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Looking at the scene before him, Richard felt a surge of emotion.

Forty thousand mu of land, converted into square kilometers, that’s 26 square kilometers!

It was the labor of the subjects and, even more, the result of Richard’s tireless efforts in planning during this period.

Now that the land was mostly cleared, it was time to start sowing.

In the early morning, Richard gathered his subjects on the square, which, although still dilapidated, was now much cleaner and tidier, ready to give the next instructions.

The Long Eagle Territory’s Square was situated on a high ground; these people usually went to work daily and didn’t feel much of a difference.

But now, standing on the square, they unintentionally gazed at the vast fields in the distance. Amidst a world of green, this piece of turned-over yellow land occupied most of their view.

The impact of that sight stunned everyone.

“My God! Is all of this dug out by us?”

Someone rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing.

“Unbelievable, so unbelievable!”

Someone else stood with their mouth wide open, dumbfounded.

“Satnaam Waheguru*! Praise be to Buddha and Allah for their blessings!”

[*A phrase in Punjabi used in Sikh prayers, which can be translated as “True Name, Wonderful Lord,” expressing reverence and devotion to God.]

“Thank you, Holy Mother, for your mercy upon the people! Thank you, Holy Apostle, for your strength! Thank you, Holy Angel, for your help!”

“O Wise Lord Ahura Mazda*! Your wisdom surpasses the heavens and earth; this must be the blessing you bestowed upon us! Thank you for your generosity!”

[*The supreme god in Zoroastrianism, representing wisdom and goodness. The reference highlights a belief in dualism — the eternal battle between good and evil.]

Believers of various faiths knelt in prayer, thanking their gods.

“Everyone stand up! No praying allowed!”

Richard rode out on his horse, swinging his whip at those who knelt in prayer.

He wore a look of speechless disapproval.

What a mess!

Such a small Territory, yet it has so many different religious beliefs.

He would not allow his Territory to be filled with such nonsense.

Buddha and Allah? Weren’t they associated with that faith that later evolved into a militant order?

And what about those apostles of the Holy Mother, aligned with the church’s lot?

The church was no benign entity!

From what he knew, the church’s crimes were innumerable.

They locked their holy books in cabinets, making sure the common folk couldn’t read them. Whatever they said, people believed.

Probably because they knew that the content of their scriptures was completely at odds with their actions.

What about kneeling on shards of glass or walking on burning pillars? All these things that harmed the body—weren’t they all invented by the church?

And those indulgences—just buy them, and sins could be forgiven. You could even buy them for your dead relatives, and with each coin dropped, they got one step closer to heaven.

And then they launched the Crusades.

They were nothing but an organized evil force hiding behind a facade!

The filth that filled the continent, that was their handiwork!

They said dung was filthy, and food derived from dung was even more disgusting, leaving people with no way to dispose of their waste, turning entire cities into cesspools.

Richard wasn’t going to let them have their way.

He might not be able to control the whole continent, but he could certainly control his own Long Eagle Territory!

The Long Eagle Territory was remote. Never mind that the church’s influence couldn’t reach here, even if they knew Richard intended to fertilize the land with manure, if they wanted to trouble him, they’d have to consider the strength of Richard’s father, Duke Gerwin!

In this era, a duke represented more than just a title; it was an absolute personal power!

With backing and his own system in place, Richard was free to do as he pleased!

And what’s this about Ahura Mazda? Why not recite “Burn my body, O sacred fire”?

Oh, that’s the precursor of the Ming Cult!

Even Zoroastrianism* was here?

[An ancient pre-Islamic religion of Persia that influenced later religious systems. The reference to “焚我残躯熊熊圣火” (“burn my body in the sacred fire”) is connected to the fire worship central to Zoroastrian practices.]

Was the Long Eagle Territory such a good place?

Dualism*? The battle between good and evil?

[*A philosophical and religious concept that posits two opposing forces, typically representing good and evil, locked in an eternal struggle.]

Who is good? Who is evil? Who decides that?

If they were allowed to grow, and they declared Richard as evil, wouldn’t their loyalty instantly vanish, shifting to their so-called Ahura Mazda? And then they’d rise up against him?

Richard was not afraid of rebellion, but he wouldn’t allow these people to destroy his hard-earned achievements.

The church’s influence on the whole continent was a lesson from history!

Under Richard’s lash, those kneeling rolled on the ground, screaming in pain.

“Open your eyes and see clearly! Who is leading you in this development? Who gave you the tools to work?”

“Look down at the calluses on your hands! Who toiled under the scorching sun?”

“Was it your damn gods? Was it your so-called faith?”

“If they were real, then I am now a blasphemer, and they should strike me down with a bolt of lightning!”

“If they can’t, then throw away your faith, your false gods, and get to work honestly!”

“Remember this well: Our lives will always depend on our own labor, not on those empty gods!”

Every time Richard spoke, he struck out with his whip.

For a moment, everyone was trembling with fear. Even those who had not knelt in prayer stood aside, shivering, some secretly relieved that they were late to kneel, or else they would have suffered the same.

When everyone quieted down, Richard stepped to the front and said.

“I don’t want to see a repeat of what just happened! Otherwise, I’ll have you all sent to the primeval forest to feed the monsters!”

Then, with a wave of his hand, a pile of sacks appeared in front of them.

They were filled with high-yield wheat seeds obtained from the system.

These seeds were already soaked and ready to sprout once planted.

He then pulled out a list and had the scribe call out the names.

“Everyone else, stand by and await orders. The five hundred of you, come over here!”

Richard gathered the five hundred and said, “I know you all have experience in farming. From now on, not only will you lead others in planting and caring for the wheat, but you will also learn to read and write daily!”

They were surprised, looking at each other in confusion, unsure why they needed to learn to read and write.

Although it seemed like a good thing, they were not young anymore. Was there any point in learning to read now?

No one said a word, unsure of what to say.

But they didn’t dare to speak against it.

“Once you learn to read, I want you to write down your farming experiences and compile them into books! Do you think literacy is a privilege only for the upper class?”

“I’m telling you, in the future, every child in the Long Eagle Territory will be literate. They will grow up to be the backbone of this place. Whether they farm or work in the city, they will need to be able to read and write!”

“Literacy will be a basic skill for all of you, no longer a privilege! No one will need to idolize those who can read; it’s the most basic requirement I have for you!”