"Ladies and gentlemen, the revelation of the gods is becoming clearer. We have challenges ahead of us, and living beings have challenges to face. Whether we seek victory or suffer defeat depends on our determination, our will, our wisdom, and our belief in the great gods. ”

The venue of the meeting was chosen in a wooden shed on the edge of the corn field, although the conditions were very simple, but the atmosphere of the meeting became solemn after Qin Song's opening remarks. In addition to the witches, there were also Sir Weimar, the Governor, and Carrick, the Castle Steward.

Qin Song held the round table with his hand, glanced at everyone, and said with a sigh in his tone: "The splendid civilization of the son of the stars is a thing of the past. I've pondered countless times, I've meditated countless times, what a truly great, standing civilization looks like. ”

But I don't have an answer. Qin Song paused: "Perhaps, as the gods say, civilization always has ups and downs, and the sea has become a mulberry field." Now, the only thing we can do is to pass on the flame of hope of the stars to build a beautiful civilization that we all share. ”

Everyone listened carefully, and Qin Song, who was full of wisdom, was the leader in their eyes.

"Alice. Qin Song turned his gaze to Alice: "The divine power bestowed upon you by the gods is the cornerstone of civilization and the key to victory. But there is a limit to the power of one person. So, I want you to bring some apprentices who can act as your assistants. ”

"Assistant?"

"Yes. Qin Song looked at Liya again: "Liya, I think you have completed the population statistics of the Black Stone Collar. ”

"Yes, they have all been registered, including Sir Weimar's subordinates, as well as the guards and servants of the castle. ”

"Good. Qin Song smiled and nodded: "Knowledge is the cornerstone of civilization, and people are the craftsmen who carry the cornerstone and build the palace." A civilization with vitality and brilliant prospects depends on the number of craftsmen. So, I have a proposal to select some intelligent and studious people from among all the children of the Blackstone Collar who are over the age of twelve and under the age of eighteen, whether they are the children of serfs, robbers or guards, who will receive a completely new identity - apprenticeship. ”

"Apprentice?" said Sir Weimar, "Do you mean, Your Excellency, to pass on knowledge to those children?"

"Children are more innocent, more energetic, and more receptive to new things. And children are also the hope of every family and the future of civilization. Although they do not have divine powers, they can still gain wisdom from knowledge. ”

"Ignorance and ignorance are the shackles of civilization. Mr. Weima. Qin Song asked with a smile, "I heard Luna say that she also has two older brothers. One is eighteen-year-old, the other is fifteen-year-old, in your opinion, would you like to let them learn?"

"Of course. Weimar nodded without hesitation, as a traditional aristocrat of the royal capital, he used to think that knowledge was reading and literacy, and because he hired teachers for the children. But now his cognition has undergone a huge change in the face of facts, and he understands what true knowledge is.

"Your Excellency, can they also become apprentices?" Weimar's tone was a little eager.

"Of course you can, knowledge doesn't turn away those who embrace it. Qin Song gave a positive answer: "These children will be the first batch of apprentices, and they will devote themselves to the learning of knowledge." Moreover, they will be completely detached from their original identity, and the Black Stone Collar can provide them with food, clothing, shelter and transportation. As long as they study hard, they can also get paid accordingly. ”

"And the pay?" everyone was a little surprised, in their minds, the apprentice itself was a reward. For example, to become an apprentice blacksmith, not only is there no pay, but they also have to work for free, and some people even have to pay a corresponding honorarium in order to make their children become apprentices.

"The stars shine because each star shines brightly. Qin Song smiled and said, "A reward for all apprentices, or, it can be called the Blackstone Award, the Learnty Award or something." In this way, they can be stimulated to learn with interest. ”

"It sounds interesting. Luna said excitedly, "Tim, that guy has nothing to do at home every day. I think he would love to learn about the gods. ”

"I think it's doable. Sir Weimar was the first to agree: "I am willing to pay these rewards." ”

"Your Excellency. Karrick, who was able to attend the meeting for the first time, pondered for a while and said, "What do you mean by knowledge? And our farming, after all, these children will grow up, so who will be engaged in farming in the future?"

This is a very interesting and representative question. Qin Song said unhurriedly: "Mr. Karrick, you are thinking long-term. That's great, and that brings me to my second point – we need population, a lot of people. ”

"But now......" said Lia, with a sad face, "our economy is not in good shape, and a large number of people need to consume a lot of food. And to buy serfs, you also need a lot of gold coins. ”

"I'll figure this out, and Luna will alleviate our food woes. Qin Song nodded and said, "Knowledge is wealth, Liya, I heard Alice say that your recipe for lifting the curse of the sea god was exchanged for a lot of gold coins. That's a good practice. If you still have contact with the merchant, I can provide some recipes, we don't need gold, just the population. Winter is coming soon, and I think people in many places will not be able to survive the winter for various reasons. ”

"It is true that winter is the season when there are the most displaced people. Leah's brows furrowed, and she smiled and nodded, "We still have ties to the Pierre family in Arabe City, and he should be happy to trade population for knowledge." ”

"Leave it to me. Karrick volunteered: "I have been in constant contact with Mr. Halsey, and he is able to convey information. ”

"Let's change it with the maltose recipe first. Alice also nodded, "Sugar must be very popular in Arabe City, and now it is after the autumn harvest, and there are a lot of barley reserves." Captain Mason must be willing to pay a high price for a process that can make sugar. ”

"Well, that's it. ”

The purpose of training apprentices, the first is to reserve talents, and the second is faith, these children's beliefs are the most easily changed by what they see and hear, and they are more likely to accept Krem's beliefs. Children are an important member of every family, and their parents will gradually become civilized and change their beliefs under the influence of their ears and eyes.

Buying a population can greatly alleviate the problem of the vast and sparsely populated territory of Blackstone. It is also the main reason why Qin Song did not choose to expand blindly, accumulating grain, building high walls, and slowly becoming king. The Church of the Holy Spirit was not as weak as he thought, and if it expanded recklessly, the more likely it would be to expose the pagan faith, and the Holy Spirit Knights, who were idle in the winter, would definitely go out to exterminate the infidels in the cradle.

Strategically despise the enemy, tactically value the enemy. The Church of the Holy Spirit, which has been operating in the Kingdom of Tia for hundreds of years, should not be underestimated once it is fully mobilized.

A simple maltose recipe, or a recipe with a cotton stripper, is worth a fortune and can be exchanged for a large population. Only with the population can we riot troops, build infrastructure, engage in production, and have the strength to confront them.

"Next, that's the focus of this meeting. Qin Song's tone became solemn again: "About Daotan Town." I think it's clear to all of you that they're in a difficult situation. ”

Luna stuck out her tongue and said, "It was a few of us who single-handedly created it to save Leah." ”

"I don't blame you for a reason. Qin Song flicked open a piece of parchment on the table, on which he drew a detailed topographical map of Black Stone Collar and Daotan Town: "Look here, it is also connected to the Black Mist Forest. And the orcs are by no means limited to the Blackstone Territory, and Daotan Town is also facing the threat of orcs, including Waterdeep. Your autumn attack has aroused the wrath of the orcs, and they will definitely retaliate. ”

"More than twenty years ago, when the orcs were raging. The town of Daotan was indeed affected, but thanks to the arrival of the Holy Spirit Knights of Waterdeep, they were spared. Leah pointed to a forest on the west side of Daotan Town, "This is a pass that leads deep into the Black Mist Forest. ”

"We are fortunate to have been inspired by the gods to learn about the orcs in advance. But Daotan Town, maybe not so lucky, their townspeople are still worried about winter food. I think the new Lord is also struggling with this. If at this time, the orcs suddenly attack from here, then the town of Dao Tan is in danger. ”

"yes. Sir Weimar frowned: "If Daotan Town is destroyed, our Blackstone Collar will be caught between two breads and suffer from the enemy's back. ”

"So, we're going to fix that. Qin Song nodded and said, "Flesh Devourer, as its name suggests." Devouring flesh will greatly increase its strength. And the people of Daotan Town, once became its food. It will become more difficult to deal with, and we will be more stressed. ”

Karrick, who had been captured by the orcs and almost served as food, gasped: "Your Excellency, I agree with you. The orcs did not enslave the population to enslave them, but to devour them. There are thousands of people in the entire Daotan Town. If they were all sacrificed, the consequences would be unimaginable. ”

"We can't sit idly by. Qin Song straightened his waist and said in a solemn tone: "Even for our own sake and for the future of the Black Stone Territory, we must find a way to let these people avoid the doom of being swallowed." ”

Involving the black stone collar, it immediately touched everyone's nerves, and the atmosphere instantly became solemn.

"To save them is to save us. Qin Song finally stated his purpose: "Everyone, we think, we are going to take action! Dao Tan Town must not become a table for the devourer of flesh and blood." ”