Chapter 444: Chapter 207: Improving Corvée, Changes in the First Year [Happy New Year!]

“With the abundant resources of Great Xia, breaking through to the Earth-digging Realm shouldn’t be too difficult for us. If we can fully utilize as I suggested, these servitudes will be completed in no time, we can become official members of Great Xia sooner, and ultimately contribute to Great Xia, can’t we?”

Remembering the pile of Beast Meat on the table and the field behind the valley filled with white Beast Bones, Xiang Liang felt a stirring in his heart.

In reality, after witnessing the grand scene of Great Xia, Xiang Liang harbored no more resistance to coming to Great Xia, and he believed that those over five thousand people, including the main offender Wang Lie, felt the same as he did.

The living standards of the four Camps of Northern Mountain are nearly identical.

Even someone as fierce as Wang Lie harbors a strong aspiration for a better life.

If only they could enjoy a life like that in Great Xia every day.

Who would still want to go to the bitter days in Northern Mountain?

Yet, the servitude imposed on them is truly too burdensome to bear.

The Earth-digging Realm of the four Camps in Northern Mountain generally consists of older individuals who aren’t sure they can complete such lengthy servitude, and even with luck, there won’t be many good years left after completing the servitude.

This truly seems unfair to them.

“Luckily, the leader was kind enough to waive our servitude for three months, which is already quite good for all of us together. We shouldn’t demand too much, after all, it was our fault to begin with.”

Recalling the last decree announced by the person just now, a bit of comfort appeared on Xiang Liang’s face. Waiving three months of servitude for an individual, including family members, means each person would serve over a year less.

The young man looked at Xiang Liang and laughed, “I saw you just came down from the grand hall. Since you have such a good idea, why didn’t you tell those people in the hall?”

Xiang Liang gave a wry smile and said, “In the grand hall just now, I didn’t even dare to breathe, let alone speak up.”

Hearing this, the young man shook his head with a light laugh and was about to speak when Xiang Liang found his father, Xiang Ping, and others inside the wooden building.

“Big brother, thanks to you today, may I ask…”

Xiang Liang wanted to ask for the young man’s name, but when he turned around, he found that the person had vanished, leaving him puzzled.

“Liang, come quickly. There are many here who, like us, just arrived recently. We’ve learned a lot about Great Xia…”

Seeing Xiang Ping and a group of people in the Earth-digging Realm, with expressions of excitement, although Xiang Liang was still wondering where the mysterious young man had gone, he walked towards his father to find out why they were so excited.

Meanwhile, the mysterious young man, who puzzled him, was already standing on the highest floor of the wooden building, overlooking the thousands below, glancing at the mine to the south of the wooden building, and finally resting his eyes on Xiang Liang, smiling thoughtfully.

“This kid is quite clever. The servitude does need some adjustments. The iron mine in this valley is nearing depletion, and these people serving rites will soon be dispersed to other iron mines. If the resistance is too great, management costs will soar, ultimately outweighing the benefits. I have to discuss this with Xia Chuan…”

………

Unlike the joyful and bustling atmosphere of tens of thousands in Great Xia Valley.

At this moment, the main hall on the top floor of the main building was silent.

There was no one seated on the chairs along both sides of the hall. Over a hundred people were lined up in the center of the hall, standing solemnly, eyes fixed on the high platform, with a deep sense of anticipation on their faces.

“So, are you all waiting for me to start the feast?”

Suddenly, a voice sounded from the high platform.

Everyone’s face below instantly lit up with smiles.

However, as a figure appeared on the high platform, their expressions simultaneously froze.

A young man in a black Beast Skin cloak, with ordinary looks, suddenly walked out from behind the high platform.

He even plopped himself down on the golden chair.

Everyone’s faces instinctively showed anger, but realizing something, they carefully examined the young man on the high platform, filled with suspicion and speculation, yet not daring to confirm.

“Hahahahaha…”

Seeing everyone unable to confirm, the young man in black suddenly burst into laughter, then fiddled with his face and promptly pulled off a pale red mask.

Underneath the mask, who else but their leader Xia Hong could it be!

“Hahaha, this mask made of Red Wood is quite effective; none of you could tell.”

The over hundred people below, upon seeing Xia Hong’s true face, first showed smiles, then all bowed deeply towards the high platform and said:

“Welcome back, Leader!”

As they voiced the six words, “Welcome back, Leader,” they deliberately raised their voices, causing not only the hall but the entire wooden building and even the valley outside to fall silent momentarily.

The tens of thousands along the three main roads of the valley also instantly quieted down, turned their heads towards the top floor of the main building, realizing Xia Hong had returned, and they all stood up from their seats, bowing respectfully towards the main building.

“Welcome back, Leader!”

Listening to the voices reverberating inside and outside the valley, which lingered for a long time, the smile in Xia Hong’s eyes grew richer. With Qi gathered in his throat, he spoke in a solemn tone to the people below and the thousands outside the valley:

“At the start of the new year, with cold and robust health, the First Year of Great Xia has turned a page. May our Great Xia Camp expand and flourish in the coming year, and may all of you reach even greater heights in cultivation and lead more prosperous lives. Tonight, let us not leave sober, everyone, cheers!”