Beneath the Red Dragon

"The clouds of war have already shrouded the Land of Golden, the distant Beastman Kingdom has destroyed bridges representing friendship and peace, murdered the people belonging to the Giant Dragon, violated the interests of the trade group, their military force is now directed towards the Land of Golden."

"But these greedy and vicious Beastmen are still coveting our territory, they want to invade our homeland, they want to seize your land, possess your wives, and return you to slavery, draining your blood."

The mayor of Heyu Town stood on the high-built balcony, looking at the densely gathered residents in the town center, calling out passionately.

"They want to take advantage while the Great Lord ruling various races, the wise Monarch of the Land of Golden and the generous Lords have fallen into slumber, to invade our homeland, enslave our Golden People,"

"Therefore, under the will of the Supreme Lord Divine Gogomola, the temporary Governor of the Land of Golden, Alina, along with the Minister of Military Affairs, Akzhi, Quanling Law Enforcement Officer, Naxson, and Minister of Propaganda, Alfred, have jointly signed this declaration of war against the Beastman Kingdom,"

Every word from the mayor was thunderous, every sentence echoed in everyone’s ears, because not just he alone, every word he spoke was loudly repeated by many angry people, spreading these flames of rage into everyone’s heart.

"The Land of Golden formally declares war against the Beastman Kingdom, under the will of Divine Gogomola, unite all Golden People, under the Dragon Banner, expel the Beastmen from our homeland, destroy the enemies daring to invade on this land."

The voices surged like waves, one after another, bursting and boiling, the loud unison soared over the town, startling the Flying Birds, spreading into the distance.

"The Governor’s Mansion of the Land of Golden, each region’s Executive Government, and each Military Command Department and Military Department shall mobilize all Golden People for war declaration and prepare for direct combat with the Beastman Kingdom, and mobilize all Golden People to voluntarily undertake rear wartime duties, not a single Free Person shall face the front lines until all warriors have perished,"

The mayor, not very tall, at this moment, resembled an old lion, the beard under his chin flamboyantly like a lion’s mane, with anger in every strand, he passionately called out: "May the will of Divine Gogomola the Supreme Lord be with us, the Golden People will surely achieve victory!"

"May the will of Divine Gogomola the Supreme Lord be with us, the Golden People will surely achieve victory!" The surrounding residents shouted in unison at this moment, lifting their arms high, offering their fervor to the fluttering Giant Dragon Banner.

In the hearts of the vast majority of Free People in the Land of Golden, the Lords here can be considered the most generous and wise Lords in the Icaria World.

Because in other Nobility territories, not to mention serfs who have no autonomy, even Free Farmers who own their land have their annual taxation claiming seven to eight-tenths of their hard-earned harvest.

Even in lands blessed by the Goddess of Fertility, most of the lower-class people cannot ensure they eat their fill every day, because the more they harvest, the more they have to give away.

And once in years of poor harvest, many people may starve to death, or, to survive, the lower class would sell themselves and their families to Nobility, becoming serfs, thus generating a continuous influx of serfs.

Moreover, not only the blood-sucking grain land taxes, many Lords would invent various taxes to exploit their subjects, such as the Window Tax, where one has to pay taxes for windows facing the street and opened outward.

Or the Exquisite Garments tax, where people are taxed on their clothing based on its level of extravagance.

There are also taxes like the Beard Tax, Renaming Tax, Coffin Tax, Rat Tax, Hat Tax, and so on, these peculiar taxes, though small in amount, are numerous and diverse.

If by accident, even the last remaining food might be forfeited, causing other Nobility territory dwellers to live in numbness and worry daily.

But in the Land of Golden, the policies formulated by the Dragon Group have attracted willing migrants and some Free People who gained freedom, offering a ten-year tax exemption period, and after ten years, the grain tax they need to submit is only one-fifth.

Annually only needing to submit a fifth of the grain as the current year’s land tax. Moreover, the laws of the Dragon Group are strict, but as long as one follows the territory laws, one can obtain great relative freedom, and there aren’t those strange taxing types of exploitation.

The Great Lord of the Land of Golden is not a native soul, under his will guide, the Dragon Group does not solely focus on farmers as the kingdom’s foundation.

Furthermore, Karon knows that the revenue generated by a pure agricultural society pales in comparison to the revenue possible after industrial foundation development, hence the Dragon Group’s wealth mainly comes from more and more factories and commercial trade, not needing to exploit those farmers.

Therefore, these Free People, with their vast numbers, are fully supportive of the Giant Dragon Lords and solidly defend their rights and hard-won pleasant lives.

"These Beastman brats, I must slay them," a strong farmer squeezed out from the surrounding crowd, raised his arms, and called loudly: "I can shoot arrows, I was formerly the Archer Captain under a small noble, I want to enlist!"

Others registering to join the logistics unit immediately gave respect to this brave warrior, courageous fighters always earn more respect.

With this brave warrior leading the way, many young people’s hot blood was instantly ignited, one after another surged forward, shouting loudly: "I can throw javelins, I also want to enlist,"

"I know a bit about swordsmanship,"

"I am very accurate with a slingshot!"

After being dispatched to recruit the logistics support troops, the official sat at the table sweating profusely, while the town mayor beside him wore a satisfied smile, then shouted loudly, "Come one by one, tell the recruiting officer your skills, don’t cut in line, you there, stop pushing!"

This scene was played out in all the towns. As disaster loomed, the people of the territory finally came together, and the prototype of the Golden People gradually spread like sparks under the ashes.

Bay Stream City, as the city farthest from the Golden Coast, was now under the guidance of the propaganda department, shrouded in a tense atmosphere of impending doom.

These Pioneer Corps members who had finally obtained the status of Free People also voluntarily came forward to form a sizable team, prepared to transport food and weapons via ships to the Royal Capital to prepare for the subsequent war.

Nora was now in her village chief Uncle Faen’s house, watching her elf aunt tidying up Uncle Faen’s bag and putting on leather armor. She was squatting on the ground, taking care of her young brother, a mixed-race elf and human, the first such birth in Bay Stream City.

"Be careful, don’t be impulsive, the Giant Dragon warriors are very powerful. You just need to stay safely in the rear," said her aunt, whose beautiful elf face shone with a holy glow, the radiance of motherhood.

Although elves are a proud race, most are particularly loyal, devoted to family and responsibility, except for the notoriously unfavored variants, the Zor Elves.

Faen kissed his elf wife’s forehead and whispered, "I know, but I couldn’t protect the radiance of the Divine Spirit before. Now, I can contribute to my family, my homeland. Ashaye, I will never let the beastmen come near here."

After cuddling with his wife, Faen came to Nora.

Looking at his son nestled in the wooden fence, clutching his handmade wooden toy, observing him quietly with big black eyes, he whispered to Nora, "Nora, remember to take good care of your brother and aunt after I leave. You are a girl I trust."

Nora had already grown into a young lady; her ample diet and lively personality made her tall and her skin rosy, from a kind girl she had grown into a kind-hearted wild mare.

"Don’t worry, everything is on me, Uncle Faen, you be careful," guaranteed the young lady Nora, her long braid draped over her shoulder, patting her chest in assurance.

"Hmm," Faen bent down, holding his obedient son in his arms and gently kissing his forehead, whispering, "Natis, my son, I will fight for you all, may the will of the Divine Gogolma illuminate us!"

"Wah," the previously calm child suddenly grasped Faen’s trimmed beard and cried out loudly.

...

Built at the foot of the mountains, in the distant outskirts of the Golden City at the Beast Garden, one by one the Two-legged Flying Dragons were being led out of pens by the strong Jackal Wolfman Barbarian Soldiers using durable ropes tied to the saddle clasps on their chests and backs.

The uneasy Two-legged Flying Dragons flared their nostrils, shaking their heads from side to side, filling the surroundings of the pen with the stench of these beasts.

Then delicate leather armor was draped over the fragile chests and abdomens of these Two-legged Flying Dragons. These dragons have no scales, only a layer of wrinkled tough skin for defense, making them vulnerable as aerial troops when their weak points are targeted.

Originally it was planned to cover the weak points of the Two-legged Flying Dragons with iron armor, but they are not True Dragon Species. Although quite powerful compared to ordinary warriors, they cannot bear overly heavy items.

Carrying the tall Jackal Wolfman Barbarian Soldiers and their weapons is easy, but in order to maintain agility, no more weight can be added.

Long-handled Moon Blades were then placed on the saddle rings of the Two-legged Flying Dragons. These dragons are not as nimble and fast as the Bat-winged Flying Dragons but serve as aerial ground-strike close combat troops; in the hands of knights, these Moon Blades become scythes for harvesting life.

A six-meter-long Two-legged Flying Dragon with a wingspan of fifteen meters suddenly resisted, struggling against the restrictions of the collar around its neck.

"How dare you refuse the Giant Dragon’s summons, beast," a Jackal Wolfman Barbarian Soldier mercilessly whipped it, his cold voice calming the intelligent dragon.

Two-legged Flying Dragons aren’t considered part of the Dragon Race by the Giant Dragons, so these warriors treat them as beasts that cannot resist and train them as such.

Seeing the Two-legged Flying Dragons calm down, the captain of these aerial cavalry, a human warrior, took the horn from his waist and blew the assembly signal.

These aerial cavalry mounted their dragons and, under the captain’s lead, soared into the sky toward the grasslands, and in the distance of these riders, was a blue Giant Dragon, Carlette.

Under these aerial cavalry’s watchful gaze, not only were many beast herds migrating from the Beast Garden, moving towards the central area of the Dragon Group Territory, but the entire population of the Golden City was shifting towards the outskirts, countless residents dragging their families, using horses or carts to move their belongings towards the territory’s hinterland—the Royal Capital.

Back at the nearby weapons factory, however, it was increasingly busy, with countless soldiers maneuvering carts filled with weapons and military supplies, heading for the Golden City.

As Blue Dragon Akzhi said, this is a test, not only a test of war response but also a comprehensive test of organizational ability, cohesion, and more.