With the development of agriculture and production, the lives of the people in the empire gradually improved. More and more people wore exquisite and affordable clothes, lived in sturdy and warm brick and cement houses, and could afford luxury items like mirrors, white sugar, soap, and glassware, which they had never even dreamed of before.
Everyone felt as if they were dreaming; the changes in their lives were so great and so fast that they found it hard to adapt.
However, they were very clear in their hearts about who had brought them this heavenly life, which they had only dreamed of before.
It was their emperor, their god, who rescued them from hell and brought the paradise of their dreams to reality.
As people marveled at and enjoyed the changes in their lives, their faith in Chen Mo grew even more devout. What else could this be but a miracle?
Chen Mo's efforts in improving people's livelihoods did not stop there.
In addition to the construction and development of numerous civilian industries, Chen Mo undertook large-scale road construction nationwide to facilitate the flow of economic goods and improve transportation. He also developed water conservancy projects to ensure agricultural irrigation and promote waterway transportation.
To improve the cultural level of the entire population and cultivate talent in various industries, Chen Mo established numerous schools nationwide, popularizing education and gradually implementing a nine-year compulsory education system.
Nowadays, the problem of basic needs has long been solved, and young children no longer need to help their families with herding or farming; they can go to school to learn.
However, the number of teachers is a significant issue. In this era, only nobles had the opportunity to read and study, while ordinary people struggled to fill their stomachs and had no time or ability to learn.
Fortunately, when Chen Mo conquered the European continent, he did not massacre the nobles. As long as they were willing to surrender, Chen Mo guaranteed their personal and property safety.
However, without income from their lands, many noble families began to deplete their resources. Although many capable nobles were reused by Chen Mo and assigned to various positions to help govern territories and handle administrative affairs, many nobles still faced financial problems.
At this time, Chen Mo pointed out a way for them: to become teachers in schools, teaching children and earning a salary.
Having long lost their original noble titles, continuing to act like nobles was simply asking for trouble. Many former noble lords, ladies, and young ladies stepped into classrooms, picked up teaching tools, and embarked on the path of education.
Agriculture, industry, economy, transportation, water conservancy, and education all saw tremendous development. Various constructions and productions were in full swing across the country.
Near Chen Mo, a few kilometers away from Blackstone Castle, a huge city was gradually being built.
The first batch of Chen Mo's subjects had already moved in, becoming the first residents of the imperial capital.
In the center of this huge city stood a tall and magnificent Gothic cathedral made of reinforced concrete, bricks, and stones. This was the Imperial Temple, the faith of all the empire's citizens.
On the spacious and clean streets, people wore exquisite and tidy clothes, their faces radiating happiness and satisfaction.
By the roadside, a large, rectangular carriage slowly stopped at a wooden bus stop sign. Passengers disembarked from the rear door of the carriage and headed to their respective destinations, while those boarding lined up neatly and entered through the front door.
This was clearly another of Chen Mo's ideas.
Such public carriages could be seen on every street in the city, greatly facilitating people's travel.
In a large square, many people strolled around. The elderly sat on long benches basking in the sun, while children laughed, ran, and played in the square. Who could have imagined that just a few years ago, they were worried about food, barely clothed, and living in constant fear of being devoured by werewolves?
Since ascending the throne, Chen Mo spent three years transforming this once chaotic and dark Europe into a stable and prosperous civilized society. The long and dark Middle Ages ended early, and Europe entered a new period of rapid development.
Having set his territory and country on the right path and fulfilled his responsibilities as a lord and king to his people, Chen Mo was ready to leave after experiencing the construction of a nation.
However, before leaving, Chen Mo had many things to arrange.
On this day, in the study, Chen Mo called Andrew and the other three to his side.
"I am about to leave here."
Looking at the four people standing respectfully in front of him, Chen Mo slowly spoke.
"Master, are you returning to the Divine Kingdom?" Andrew quickly asked upon hearing this.
Chen Mo nodded lightly and said in a deep voice, "After I leave, the empire will need a new emperor."
Saying this, Chen Mo looked at Andrew, who was standing at the forefront.
"Andrew, you have followed me the longest, so you will take over the throne."
Upon hearing this, Andrew showed no sign of excitement but instead knelt down directly, saying excitedly.
"No, Master! The empire will always be yours, and I will always be your most loyal knight."
Andrew was a pure warrior, a loyal knight. The idea of replacing the position of his master was something he found hard to accept.
Moreover, Andrew had little interest in the throne. He was already Chen Mo's closest confidant, second only to him in the empire. He knew the taste of wielding power but was not enamored by it. Compared to being entangled in daily administrative affairs, he preferred to fight alongside his knight brothers or spend time with his loved ones. These were far more attractive to him than the throne.
Having already gained eternal life and everything he ever dreamed of, he had no reason to be dissatisfied.
Seeing Andrew's firm attitude, Chen Mo gently shook his head and turned to look at Victor beside him.
Before Chen Mo could speak, Victor also knelt down immediately.
"Master, no one can replace your throne!"
Although Victor was once a lord, he had little ambition. His current status as a duke was already higher than he had ever imagined. To him, only Chen Mo was worthy of the imperial throne, and he did not consider himself qualified.
Chen Mo, feeling helpless, turned his gaze to Amelia.
'Master!'
Amelia knelt down. Although she did not directly refuse, Chen Mo could see the answer on her face. To her, the throne was probably less attractive than her marquis castle.
Finally, Chen Mo looked meaningfully at Marcus. Under Chen Mo's inexplicable gaze, Marcus's heart tightened, and he quickly knelt down, bowing his head deeply, not daring to say a word.
In the past, he might have longed for that supreme position, but now he had no such thoughts. Even if the throne representing the highest power in the empire was placed before him, he would not dare to touch it, for it belonged to Chen Mo!
When he first pledged allegiance to Chen Mo, he had other thoughts, hoping to use Chen Mo's power to seek higher authority and status. Now, he had already realized his ambition, transforming from a hunted outcast to one of the ruling elite of the entire European continent, standing among the highest.
But his ambition stopped there. He was already content with his current status and dared not covet the supreme position that belonged to Chen Mo. The longer he stayed under Chen Mo, the more he felt Chen Mo's unfathomable depth.
Initially, he suspected that Chen Mo was just a powerful human, but as he learned more about Chen Mo, he discovered that Chen Mo was full of countless mysteries. The many miraculous aspects of Chen Mo could not be explained by common sense.
Chen Mo seemed to know everything and could do anything. Not only did he possess immense power, but he also held countless advanced technologies and knowledge beyond this era. These things made Marcus even more in awe of him than his power.
Because power might be obtained through mutation like his own, but knowledge could not. There was only one possible explanation: Chen Mo was truly a god who had descended from heaven to earth!
Having confirmed Chen Mo's identity in his heart, Marcus's fear and reverence for Chen Mo deepened. He only dared to revere and worship the throne Chen Mo offered, not to take it himself. How could a mortal dare to touch the throne of a god?
In that brief moment, he had already figured it out. He dared not sit on that throne. Rather than anxiously seeking power that did not belong to him, he preferred to honestly remain the duke of the empire and an elder of the blood clan.
Marcus's thoughts did not escape Chen Mo's keen perception. Kneeling with his head bowed, Marcus did not realize that he had just narrowly escaped death. If he had not wisely positioned himself correctly and given up his ambition for the imperial throne, Chen Mo would have already killed him with a single sword strike!
Chen Mo always harbored some distrust towards this cold and ambitious vampire progenitor from the movie. He never included Marcus in the pursuit of Alexander Corvinus, instead sending him to the eastern battlefield to conquer the eastern territories of Europe.
The knights under Marcus were all loyal to Chen Mo, unlike Andrew, Victor, and Amelia, who each had their own core followers. The knights who followed Marcus only accepted his command during wartime. Once the war ended, he returned to being alone, unable to mobilize any knight at will.
Therefore, Marcus could be said to have the least power among the four vampire elders. Although he was loyal to Chen Mo, it was more out of fear than devotion. His level of piety was much lower than that of the other knights, let alone the most devout Andrew, Victor, and Amelia.
He didn't even know that his father, Alexander Corvinus, was in the castle.