
“This is the reform proposal I’ve compiled for the Goddess’s faith.”
Isha didn’t explain anything but handed the proposal to Lind. He quickly skimmed through the pages and discovered that Isha had already combined the current situation of the Northern Border and penned a liberation theology document based on what he’d told her before.
Each page was filled with conclusions drawn from Isha’s continuous visits and investigations.
The general outline of the major church, the daily lives of minor pastors and nuns, the ways of prayer for believers—all were explained and simplified.
Not only did it warn the church to be grounded, but it also confirmed that the church is a service industry, to serve the believers of the Goddess, rather than the so-called belief that one can only communicate with God through the church. As long as one abides by the Goddess’s divine revelations, everyone is qualified to pray.
Moreover, Isha cited references that were entirely logical, and it even began to show the flavor of establishing a sect. Lind suspected that even if the central church sent a pope to debate, Isha, having now grasped the practical knowledge, would easily defeat them.
To be honest, the proposal Isha submitted made Lind break out in a cold sweat. If he and Fang Ge·Lars treated people as unworthy, Isha could entirely use this completed liberation theology document to spark a people’s war.
Lucky or unlucky, Isha was born in a feudal era and grew up entirely in a feudal environment.
Perhaps Lind’s efforts had made Isha see a glimmer of hope, or perhaps she understood what would happen if the church’s powers went out of control. In the end, while referencing some proposals from Flora, Isha included her reform plan, placing theocracy under Lind’s authority.
“Lord Governor, do you remember what you said when I first arrived at Graywhite Territory, when we discussed issues? I feel like it’s time to put it into practice.”
Lena was completely confused, but Lind understood; Isha was going to resume her previous work in Graywhite Territory, but this time was different. Lind could act as Isha’s backing to support her.
“I understand, this time you have real holy water. I believe you can save more people. I will allocate some experimental weapons from the lab to you; stay safe, don’t push yourself. Remember, this will always be your home, and we will welcome you back at any time.”
Isha nodded, saluting Lind as a clergyman. At this moment, Lena also understood; Isha was going to continue saving people in Fang Ge·Lars’ territory.
“I will send two White Knights to you. I will make sure they protect you just like they protect me. No refusals!”
Before Isha could speak, Lena dashed out quickly to gather people.
“You certainly can’t do everything yourself, and since you can’t use divine arts now, it’s better to bring bodyguards.”
With Lind saying this, Isha nodded in agreement.
Unexpectedly, the female protagonist ended up on this path. The fragment of the dragon-slaying technique Lind had given Isha was put to use, fortunately, the target wasn’t Lind himself.
As Isha prepared to leave, Lind urged, “If you find a reliable resistance army, remember to contact me. I will inform Fang Ge·Lars that the snowfields aren’t necessarily barren; beneath the snow, there might be unexpected surprises.”
“What surprises?” Isha asked with a puzzled expression.
“Who says weapons can’t grow beneath the snow?”
Lind shrugged.
