Ten Days Later
To the northeast of the Sun and Moon Kingdom, Li Mufan and his party set up camp in a dense forest.
After twenty days of relentless travel, they finally arrived at their destination.
Li Mufan, Liu Long, and Fan Qingyue stood on a mountain peak, taking in the panoramic view of the surrounding scenery.
Fan Qingyue asked, "Master, are we going to live in this open space below from now on?"
Li Mufan nodded and pointed to the dense forest below. "Look, you two. This place is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and behind those mountains is the Yuncang River. The river acts as a natural barrier, separating these three mountains from the Lost Mountains. It's also an excellent waterway; when we enter, we can travel down the river, and when we retreat, we can defend ourselves along it. This is truly a battleground for military strategists."
"To the west lies a dense forest. We shouldn't be too aggressive in our initial development. This forest can shield our base, while we can then move to the plains inhabited by various tribes to the west. Although they are nominally under the elves, they have always been independent, so there is little to worry about. Additionally, this area is sheltered by three mountains, protecting us from strong winds and floods. There are several small streams formed by mountain springs flowing down from the mountains, providing a sufficient water source. This is a Feng Shui treasure where tigers and dragons rest on top of each other!"
Liu Long immediately replied, "Young Master, your wisdom and talent are truly admirable!"
While Fan Qingyue excelled in cultivation, she lacked strategic insight and only partially grasped what he was saying. Nevertheless, she didn't mind; her greatest wish was to follow Li Mufan.
After observing the landscape for a while, Li Mufan said, "Go tell the soldiers to gather in the open space. I have something to say."
A stick of incense later, they assembled in the open space of the dense forest.
Looking at the more than two hundred soldiers before him, Li Mufan proclaimed, "Brothers, this will be our foothold from now on. Don't be disheartened by the emptiness of this land. You must believe that, with time, we can transform this place into a grand city—a stronghold!"
"You are all my comrades who have fought alongside me through thick and thin. You have wielded swords and worn armor, bravely facing the enemy. But now, the time has come for a change. Some of you may need to take off your armor, don peasant clothing, set down your swords, and pick up hoes. However, never forget that you are the finest warriors in the kingdom, from beginning to end! Don't neglect your martial training. One day, you will pick up your weapons again and become generals who lead armies!"
The soldiers were electrified by Li Mufan's words, raising their swords and shouting, "Long live! Long live! Long live!"
Seeing their enthusiasm, he nodded in satisfaction, then raised his hands to silence them.
"Now, let's start organizing. Liu Long! I order you to select fifty of the bravest warriors to form a combat team, and you will be the captain!"
"Yes!" Liu Long replied, excitement evident in his voice.
"Aqiang! I order you to assemble an engineering team of fifty. You will be the captain and oversee the construction of all buildings in the camp!"
Aqiang, who had begun to exhibit more human traits during their time together, responded eagerly, "Aqiang takes orders!"
"Cuihua! I order you to form a planting team of thirty. You will be the captain, responsible for cultivating food crops and ensuring the food supply for our territory!"
"Yes!" came Cuihua's clear female voice. Like Aqiang, she had also become more human in demeanor over these days.
"Zhang Tie! I will form a stone-cutting team of forty. You will be the captain, responsible for cutting blue and white stones into usable materials for our camp!"
"Yes!" Zhang Tie roared, full of energy.
Li Mufan approached Zhang Tie, removing the long knife hanging from his waist and handing it to him.
"Your Majesty, you are..."
"Just take it! It's important to use proper materials when building our stronghold. Blue and white stone is extremely hard and can't be broken by ordinary swords; it's perfect for constructing camp walls. My knife is sharp and will save you time," Li Mufan explained.
"But... but..." Zhang Tie stammered, his face turning red. He was not very articulate and struggled to find the right words.
"Just take it! No more nonsense!" Li Mufan insisted, pressing the long knife into Zhang Tie's arms before returning to his original position. "Where's A-Shou?"
A handsome young man wearing a wolf fur cloak knelt on one knee and replied, "What are your orders, Master?"
Li Mufan felt a surge of frustration upon hearing A-Shou call him "Master" again. "You fool! Stand up! Didn't I tell you not to call me that?"
The soldiers, having interacted with A-Shou for ten days, were no longer surprised. The handsome young man, with his innocent expression and grievance-filled face, stood up.
"You will establish an animal taming and breeding team of thirty, dedicated to taming wild beasts and raising poultry," Li Mufan ordered.
"Yes!" A-Shou replied, adjusting his posture.
Li Mufan continued, "The last group will be the forging team, led by Aqiang as the temporary captain, with Cuihua as the temporary deputy captain. You will select thirty warriors responsible for crafting weapons, armor, and various items needed for the camp!"
Both Aqiang and Cuihua responded in unison, "Yes!"
"Fan Qingyue!" Li Mufan called.
"You will lead the remaining six people to form a logistics and communication group, responsible for logistics and communication within the camp. You'll also oversee my daily living and diet!"
"Yes!" Fan Qingyue responded, her face flushed. This job was part logistics soldier and part maid, and as the only woman in the Royal Guard Camp aside from Cuihua, she felt it was fitting for her to care for Li Mufan.
Once the grouping was complete, Li Mufan declared, "This is how we will divide the personnel for now. As our territory grows and develops, we will make further arrangements. Our first task is to build temporary residences. Once the captains of each team have selected their members, they will immediately start cutting down trees and constructing wooden houses!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!" the soldiers responded loudly. The generals marveled at how Li Mufan, even in this new role, was adept at organizing the camp. They believed that, if he were still a king, he would undoubtedly be a wise ruler.