NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Before the Battle
Jones returned to Giant Snake City, and by the second day, the entire city had already been mobilized.
Standing on the castle's balcony, Jones addressed the residents of Giant Snake City.
"My dear residents of Giant Snake City, I have just returned from the High Court. I regret to inform you of bad news. I'm sure many of you, who are well-informed, have already sensed something. Recently, there have been frequent military movements in Giant Snake City. Yes, something is happening! Those Blood Clan Elders, they do not recognize Giant Snake City, do not accept our ideals of justice and equality, do not support the liberation of slaves and free trade, and do not agree with our way of accumulating wealth through hard work!" Jones's roar echoed throughout Giant Snake City.
"They are trying to force us with violence, to make us give up what we own! Are you willing to give it up?"
"No!" everyone shouted.
"We were all once weak! We were all once trampled upon! But today, things are different! Through our collective efforts, we have built our city-state! We have accumulated wealth! We hold weapons in our hands! Will you submit and return to the cages of slavery just because they are Blood Clan Elders?"
"No!" The dwarves waved their hammers.
"What are we?"
"Free people!" The elves raised their hands in cheers.
"Who are we?"
"Residents of Giant Snake City!" The goblins roared.
"If someone attempts to take our land and freedom, what will you do?"
"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" A thunderous chant surged forward.
"Very good! My people! As your City Lord, I will stand with you all! Fighting until the very end! We will defend our shared home together! We will either live with honor or die with dignity! Those are the only two paths left for us! Regardless of who the enemy is, we will never surrender!"
Everyone raised their hands high, their voices shaking the heavens. Even the goblins present, who normally did not need to live and die with Giant Snake City, and the free Blood Clan residents living there, were moved to join in the angry cries.
Adelle was stunned.
*Strictly speaking,* *Giant Snake City had already been mobilized even before Jones returned.* *However, with the formal breakdown of negotiations, Jones escalated the mobilization level.*
*He was not only mobilizing the Undead Army.* *He also began recruiting and training armies composed of elves, dwarves, and goblins.* *In fact, Giant Snake City had always maintained a similar reserve mechanism, preserving a well-structured framework.* *With just one order, large numbers of troops would quickly fall into place.*
*At the same time, all trade with the Blood Clan was severed.* *Jones converted idle factories for military use.* *This was not difficult.* *After all, the bulk of Giant Snake City's foreign trade was in military supplies, so converting for military use might just mean changing signboards.*
"Then the problem arises, do you plan to pay for the things they produce after converting to military use?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I pay? Don't they need to pay for the materials they buy? Not all raw materials are produced within our territory."
"Uh, but that would require a lot of money. An astronomical military budget. Your treasury doesn't have much money, and I can't pull any more from home." Adelle thought for a moment and said, "Maybe you could confiscate all the Sambo family's property and sell it to others. That way, at least part of the military budget would be covered."
"No," Jones shook his head, "Adelle, thank you for the suggestion, but we can't do that. That's your family's property."
"But they stand on the other side now, don't they?"
"Still, no." Jones sighed lightly and said to Adelle, "I promised to ensure the safety of property, and I can't confiscate it for this reason. Otherwise, everyone will fear me. Winning the war is only the first step, we have many more steps to take afterward. The key is, I don't think we'll lose."
"Alright, then how do you plan to solve the money problem?"
"By issuing bonds."
"You want to borrow money from the common people?" Adelle was stunned, "How much could they possibly have?"
"They may not have much, but I want them to stand with me," Jones said seriously. "And we should treat those who support us well, allowing them to share in the dividends of war is part of treating them well."
*You have to admit, war is an extremely expensive affair, whether for humans, for the Blood Clan, or for the undead.*
*Although the undead can revive, the consumables required for the Undead Army are not infinite.* *And the Lich's combat power needs to be augmented through the Undead Army.* *Good equipment is equally important to them.*
*This means that for Giant Snake City, to win, the first thing they need to do is solve the money problem.* *Jones needed to get everyone to contribute financially, to help Jones, to help Giant Snake City, and to help themselves win this war.*
*Jones did not confiscate the huge wealth that the Sambo family left in Giant Snake City, but he froze it and requisitioned it.* *The Sambo family still owned these assets, but they would have to settle accounts with Jones after the war to reclaim them.*
*At the same time, the war bonds issued by Jones were already sold out, and many people wanted to buy them but couldn't.* *This included some foreign merchants, and even some Blood Clan merchants who had recently moved to Giant Snake City.*