Chapter 1038 - 577: Final Supplementary Redemption [Subscription Request][5K]

Zong Shen paused for a moment, then continued.

"Tiezi, this war chariot will be under your care for now. Without my orders, you’re strictly forbidden to leave a three‑kilometer range from the living area."

"Salome Lin Yu, you must take good care of this section of sweet potato vine. Arrange for people to plant it tomorrow."

The first to respond was Baclon Iron Hand. It jumped up and down excitedly on the war chariot.

"Your command is my light!"

"I am your most loyal subject!"

Its tone was exuberant, and its voice sharp, perfectly conveying its excitement.

Next to respond was Salome Lin Yu.

He carefully cradled the sweet potato vine, nodding solemnly.

"Please rest assured, my Lord, I will take good care of it."

Just from Zong Shen’s description alone, Salome Lin Yu could already tell how important sweet potatoes were to the Territory.

With this Natural Druid tending it, and with good farmland plus the protection of the Tower of the Fields and the Natural Totem, it would be no problem at all to cultivate a breeding field of sweet potatoes.

Even if the Territory was going to face new challenges next, he was confident he could keep it safe.

At this moment, High-level Alchemist Clarissa Tessa also stepped forward and saluted Zong Shen.

Zong Shen nodded back to each of them in return.

"You’ll have a clear answer about your work and your workshops tomorrow."

"Marie will inform you of the specifics."

"It’s late now. Everyone, get some rest early."

With that, he lifted his chin slightly toward Marie.

She smiled and took the initiative to guide Salome Lin Yu and Clarissa Tessa into the rear compartment of the Burden-Bearer Mecha, then walked over to the Earth Shaker Tank and gave the Goblin Engineer a few instructions.

At this time, Natural Druid Salome Lin Yu noticed the Juvenile Knowledge Ancient Tree planted in the Central District near the eastern side.

"Oh?"

"I didn’t expect my Lord’s Territory to have a Natural Ancient Tree as well!"

"May I go over and take a look?"

Salome Lin Yu turned and pleaded to Zong Shen.

Light flashed in his eyes; he actually looked a little excited.

Zong Shen nodded and agreed readily.

"Of course you may, just be quick about it."

"It is very late, after all."

"You’ll have plenty of chances to spend time with it in the future."

With Zong Shen’s permission, Salome Lin Yu nodded in a rush, then strode quickly toward the Ancient Tree of Knowledge. This seemingly steady Natural Druid had a deep, innate passion for plants.

Zong Shen gave Marie a small wave, signaling her to wait a bit.

By now Marie had already finished talking with Baclon Iron Hand and had returned to the driver’s seat, ready to start up the Burden-Bearer Mecha.

High-level Agriculturalist Clarissa Tessa climbed onto the Burden Bearer’s cargo bay.

Goblin Engineer Baclon Iron Hand also slipped into the war chariot’s cockpit and started it up, ready to follow the Burden-Bearer Mecha out of the Central District.

Zong Shen stood with his hands behind his back, head slightly tilted, watching Salome Lin Yu walk toward the Ancient Tree of Knowledge.

Just then, something occurred to him, and he patted his own head.

"Wait, Marie."

"I just redeemed five thousand sets of cotton‑and‑Ma clothing. I’ll hand them over to you now."

"Distribute them to everyone tomorrow. Put the surplus into storage as reserves for the time being."

Zong Shen instructed Marie.

As Internal Affairs Officer, Marie naturally understood the situation of the Territory’s farmer subjects.

Clothing was indeed something the subjects urgently needed.

Especially those Refugees—each one was in rags, dragging down the overall look of the Territory.

However, this problem ultimately didn’t affect basic living, so Marie hadn’t reported it in a timely manner. She hadn’t expected Zong Shen to resolve it first.

Hearing her Lord say this, Marie immediately jumped down from the driver’s seat and came to stand before Zong Shen.

"That’s wonderful, my Lord."

"Once they change into these clothes, the subjects’ spirit and bearing will definitely improve a lot."

"Actually, aside from clothing, with the number of subjects growing, we should..."

Marie was preparing to take this opportunity to report some of the Territory’s current issues to Zong Shen.

With the rapid increase in the number of subjects, the problems brought by the Big Pot Rice model were becoming more and more obvious.

Zong Shen raised a hand and pressed it downward slightly, signaling Marie to be calm for now.

"I understand where these problems lie."

"Uniformly distributed food and tasks make the subjects sluggish and dull, devoid of motivation."

"They can’t earn any pay, can’t buy... and have no way to buy daily necessities."

"The Territory must establish a local commercial circulation and paid job positions if it wants to have the vitality of a normal Bang City or village."

"I’ve told you before, the Free People reform is imperative—it’s just that the time hasn’t come yet."

"So be patient. Keep everything running according to the existing standards for now."

Zong Shen spoke with complete composure.

He certainly understood what Marie wanted to say.

He had long since considered these issues; the more subjects there were, the more serious the problems would become.

So Zong Shen had already firmly decided in his heart that the Free People reform was inevitable.

No Territory can rely on the Big Pot Rice model and blindly push forward.

Big Pot Rice may be simple and rough, but it unquestionably turns all the subjects into toolmen.

In the long run, vitality will inevitably be lost.

If the Lord and a few Internal Affairs Heroes insist on micromanaging every detail of the Territory’s development, the further they go, the lower the administrative efficiency will become.