Chapter 381 - Complex Situation in the Valley

After discussing official matters, everyone gathered around the campfire and chatted leisurely with cups of Ghost Grape Wine in their hands for a long time.Their talk was sporadic, but it covered many topics.

The Just Hammer had stood in Taser Valley for over four hundred years, and Valon had been the Grand Inquisitor for over three decades; no one could match his understanding of the powers surrounding the Valley.

Even the Cavalry Commanders of Shaburg, the rulers of Taser Valley, were utterly respectful when they saw him, addressing him with the honorific title of Grand Inquisitor.

Taking a light sip of the wine, Valon sighed deeply and said, "The reason Sambia hasn’t swallowed Taser Valley in one gulp isn’t due to the influence of the Just Hammer.

What truly matters is the reaction of the other ten Valleys. If the others are strong enough, Taser Valley can maintain its independence and continue as one of the Valleys.

If the others fall into weakness, and Battle Valley and Feather Wing Valley are consumed, do you think defenseless Taser Valley can withstand those wolf-like wealthy mercenary armies?"

Even Anna, who knew nothing of military affairs, couldn’t help but shake her head.

Although Taser Valley has the Dun Hills as a strategic location, it is not on the border but right at the very center.

Once driven to the Dun Hills, Taser Valley would essentially be annihilated.

"Since we know the harm of division, why doesn’t the Valley unite once again? Even electing a common ruler to form a tighter union would be better than the current state of disarray," Gaven took the opportunity to humbly seek guidance.

"You’re thinking too simply. Not to mention so many Valleys and such great involved interests, can people really be united in heart? And will Sambia and the Santarin Association just watch this happen? The lesson of Scar Valley is right there for all to see. Do you really think it was the Allied Army of Mist Valley and Shadow Valley that defeated Lashan’s great forces?" Valon said with a meaningful smile.

The lesson to which Valon referred took place in the year 1356.

Lashan Omeseer, the ruler of Scar Valley, had launched a campaign to conquer the southern part of the Valley. In just a few months, he conquered Tillage Valley, Feather Wing Valley, and Battle Valley in quick succession.

But in less than half a year, he fell into defeat as swiftly as he had risen. Now Scar Valley does not have its own autonomy but is occupied by an Allied Army, including not just representatives from the various Valleys but also forces from Komeer, Sambia, and the Santarin Association.

"Could there be a hidden story?" Gaven asked curiously. The outside world only knew that Lashan’s forces were defeated by the cavalry of Mist Valley within its mists, but the details of the defeat were unclear.

"Before Lashan’s army was defeated, Sambia’s mercenaries had already advanced into Scar Valley and occupied Lashan’s stronghold," Valon said with a sly chuckle. "Lashan was a remarkable person but not a qualified king; he only set his sights on a few Valleys and failed to see the actual reason why the Valley cannot unite.

When all the external strong powers don’t wish for your unity, don’t need your unity, how can you achieve it?

If you don’t clean out Sambia’s wolf-like minions, the moment you engage in internal warfare, they will strike you down from behind."

"I have learned a lot," Gaven said sincerely.

Although he had his own understanding of the Valley situation, it was far from as clear as Valon’s.

After pondering for a moment, Gaven offered his view: "I believe there is another critical issue facing the Valley."

"Oh? Let’s hear it," Valon said, his interest piqued.

"The land is vast, but the population is sparse; the combined population of a single valley is even less than that of a medium-sized coastal city. Under normal circumstances, the geographical environment of the valleys is very conducive to sustaining life, especially along the Ashaba River,"

"In Thacel, such a convenient major river would nurture a population of at least more than three million, yet now there isn’t even a fraction of that number."

"With so few people, there’s no chance to band together, which naturally makes it easy to be bullied,"

This was Gaven’s greatest realization after nearly a month in Battle Valley. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet

In the Rocklands, the sparse population could be attributed to the harsh living conditions.

But the sparsity of population in the Valley was somewhat harder to justify.

"You’re quite right about this issue, but have you considered what caused this situation?" Valon countered.

Gaven replied without hesitation, "Because the Valley has never had a strong, unified government to systematically manage it, especially the taming of the Ashaba River. Without a powerful government to mobilize sufficient human and material resources, individual spontaneous management is utterly impossible to succeed.

"And Sambia does not wish to see such a government emerge. If it does, they would sabotage it from behind."

"You’re only half right," Valon sighed. "The Valley does nurture many people, but too few choose to stay. Many leave for Sambia’s allure of wealth as they grow up, and once they’ve made something of themselves, they bring their families over too. Right now, at least one-tenth of Sambia’s population belongs to the Valley or once did."

Sambia, a young nation itself, is a country of immigrants with a great emphasis on wealth far exceeding one’s origins.

If you have enough power and wealth, you can secure a place for yourself in this country, even if you come from the Valley.

This policy often attracts those with wealth, the elite, to join the nation.

After beating around the bush for a while, Valon brought the topic to the point: "Sambia’s interest in Battle Valley and Feather Wing Valley far exceeds your imagination. Once you’ve established yourself in Battle Valley and want to achieve something, you’ll have to watch out for their underhanded moves.

"These maneuvers may not be carried out by Sambia directly; they could use the power of other valleys, including our Taser Valley’s Cavalry Commanders."

Gaven was suddenly alert, realizing that the Grand Inquisitor had seen through his ambitious intentions and was using the conversation to caution him.

His plan to make a significant impact in Battle Valley was not hard to discern for anyone with clear sight.

Especially after the extensive efforts to migrate hundreds of Thacel Refugees from the Good Fortune Tooth Mountain Range to the Three Rivers Region, it became even more apparent.

Valon had made it very clear; Sambia considered the valleys along the Ashaba River—Taser Valley, Battle Valley, Feather Wing Valley, and Scar Valley—as its feast, not allowing anyone to interfere, including the rise of relatively powerful local forces. Whoever stuck their neck out would get cut down.

Did the nominal Lord of Battle Valley, Lord Ilmet, truly not want to achieve anything?

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but rather he couldn’t.

However, when Gaven heard Valon mention the Cavalry Commanders of Taser Valley, he couldn’t help but be shocked.

Taser Valley did not have large cities, but mainly consisted of twelve tases, which in the local dialect meant villages or towns.

These tases combined their resources and manpower to form a Cavalry Squad to maintain local order. They were composed of twelve Cavalry Commanders, and every three years they would elect a Great Commander from among themselves.

It’s considered a relatively formal local armed force.

"Are even these Cavalry Commanders corrupt?" Gaven asked.

"They’ve never been clean. No matter how honest someone is, they can’t withstand the corruption of Sambia’s money. In 1356, during the counterattack on Lashan, the Taser Valley Cavalry Commanders were among the vanguard. They now have a nickname, ’Sambia’s sheepdogs,’ at least two-thirds of them are on Sambia’s payroll on the side."

Valon sighed deeply, "Let’s not even mention those ordinary knights. Even among our Just Hammer’s Holy Warriors, many can’t resist the temptation of money."

Even with stringent legal restrictions, it’s impossible to completely prevent corruption, especially when these Cavalry Commanders themselves represent the law.

Being bought off is all too easy.

And Sambia is particularly adept at this.

"It seems my trouble is not just a little serious," Gaven suddenly felt a headache coming on.

The Three Rivers Region is indeed a nice place, but also a problematic one.

"If you choose to be inactive here, simply wanting to be a minor manor lord, naturally you’ll have no trouble; but if you aspire to achieve something significant, that’s when the problems will start looking for you. I hope you make thorough preparations before taking any action," Valon advised earnestly.

"You just need to remember one thing, as long as you are working for the welfare of the Valley People and doing good deeds for the country and people, we at Just Hammer will firmly stand behind you," Valon added gravely.

"With the Grand Inquisitor’s words, I am reassured," said Gaven, his spirit a bit dampened but now fully aroused, "If it’s just about playing conspiracies, I have never feared anyone. Those Sambian jackals dare to stretch out their claws, I’ll chop them off. If they dare to raise their heads, I’ll cut off their heads. And if they dare to attack in force..."

"If you really do manage to force Sambia to attack in force, then the entire Valley will stand behind you," Valon laughed heartily.

"Then I shall strive to reach that point," Gaven laughed in response.

"I look forward to that day," Valon laughed again.

His visitation to Just Hammer had been hugely rewarding for Gaven.

At least regarding the development direction in Battle Valley, he now had a much clearer plan.

The method of running around to gather Thacel Refugees was indeed very inefficient.

And it was only a temporary solution, not addressing the root issue.

To attract more lieges to live here, the key is to build up your strength internally and make the Three Rivers Region the best place for humans to live.

There is no need to go out and look, as the displaced and refugees will come knocking on their own.

The key to changing the Three Rivers Region is river management.

There’s no need to worry about downstream for now; the focus of early-stage management should be on the upper reaches of the Ashaba River, especially along Yewen Pond. Building a large dam is essential.

If it were anyone else here.

It would be an impossible task.

Without sufficient manpower, it’s impossible to build large dams and manage the river.

Without river management, uncontrolled flooding occurs, unable to attract residents.

A classic vicious cycle.

But Gaven is no ordinary person. He might not have ordinary residents, but he has quite a few Gnolls.

The eight hundred Gnolls he had previously summoned were far from enough; he must recruit them on a larger scale.

It’s time to kick things off along Zalanda’s line too.

Rather than scouring the Valley for Thacel Refugees, it’s better to recruit directly from Thacel itself.

Valon and his team were efficient. By the next morning when Gaven left Just Hammer, all the data related to cursed items were organized into a manual, handed over for Gaven to carry.

Gaven did not personally escort the food supplies back to the Three Rivers Region, but instead entrusted it to Anna and the six Treants.

He took off with Luna directly from the back cliff of Just Hammer and flew back to Weizemay Manor.

Of course not by riding, but by spreading his Energy Dragon Wings to fly himself; their emotional progress hadn’t yet reached that level.

This is the trouble with high-intelligence steeds; emotional cultivation is necessary.

But once tamed, the benefits are immense.

This type of steed will cooperate extensively in battle.

Gaven and Aivensa had already caused a lot of trouble in the Rocklands with their surprise aerial attacks, not just once or twice.

Although Aivensa had fallen into a growth hibernation, the Red Dragon Roderick had not. However, such a steed is far too conspicuous in the Valley, more so than the Dog Demon, and Gaven doesn’t plan to use it unless absolutely necessary.

Luna has one great advantage that the Giant Dragon doesn’t; she’s amphibious.

She can do battle in the air as well as run on the ground like a conventional warhorse.

She has huge angelic wings like those of a Pegasus, only they can be concealed within her body just like Gaven’s Energy Dragon Wings, usually.

While Gaven has not seen her fly at full strength, her speed is definitely not slow and could even be on par with Aivensa.

Luna has another advantage apart from her high appearance value; she comes from a good-aligned forest faction, making it easier to gain favor and connect with kind races, including forest species, when ridden.

Gaven had previously experienced the shortcomings of using a Dog Demon as a steed, and had long been looking for a similar steed, but never had the opportunity until now.