Under the Red Dragon

In the winter of the 13th year of the Dragon Era, the sky was as blue as jade, and the land was peaceful.

Above the dome high in the sky, deep within the white clouds, floating mage towers roamed along the nine-void tracks, monitoring all directions of the Golden Empire.

Above the endless seas, steel behemoths resembling land cities patrolled along the slender coastlines, controlling all sides of the Golden Empire's coastal waters.

Across the vast territory, steel trains named " World Serpent" ran around the ever-growing land day and night, dredging the empire's logistics and bringing news and information from the empire's center to every city.

Previously, nobles and spellcasters controlled magic and technical knowledge representing productivity, which has begun to fully blossom in the Golden Empire.

The crisscrossing tracks connecting every city in the empire brought unimaginable convenient transportation to this world, which was like the ancient Middle Ages.

This allowed the empire's political power to cover every inch of territory, and the legion soldiers could also quickly respond to the empire's four frontier defenses.

Even the overlord empires of the central continent were limited by transportation conditions and could no longer continue to expand.

Because their power could not be fully guaranteed to be delivered to the corners of the empire, and magic means were too expensive, in the eyes of those nobles, using them on ordinary people was a waste.

The existence of nobles also greatly dragged down the administrative efficiency of the entire empire, causing these overlord empires, which possessed dozens of times the territory of the Dragon Kingdom, to be far from comparable to the Golden Empire in this regard.

But in the overall ideology of the Golden Empire, advanced productivity cannot be used for promotion and popularization, and it will never be considered advanced productivity.

Although the relations of production are not determined by the productive forces, the development of the productive forces still has a positive and active role in promoting the relations of production.

The feedback from this is that the entire Golden Empire is flourishing, like their emperor, like the sun wheel climbing above the sky.

After the empire's territory was divided into eighteen provinces, there was a specific and general territorial definition, which better regulated the exercise and demarcation of the empire's administrative power.

Among them, the highest executive officer of the province is the provincial governor, who is responsible for the work of the imperial government within the province and exercises the powers prescribed by the imperial law within the province.

And needs to represent the provincial government agencies to the Imperial Central Council and perform reporting duties and report annual work.

Each province is divided into city-level institutions, subordinate by municipal officials, and responsible for corresponding work.

Each city level is further subdivided into counties and towns, all the way down to village-level imperial power agencies. Although the village head of the village is elected by the local village, he still needs to be responsible to the town executive officer at the next level and perform the obligation of annual reporting.

In the past few years, the Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Central Council have been organizing and summarizing the work of the imperial regime structure, and it has obviously achieved good results.

Having a clear bureaucratic system and gradually improving it according to the changes of the empire has greatly increased the administrative efficiency of the Golden Empire and truly started to ensure that every order issued by the authority can easily cover all villages.

Although this has also increased the number of officials, resulting in a particularly large number of officials, the current situation is a positive development trend with more advantages than disadvantages.

Moreover, the reform of the bureaucratic system will never stop under the rule of the empire's only will. This is the advantage of having an absolutely authoritative and relatively correct rule of will.

However, these changes are subtle. Most of the empire's subjects are not yet accustomed to the changes in the provincial system and have always claimed their jurisdiction based on the city's affiliation.

Clanris, this dragonborn whose scales on his cheeks have become a little gray, the first batch of resurrected souls to walk out of the temple, rode on a tall steed and chatted with other people heading to the Golden City to learn more information and relieve inner worries.

Clanris originally thought that it would be a very simple matter to find a remote village in the territory established by the Dragon Clan and build a temple. The only thing worth worrying about was what would happen after the temple was built.

But his idea obviously did not come true. After a series of actions by the Dragon Cultists, the empire's control over this aspect became extremely strict.

Without the approval of the Empire's Ministry of Religious Affairs, all privately established sects and religious systems will be labeled as cults, and not only the official law enforcement departments of the empire, but every department has the power to deal with them.

Even ordinary subjects of the empire can receive public awards and commendations from local government agencies for reporting or independently destroying the rituals and strongholds of heretical churches.

But if you apply to the empire's official agencies for registering a sect and building a temple, the submitted application documents will often disappear without a trace.

Clanris once stuffed some gold coins and went to the home of an official under the Ministry of Religious Affairs to inquire, but after spending ten gold coins, the response he received was just a simple answer.

"It is already under review. This kind of thing needs to be reported at various levels, and then the intention of your building a temple will be investigated under the corresponding process. After relevant evidence is collected, there will be a series of evaluation meetings, so please wait a little longer."

So Clanris, this long-lived dragonborn, waited for several years.

From the time he came to the Golden Empire penniless, until he had become a wealthy empire subject by farming and doing business, this matter still had not received a definite answer.

So, after learning from the Giant Dragon Daily, recently opened by Alfred, the Minister of Culture and Propaganda of the Empire, that the emperor, with the dragons, had reappeared and returned from the newly exploited plane world, he decided that he wanted to truly face that ancestral red dragon. Perhaps only in this way could he complete his mission.

A group of people rode steeds or dragon beasts, walking on the forest path.

These horses and dragon beasts, which have been improved and optimized by the empire's animal husbandry park, have excellent foot strength, full endurance, and extremely gentle temperament. Even a child can easily control them. They are the most beloved mounts of the empire's subjects.

Even though those steel trains that rely on steam engines and magic engines to travel quickly on the tracks are more comfortable than riding these horses and dragon beasts, the empire's subjects still prefer this way of traveling.

In the distance, the rumbling train sped past quickly, and occasionally a fluttering machine like a steel dragonfly slowly flew in the air, and the Freeman soldiers on it curiously swept across this vast jungle, earnestly performing their duties.

"These steel guys are strong on the battlefield, but usually, these treasures are more interesting,"

A strong man patted the Lizard Head Dragon Beast under his seat and laughed loudly.

"Yes, these flying guys look weird, not as powerful as those flying dragons,"

A young and tall young man squinted his eyes and pointed to the magic dragon knight flying in the sky, revealing envy and adoration in his eyes.

These magic dragons driven by the magic dragon knights, although their bodies are far less huge and exaggerated than the adult magic dragons of hundreds of meters, are just some young dragons that can pass through the plane time and space portal.

But because the appearance of these magic dragons is somewhat similar to the dragons that rule the empire, they are also very majestic in the eyes of the empire's people.

The young man's words aroused everyone's approval. This is the unique culture of the Dragon Empire. Although they do not reject new things and gladly accept those steel creations that represent another advanced productivity, the empire's subjects still have their own favorites.

Just like on the sea, ships cast with steel began to run rampant, but the empire's subjects still favored driving those whale sea beasts and sea sharks and swimming on the sea. Culture blended, but retained their own characteristics, shine with their own glory.

"It is said that in the world opened up by the empire this time, they encountered demons. Those chaotic abyss brats were also completely crushed by the empire's legions. It's really awesome. If I hadn't failed the legion election, I would have been able to follow the dragon lords and see the world,"

The topic gradually shifted. The empire's martial spirit, from top to bottom, is also from bottom to top.

The people living in the wilderness and in the four battle lands are particularly sturdy in temperament. They never thought about what price they would have to pay when facing the war against demons. Perhaps in the eyes of these grassroots people, as long as they follow in the footsteps of the dragons, all enemies will only face destruction.

"Yes, I also saw in today's Daily the awards and promotions of the outstanding soldiers. Saha, the legion commander of the " Burning Hoof", was promoted to the empire's only general rank, and Master Gilennis was also directly promoted from the initial centurion to legion commander,"

"This kind of one-step-to-the-sky honor should be the glory that our men should pursue," the man who spoke was full of stubble and looked a little haggard. His face with dark circles under his eyes looked very weak, but his expression became very excited.

"That also requires the outstanding strength of Master Gilennis," a companion next to him said with a smile: "I heard that many powerful soldiers who fought in the Wangxia Capital arena and wanted to win the undefeated laurel heard that they wanted to challenge Master Gilennis,"

"But guess what?" The man laughed loudly: "As a result, some people were beaten up by the veterans returning from the battlefield. Those veterans also ridiculed these people, saying that they were gorgeous but fragile weapons and should be placed in the house for appreciation, rather than challenging the sharp edge that has been tempered by blood and fire, hahaha."

Dragonborn Clanris occasionally echoed a few words, but these casual words were analyzed in his mind.

Combining with the relevant policies of the empire currently promulgated regarding the free development of new plane worlds by the subjects, he has learned that the empire is gradually encouraging those bold and adventurous people to embark on the journey of plane world development through these seemingly small actions.

Perhaps many forces that do not belong to the Golden Empire will also be bewitched and affected by this, and the contradictions within the native of the Akani world will be transferred to another direction.

A group of people walked and talked. Even on the slightly remote road in the forest, they would still encounter some mysterious travelers wearing black robes, covering their whole bodies and not revealing their faces.

Although these travelers never appeared with their true faces, without exception, the naturally black robes or the robes under the magical shadow were all wearing with the empire-approved badge mark, which indicated the identity information of these travelers and every city and village they passed.

The subjects of the empire all know who these mysterious guests are. Among them are many messengers of the Liches, and even the Liches themselves.

There are also many mages who study dark powers, as well as many warlocks. These people are attracted by the Golden Empire's magical material discrete market, but it is not convenient for them to expose their true faces in public.

The Golden City is already the largest arcane material discrete market in the northern border of Akani. These materials, which are weighed in ke, are extremely expensive.

Some arcane materials are even dozens of times more expensive than the same weight of gold. This industry has also become a very considerable part of the Golden City's source of profits.

However, as they got closer and closer to the Golden City, Dragonborn Clanris's mental power, which was dozens of times stronger than ordinary people, began to sense that an invisible and immaterial order began to envelop his head.

Just like the forest will that exists in all forest areas of the Golden Empire, but without a specific subjective will, it is like a pan collective consciousness existence, but it is dozens of times, hundreds of times larger.

It seems that a real诞生的秩序(秩序: order) hangs high above the heads of all the empire's subjects, standing still, and high above, but it really exists among all living beings.

For those subjects who are loyal and wholeheartedly devoted to the country, this huge order can have some positive effects.

In the eyes of Dragonborn Clanris, the most obvious manifestation is that the faces of those people who stepped into the gate of the Golden City with him involuntarily became more rosy and shiny, and their breath also seemed to be blessed, becoming different from the ordinary temperament of the previous farmers and merchants.

Just like the famous saying that Luo Ya, the great diplomat who now enjoys a reputation in the empire, once said, "The people of the superior country do not worship the monarch of the inferior country."

These ordinary people, under the blessing of this order, seem to spontaneously possess the demeanor of the people of the superior country.

But on the head of Dragonborn Clanris, who has ulterior motives, it is like a Damocles sword hanging upside down, which may fall at any time, making Clanris a little uneasy and feeling slightly uneasy in his heart.

"What a terrifying feeling," Clanris couldn't help thinking in his heart. He always felt that there was an eye in the sky, staring at him specifically, but it didn't seem to be in the sky, but everywhere.

Just like this, after searching for a long time in this increasingly huge and prosperous city, Clanris still couldn't detect the source of this feeling.

However, the only thing that can be ascertained is that the closer Clanris gets to those empire government agencies, the more clear and huge the order he can feel, and the heavier the pressure it brings to him.

Especially when standing in front of the empire's Tribunal, this feeling reached an unprecedented peak.

"Colluding with other countries, reselling military equipment and grain, wantonly embezzling, mixing substandard products in the grain transported to the empire's border soldiers, you have all truthfully admitted to the above charges. Now, in the public, announce the trial for you!"

The empire's Tribunal judge stood tall, and the sunlight behind him reflected on the judge, making the onlookers empire people unable to open their eyes.

But it did not hinder the cheers of these empire people. The policy pursued by the empire is open and fair. No matter what officials commit crimes, there is no concealment or hiding, and it will be made public to the people after the trial.

This action not only did not damage the Empire's reputation and image, but instead garnered even greater support from the general public.

Row upon row of kneeling officials, dressed in white prison uniforms, wept bitterly, showing no signs of torture. In an empire where magic flourished, possessing evidence obviated the need for crude methods like torture.

"According to the law, your crimes would normally warrant the death penalty,"

the Imperial Judge stated solemnly, "but the Emperor of the Empire, His Sacred Highness Gaugamela, has issued an edict for an alternative punishment."

The Imperial Judge unfurled the Emperor's handwritten edict and proclaimed loudly: "The Emperor, mindful of your past contributions, deems your crimes not worthy of death. Therefore, you are demoted to the station of pigs, dogs, cattle, and horses, to re-experience the myriad hardships of life."

A sound resembling ancient witchcraft intertwined with the voice of a dragon echoed as the edict was unfurled and read aloud.

It was the Emperor's decree, imbued with incredible power.

"You are demoted to eternally be among the pigs, dogs, cattle, and horses of all living beings!"

The condemned prisoners below the platform instantly cried out in anguish. An invisible wave of power swept over them, and one by one, they transformed into pigs, dogs, cattle, and horses, howling in place.

"Mass Transformation? Edict Magic? Mind Control?" Dragonkin Clanris gasped, stunned by the scene before him. Even with his powerful Dragonkin physique, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

His shock was completely drowned out by the cheers of the Imperial citizens.

The masses shouted in unison: "Long live the Empire! Long live the Emperor!"

Refreshed with deletions and modifications!