On the Seven Towers

The town of Alano is located at the gap of an unnamed mountain range in the southern part of Montenegro. A road connecting the northern and southern territories of the Arias family passes through here and extends all the way to Floro. It was originally just a resting place for merchants traveling in the mountains, but now it has become a landmark that divides the two territories.

The town is backed by the Kalma River and is located on a high ground. There are about a hundred households, overlooking the northern business road from a high place.

This morning, a mighty team, either riding horses or sitting in ox carts, came from the north through the mountains.

Chen Hansheng rode on the leading horse, thinking about something all the time, and didn't speak.

Karanda beside him asked: "Still thinking about the investigation."

"Yes. Chairman Guo is going to investigate with me secretly, both inside and outside. The connection I have established before cannot be broken. When we gain a foothold here, we can send two people to Suero again."

"Well, no problem. This time I brought Jose and a few others here. They are all very smart guys. You can choose the right one when the time comes." Karanda paused slightly, as if he thought of something. "But it is not easy to gain a foothold. It is difficult for outsiders to get involved in such a town. It is enough for many lords to let the tax collector collect taxes. This time you brought teachers, doctors, and those officials, and you look like you are ready to do a big job. I am afraid that the conflict will be aggravated at that time."

"We don't call them officials, but cadres." Chen Hansheng said with a smile. He patted Kalanda's shoulder and joked, "Why, you feel sorry for your man before you even start working?"

Kalanda opened his hand and spat, "You are so frivolous. Do you know? In a town like this, which is close to the center of the kingdom, unlike Frollo, where all the farmers are self-employed, many farmers are serfs of the lord. The earl promised to give us land, but not to us farmers. I guess most of the serfs have been taken away. The rest are either serfs belonging to those knights and barons, or there are only a few self-employed farmers left. By then, I don't know how many people you will see in the town."

Chen Hansheng said happily, "It's good to have few people. Are you afraid that there will be no people if you have land? We have many farmers who have been converted from slaves to fill in."

On an ox cart behind them, there were two men in wizard robes. The younger one was the magic apprentice Crete, and the older youth was Glade, the book spirit of the "Spiritual Book". Although Glade is the book spirit of the Forge Tower, he majored in the magic of the Spirit Tower. Since he became a teacher in the magic school, he found that Krit was more suitable for practicing the magic of the Spirit Tower than the magic of the Dream Tower, so he suggested that he change his practice method and switch to the "Heart Fire Technique" of the Spirit Tower.

The Heart Fire Technique cultivates a little heart fire to condense the soul. In the future, this little heart fire can be used to protect the life fire of the living, and it can also be used to ignite the soul fire of the dead. It is also another way that is not inferior to the Dream Tower.

Krit consulted Xiao Chen's opinion through the communication array, and after obtaining his consent, he turned to Glade's door.

This time, as the magic tower received a town, it naturally needed a mage to support the scene. Glade, who had few courses, was selected. Since the book spirit was not familiar with the world of this era, he brought the local apprentice Krit, both to help and to experience.

"If it were in the past... how could we mages come here in person for a small town? At most, we only need to assign an apprentice like you or a follower warrior to manage a town." Glade said.

"It is said that many magic towers are managed in this way now. But our Chinese Tower is different from them. Didn't you attend the mobilization meeting before departure? They explained the reasons for doing this clearly." Krete said.

"Hehe. To be honest, I was distracted. At that time, I was thinking about how to modify a magic. What was their reason?"

"According to my understanding, it is to control every village and every person, so as to exert the greatest power of a country. Well... it's like one person can control every finger of his own, while the other can only control his arm. If two people fight, the latter person can't even make a fist properly, and he will definitely not be able to beat the former person." Krete clenched one fist and let the other hand loose, and then touched them together.

"Hmm, strange theory. The Chinese Tower is not short of strange theories." Glade tilted his head to ponder the meaning of Crete's words, "But this is interesting, isn't it?"

The most common people in the car behind were the armed guards. Chen Hansheng brought two squads of people, not only four five-six-and-a-half guns, but everyone else was equipped with the latest 01-type air gun. This air gun was slightly improved compared to the last test, with a strengthened ammunition supply structure, and it is no longer so easy to jam when multiple bullets are installed.

Others included administrative personnel sent this time, as well as professionals in agricultural technology, education, medical care, and business. The entire team exceeded fifty people.

After turning the mountain pass, a high ground appeared in front of us.

Chen Hansheng shaded his eyes with his hands and looked at the town of Arano on the high slope. The town has a dangerous terrain. Only the road leading up to the front has a gentle slope, and the terrain in other directions is very steep. There was actually a small wooden tower built in front of the town, guarded by villagers wearing leather armor and holding spears. There were also archers holding longbows on the tower and the watchtowers on both sides.

“It doesn’t look like many people have evacuated. It seems someone is in charge.” Chen Hansheng said.

"Are there many free people here?" Kalanda asked in confusion.

"You'll know if you go there."

The convoy turned into the road up the mountain, which obviously made the guards nervous. Several people at the door pushed and shoved, and squeezed out a young man to walk towards the convoy. The young man approached the slowly stopping team cautiously, and his eyes hesitated for a long time between the imposing Chen Hansheng and the lazy Glade. Finally, he chose Chen Hansheng and asked, "Sir, where are you from and what are you doing in Alano?"

For this future resident of his, Chen Hansheng put on a kind expression and said, "Young man, don't be nervous. Do you know that this town was handed over to the magician of the Tower of China by Count Carlos?" Chen Hansheng asked.

"I know, I know."

"I am the first mayor of the Tower of China in this place. The surrounding land is under my responsibility."

"But, but sir, most of the land around here was sold to Baron O'Farrell by Count Carlos as early as last year."

"What?"