Chapter 136: The Princess's Early Nurturing

"Tower, this is 5532. I have arrived at the mission destination at the edge of the Death Marsh, no abnormalities detected. Requesting permission to return."

Li Xiang gazed down at the vast expanse where desert met swamp, faintly spotting small black dots moving below.

"This is the tower. Permission to return granted."

The silver steel eagle carved a graceful arc thousands of meters above, heading back toward the base.

This was merely the maiden flight, requiring no extensive distance. Various tests would follow: altitude, flight speed, acceleration, gravitational constants.

Once all data were collected, it would be time to establish the air force and the beyond-visual-range strike system. This represented the sharpest blade and most terrifying power of a modern army.

Discovery meant a hit; a hit meant destruction.

Once enemies were exposed before Xuanlü, what awaited them was a precise surgical strike. A massive influx of missiles and aircraft would breach their airspace, delivering devastating blows to key military targets, dismantling their economy, military, and political structures piece by piece.

...

At the junction of the desert and the Death Marsh.

The scorching sun hung high, its blistering rays searing the earth. The dry wind carried swirling yellow sand, battering faces relentlessly.

Hundreds of thousands formed a continuous dragon stretching dozens of kilometers, countless people wielding iron shovels, advancing steadily alongside the steel monsters.

Heavy labor, such as road construction, was entrusted to large machinery; finer tasks like laying railway tracks were assigned to workers.

Along the way, Xuanlü had absorbed nearly half the able-bodied workforce of the Rief territory for the engineering teams, totaling six hundred thousand—over 60% of the population. Building just the railway directly to the Death Marsh employed 150,000 workers, while the network of roads connecting major towns required over 400,000.

Despite the massive scale, Xuanlü dispatched fewer than ten thousand personnel to oversee operations. The direct railway construction spanned two territories to connect to the base, involving 7,000 mostly engineering troops operating various large construction machines.

Meanwhile, only about 2,000 people managed the road construction, maintaining a ratio of 1 to 200 compared to the New World’s population. Each overseer was responsible for roughly two hundred workers.

With such disproportionate numbers, management was hardly feasible. Even gathering such numbers posed a challenge. Once assembled, how could communication with the masses be maintained?

Though Xuanlü had successfully deciphered the common language, it was impossible to cultivate many fluent speakers within a year. Perhaps a linguistic genius could master a language in that time, but such individuals were few; most relied on translation manuals.

These manuals communicated primarily through text (and some audio, mostly fixed phrases). The New World's people could not read the script, and few could pronounce the words correctly.

At this moment, the nobles left behind revealed their worth, making indispensable contributions. They handled communication, mobilized labor, provided food, and managed various tasks, sparing Xuanlü even the burden of provisioning.

As for colluding with the nobles?

It was simply a pragmatic alliance. Xuanlü offered them a chance to survive; they owed loyalty in return. As long as it did not involve massacring civilians or oppressing the lower classes—principled transgressions—Xuanlü discouraged dirty tactics.

By now, Xuanlü was close to madness—except for refusing to sell underwear, there was nothing they couldn’t do.

A cornered rabbit still bites, and this one, besides rejecting mutation, adhered to flexible principles.

Hence, the think tank even devised two rather unscrupulous justifications: peaceful communication and international aid.

The nobles expected this; it was normal procedure. Losing meant joining the victors and carrying on. Only Princess Orlina’s methods were incomprehensible—she had slaughtered all the nobles in Rief City.

It was said she personally killed most of the knights single-handedly.

Because of Orlina, the nobles now worked diligently for Xuanlü. At a time like this, not clinging to power, seeking a stable patron, was dangerous. Who knew if that madwoman might suddenly turn and chop them down?

Inadvertently, Xuanlü became the “white face” while Orlina was the “red face,” occasionally whipping the nobles to ensure they worked properly.

Complete the task and receive a slap; fail and be cut down. Xuanlü offered sweets instead.

By comparison, Xuanlü was an angel, a benevolent father! What was there to complain about?

Xuanlü issued orders and provided resources; the nobles drove the people; Orlina stood behind with a raised blade.

At this moment, the advantage of vast free labor truly showed. Xuanlü could invest in manpower without counting the cost, accelerating construction almost wastefully. Roads extended at an astonishing speed.

Inside the tent in Orlina’s jurisdiction.

A simple brown carpet covered the floor, with a folding bed, a table, and a chair. Piles of documents lay on the table, nothing else.

Orlina sat quietly, leafing through the papers with a faint air of authority.

Before her stood a dozen or so people, all clad in blue work uniforms, men and women alike.

Their expressions were solemn, bearing a trace of nervousness—as if awaiting exam results.

Orlina set down the papers, her icy blue eyes fixed ahead. Everyone’s hearts tightened; they instinctively straightened their posture, unsure if they were standing crooked.

“Reagan, restate the summary of your report.”

A sturdy, blond, one-armed middle-aged man stepped forward, saluted crisply, and said in a loud voice, “Yes!”

“In peacetime, the greatest external threat to the territory comes from monsters—mostly weak creatures like wild wolves and green ghosts. Usually, these are handled by militia composed of able-bodied men during idle periods, regularly clearing the outskirts of towns. The road construction will follow the same approach. We can organize militiamen to clear monsters along the planned route.”

Monster incursions were the biggest problem Xuanlü currently faced. The massive workforce during construction could scare away most monsters. The real concern was how to prevent damage once the roads were completed.

In a world where supernatural powers existed, so-called monsters were akin to apex predators like tigers, possessing terrifying destructive power. Under the suppression of hunter guilds and knight orders, these supernatural beasts dared not approach human cities, but this railway was different.

It cut straight across vast wilderness, surrounded by monsters. Without proper defenses, frequent damage was likely. Specially treated pipelines might survive, but the railway tracks would surely be destroyed.

“Alternatively, we could mimic the hunter guild’s squad model—four-person teams with tactics, archery, and spears—to regularly patrol the railway and eliminate monsters that might damage it. Sustained over several years, most monsters would instinctively avoid the railway.”

“Excellent.” Orlina nodded with approval.

Reagan, a second-rank knight and former captain under Count Rief, was a devout follower of the Earth Mother. His treatment of the people was not exemplary, but he did not oppress them either.

He had excellent management skills and a strong capacity for learning—a talent worth cultivating.

Reagan breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief, his tension greatly eased. He had passed.

The sudden war was a disaster but also a tremendous opportunity. If he seized this chance, he could reach heights he never dared to imagine before.

“May the Earth Mother bless us.”

The others cast envious glances at him.

Orlina opened the next report, her brow furrowing slightly.

“Devin, according to the supervision team’s report, two lightly injured workers have not been accommodated. What is going on?”

A middle-aged man in his thirties stiffened, then cautiously stepped forward.

“Your Highness, both have minor arm injuries and will recover in about a month. According to my investigation, these two intentionally inflicted their injuries.”

With such a massive project, accidents and deaths were daily occurrences, and injuries countless. Some workers deliberately got hurt to shirk work.

Of course, some accidental deaths happened when workers tried to slack off but met fatal mishaps.

Devin despised these shirkers; they only increased his workload.

“You have not fulfilled my task,” Orlina said coldly.

Devin’s stress surged. He hurriedly explained, “Your Highness, these shirkers set a bad example. Without punishment, others will follow. I intended to use this method to make them realize the cost of slacking…”

Before he could finish, his voice faltered, his Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.

Orlina’s icy gaze pierced him like invisible hands clutching his heart.

“I don’t want to hear excuses.”

Devin slowly lowered his head.

“Apologies, Your Highness. I am incompetent.”

Orlina said coldly, “Worker laziness is not our concern, nor is it your excuse. This is a reprimand. Next time, you may be dismissed.”

Each had their duties. Disciplinary matters were not their responsibility. Even if they took on discipline, such excuses for shirking were unacceptable. Moreover, whether those two lightly injured workers truly wanted to slack off was not for him alone to decide.

Using supposed laziness to obstruct treatment was despicable. Regardless of truth, Orlina would not tolerate a second occurrence.

“Yes.”

“Return to formation.”

Devin stepped back, standing at attention.

Orlina’s gaze swept the group, making everyone’s hearts tighten as if a blade pressed against their chests.

“Remember my initial demand? Complete my orders swiftly within reason, without any discount.”

She did not expect officials to serve the country selflessly; such expectations would leave no one willing to work under her.

The group lowered their heads, avoiding her gaze.

Orlina continued, “What I need is a compliant bureaucratic mass, an efficient governing tool. You will govern an entire nation—cities, towns, even villages. Can you manage with such lax attitudes?”

No one answered. They all bowed silently, a flicker of burning resolve hidden deep in their eyes.

As a commoner princess, she truly was as mad as rumors said—determined to abolish the noble system! If she succeeded in ascending the throne, the entire kingdom would be overturned.

To overthrow the nobles—that was madness, but exhilarating!

Sensing their emotions, Orlina nodded in satisfaction.

Qin Le was right—the best way to manage subordinates was to wield both the stick and the carrot.

Punish harshly for mistakes, leaving no room for luck. At the same time, paint a grand, promising vision for the future.

Orlina then pulled out each person’s report, questioning them one by one on their respective responsibilities.

“Except for Devin, all others are qualified. You have done well.”

Relief swept over the group, smiles brightening their faces.

At that moment, a loud gong sounded outside the tent. Lunch break—time to eat and rest.

“Time flies,” Orlina relaxed her stern expression, the merciless authority vanishing instantly.

A faint smile curved her delicate features.

“We’ve been busy all morning; everyone must be tired. Let’s go eat.”

A stark contrast to her previous demeanor, at that moment she seemed a bright, cheerful young woman, the earlier coldness and authority gone. They still struggled to adjust to this change.

Her commanding presence was overwhelming, suffocating even, far beyond that of an ordinary third-rank grand knight.

“Yes!”

The dozen or so departed the tent with joy, chatting amiably, like future colleagues.

Among them were knights, monster hunters, merchants, freemen, artisans, disgraced minor nobles, even serfs—covering nearly all social strata. Each possessed strengths, expertise, and the shared wild ambition to climb to the top.

Princess Orlina had no powerful relatives, but she had the mysterious support of the Eastern Duke—a perfect patron for those from humble backgrounds.

Aspiring men and women from across the kingdom flocked to her, hoping to rise swiftly through her favor.

They were the best and brightest among them.

The nobility of the Dawn Kingdom had long faded, but the masses never truly lost hope. Suppressed by a decaying old class, Orlina’s declaration had pried open a crack, unleashing a flood long restrained.

Once everyone had left, Orlina collapsed onto her seat, utterly drained.

“Sigh! More white bread and rice porridge… delicious, but too much gets tiresome. I want roast suckling pig, claypot rice, shredded chicken, dumplings, pickled pork, braised chicken rice, roast lamb leg, meat buns…”

With eyes closed, she murmured dish after dish, a few tears glistening at the corners of her mouth.

These were the meals she shared back at the base with Qin Le, Aimeiya, and many elite soldiers, rotating daily—unfortunately impossible here.

She casually grabbed the leftover white bread from breakfast, taking a bite.

“Roast suckling pig flavor… yes, roast suckling pig flavor…”

Munching the bread, she whispered a self-hypnosis spell.

Hmm… sweet roast suckling pig.

She wondered how Aimeiya was doing now, if she was enjoying delicious food.

Suddenly, Orlina looked up toward the tent’s entrance as a soldier in camouflage arrived, saluted, and reported, “Miss Orlina, the research team requests your presence to record some data.”

“All right.”

She swallowed the remaining bread in one bite and rose to leave the tent.

A few days ago, the research team had notified her—they planned to measure weight, speed, strength, and such.