CHAPTER 337: CHAPTER 166: IMPERIAL REFORMS

Dimension Space.

Duncan began to organize what he had gained during this period.

As his power grew, the chances of achieving epic victories became fewer, mostly resulting in major victories, but not epic ones. Even winning with fewer troops in famous battles didn’t count as epic victories. However, this did not affect his accumulation of Legendary Level. In the process of destroying the Frankish tribes, Duncan earned 4 points of Legendary Level, and later, after defeating the Western Gothic Kingdom and killing Torismund, he gained another 10 points of Legendary Level in one go, which was second only to the major achievement of killing God’s Whip.

However, the Legendary Level granted by the Pseudo Emperor Maximus was pitifully small. Together with the Imperial Senate, he only gave Duncan 2 points of Legendary Level.

Fortunately, in the subsequent war against the Vandals, Duncan gained 4 points of Legendary Level in one sweep.

Now, with the gradual accumulation of other points of Legendary Level, Duncan had almost saved up 23 points. But not long ago, he had used 8 points in one go, 3 for nurturing offspring, and 5 for engraving the Mythical Bloodline.

The final projection page displayed—"Legendary Level: 15/63."

The cost of Legendary Level for nurturing offspring was quite high.

If he hadn’t engraved the Mythical Bloodline, consuming only 3 points of Legendary Level wouldn’t have been stressful at all.

But this is an initial investment, and future returns will gradually manifest. Over time, his primary human form might also be deified by descendants. The founder of the Frankish Kingdom, Molov, Duncan’s defeated enemy, was originally deified by descendants in history.

While not a genuine Divine Spirit, such deification in historical legends can also grant a faint thread of divine power.

As long as the legacy lasts long enough, the concentrated divinity will grow stronger.

The Legendary Level invested now will convert into divinity values in the future.

There have been more than just one or two historical figures who were deified, with some even becoming True Gods, like the God of Wealth who passed through five barriers and cut down six generals.

"Even just for three offspring, 24 points of Legendary Level would be consumed."

Projection page.

Duncan sat on the sofa, and with a slight lift of his hand, a cup of coffee appeared from thin air.

His Creation Ability was becoming increasingly proficient.

Unfortunately, it could only be used within the Dimension Space; once in his human form, it was ineffective. At this moment, the Dimension Space had turned into a palace, somewhat resembling a miniature version of the Roman Imperial Palace, because he didn’t have much to reference and wasn’t very skilled in architectural design.

It could be used barely for now; he would gradually furnish it in the future.

He opened the national page to check other ways to acquire Legendary Level.

The transfer of the Mythical Bloodline to offspring consumed the same as his own engraving. The primary human form was already close to being a Demigod, meaning offspring would inherently have better physical traits than ordinary people. Now, with the passing down of the Mythical Bloodline, they would essentially be born as awakened Transcendents.

(Born with Magic Power.)

However, if he’s going to do it, he aims to do it to the best of his ability.

Duncan was willing to invest a bit for future gain.

Right now, the empire didn’t have many formidable foes. It would become increasingly challenging for Duncan to acquire Legendary Level through warfare, similar to slaying Lu Bu during the Three Kingdoms era; defeating second or third-rate generals wouldn’t create much of a stir.

He’s now quite close to achieving the martial accomplishments of God’s Whip, Attila, with the Legendary Level he could obtain through martial prowess reaching its limit. Now, he could only find solutions through civil governance.

"Conquering Great Germania could provide some Legendary Level, but not much."

"Destroying the Eastern Roman Empire, severing the lifeline of the Byzantine Empire, could result in a generous amount of Legendary Level."

"Conquering other powers would likely yield little Legendary Level."

In this era, it’s not feasible to wage wars far and wide.

The current stage of civilization limited the empire’s extent; without the geographical advantage of the Mediterranean, the Roman Empire could never have expanded to such vast territories. Conquered places far away could not be managed, only granted away somehow.

Civil and Martial Governance.

Duncan, now as an emperor, had to put effort into civil governance.

Opening the projection page on the kingdom interface, independent national events emerged.

—"Educational Reform [Civil Governance]: Implement education reform and enact school establishment bills to break the monopoly of knowledge by the nobility and the church. Completion will trigger the special national status of Artistic Enlightenment and significantly enhance the cultural level of the citizens, reducing the number of illiterates.

The education level of the empire will gradually progress from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment Era over time."

(Can obtain 5 points of Legendary Level.)

—"Religious Reformation [Civil Governance] (In Progress): Reform the religious systems of Monotheism and Polytheism to strengthen royal power and weaken divine authority. It may cause religious unrest, but succeeding will increase compatibility of beliefs and raise tolerance towards heretics and pagans."

(Can obtain 5 points of Legendary Level.)

—"Judicial Reform [Civil Governance] (In Progress): Reform the original national judicial system by establishing local courts, creating an oversight institution, and forming the Cabinet Council, significantly enhancing the country’s legal system. The subsequent step would initiate the ’Separation of Powers’ system.

A new imperial code must be enacted, replacing traditional blood vengeance with law, drastically reducing turmoil."

(Can obtain 5 points of Legendary Level.)

——"Land Reform [Civil Administration] (in progress): omitted."

Duncan scrolled down and found that none of the reform options were simple.

Currently, the progress bar for religious reform is the most advanced, having reached about over ten percent, judicial reform is only at six percent, while land reform, possibly due to numerous deaths over the years, has made relatively decent progress.

To gain Legendary Level status through civil administration, it will still take several years. However, the advantage is that even under entrusted management or seclusion, the initially planned reforms will continue.

Yet, due to the reforms, there is some unrest in the local areas, necessitating the deployment of troops to suppress the situation.

Time flies by rapidly.

After confirming that Legendary Level status could facilitate childbirth, Duncan became much more industrious, often handling affairs day and night laboriously, hoping that if fortune favored him, it would save 3 points of Legendary Level status.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of motivation!

That’s 3 points of Legendary Level status, which is as much as needed to destroy a small country; he merely needs to be more diligent at night, hoping for a miracle.

Unfortunately, after being busy for half a year, there was still no progress, treating it as exercising the body.

Now Duncan began governing the country, spending more time in Dimension Space, as he found that entrusted management was more efficient, while his direct involvement did not always make the best use of resources. He wondered if it was because, as a higher-dimensional being, he had an indifferent perception of time’s passage.

He even tried sleeping in Dimension Space, feeling as though time had pressed a fast-forward button.

When he opened the logs again, it was already densely packed with records.

——Mid-October 452 AD, Balton led the Imperial British Legion to reclaim the Pannonia Province, pushing the Huns back to Sarmatia, re-establishing the Danube defense line.

——Early November 452 AD, the Academy in London began compiling the "Imperial Code," due to judicial reform, local conservative forces initiated unrest, quickly suppressed by Galavin leading the foreign legion.

——Late November 452 AD, Pope Patrick I advanced ’religious reform,’ early Puritans began to emerge, and Protestant ideas gradually spread.

——Mid-December 452 AD, Crow Queen Triss was preparing for the next year’s Olympics, Avalon faith coalesced ’Livestock’ Divine Position, Guardian Fairy integrated into the Greek Polytheism, replacing concepts of agriculture, livestock, and reproduction.

——Early January 453 AD, the Empire issued the "School Establishment Act," began establishing school systems in provincial capitals, and universities in regional administrative districts.

(Due to the limitations of the era, one university in Britain and one in the Gaul Province, which is modern-day France, were established, mirroring the geographical scope of one university per country in later times. Local school systems were similar to Eastern private tutoring academies.)

——Late February 453 AD, the Empire’s Inspectorate was established.

——Mid-May 453 AD, religious reform sparked bloodshed, causing riots in the Gaul Province, quickly suppressed by Severus, with a new grand assembly scheduled regularly in July.

——Early July 453 AD, Pope Saint Patrick I refined Protestant thoughts within religious resolutions, proposing the core doctrine of ’justification by faith,’ launching large-scale Protestant spread, creating Puritan factions in the British Province. Monotheism’s missionary ability was greatly enhanced.

——Early August 453 AD, the Olympic Games, previously banned for decades, were reopened, reinforcing the influence of Greek Polytheism, greatly enhancing its missionary power.

Unknown how long had passed.

The cry of a newborn pulled Duncan back to the real plane.

Inside the palace.

Under the gaze of hopeful eyes, a midwife exited, excitedly announcing, "It’s born."

"It’s a boy!"

The Empire finally had a legitimate heir.

Outside the palace, Severus let out a sigh of relief, his steps becoming noticeably lighter upon departure.

News quickly spread throughout Rome, with celebrations everywhere. Before long, the Emperor ordered a grand horse race to celebrate the birth of the Imperial heir. The Colosseum had been abandoned for many years, too bloody and cruel. The Empire’s traditional program was horse racing.

Duncan slowly entered the room, gently caressing the weakened Anya, leaning down to kiss her forehead, softly saying, "You’ve worked hard."

Anya, though exhausted, gazed endlessly at her baby, fulfilling her dream of having an heir; she couldn’t believe miracles truly happened. Since the day of pregnancy, it felt like a dream, never officially seeking pleasure afterward for the fetus’s sake.

This young baby had newly opened icy blue eyes at birth, which gradually transformed into dark brown eyes over time.

This was Mana being suppressed by the reality’s law.

In other worlds, it might have been naturally born as a warlock, but in the Middle Ages, it only opened a Mana Pool.

"Prepare for the Queen’s coronation ceremony."

Duncan’s words made Anya tremble slightly, looking up with surprise, while the nearby Empress Lysiniya turned sullen, and Princess Eudocia and Princess Praxidica behind her showed equal dismay.

With unyielding wombs, there was nothing they could do.

Duncan did not produce three offspring at once; he needed to first elevate Anya to her position before subsequently conceiving other heirs.

In the same year.

In the Empire’s British Province, a secret cult composed of wizards, witches, and supernatural creatures was founded. They served the God of Witchcraft and Secret Arts, Crow Queen Triss.

.........