This competition sounds like a good way to visually display the abilities of the two princesses!
A small group of the Beastmen questioned its fairness, but those doubts were quickly drowned out by other opinions, and most people in the Empire agreed to this competition.
After Shen Tang signed a territory-related agreement with the Emperor.
Greenfield City officially became her legal territory, possessing a high degree of autonomy.
It can even form its own City Defense Army.
In the past, this was absolutely impossible; otherwise, they would be condemned by the Empire and considered an act of treason, leading to charges of exile or even death.
When the matters at the Imperial City were finally settled, half a month had passed.
After Shen Tang returned to Greenfield City, the system released the first territory mission.
[Beep! It has been detected that the wall defenses of Greenfield City are too weak and vulnerable to external threats. Now issuing a territory mission for the host: Build protective walls! Mission deadline: three months, reward: Fortress Core!]
The system explained, [The Fortress Core placed within the walls can enhance overall strength, so there’s no fear even against missiles and cannons!]
Ordinary walls can only fend off beasts and some light to moderate thermal weapon attacks.
If an army attacked with heavy weaponry, the walls wouldn’t withstand it, and the entire city would be razed to the ground!
This Fortress Core sounds quite nice, a good thing indeed.
Shen Tang remembered that after maxing out the affinity strategy with Xue Yinzhou, the system rewarded a wall blueprint.
She quickly took it out to check and was amazed.
The wall design was extremely logical, maximizing defense.
Shen Tang specifically called the City Lord to the square to explain this plan to him.
The City Lord was surprised, "Your Highness just returned, why suddenly want to build walls?"
Shen Tang’s heart weighed heavily as she recalled that in a few years, the polluted lands would expand wildly, and impoverished and backward border towns like Greenfield City would be the first lands devoured.
She looked over at the citizens of the city, knowing they would all perish, none would be spared.
As the lord, her primary duty is to ensure the safety of the people.
Shen Tang didn’t want to cause too much panic and spoke gently, "I’m just suddenly a little worried. The Empire has been in a peaceful era for years without major wars, but with tensions between nations, who knows when a war might break out. Greenfield City is at the border and would easily be affected by the flames of war. We can’t take it lightly; we must always be prepared for the unexpected."
Upon hearing this, the City Lord also felt a deep concern. He hadn’t thought as far ahead but simply wished to lead the citizens to better days.
In his youth, he had thought about renovating this old and worn city wall, but for various reasons, the construction never started.
"Your Highness is right, the wall does need urgent renovation."
Shen Tang handed him the wall design blueprint.
The City Lord looked over it and was amazed, the design was nearly perfect, addressing both the disadvantages and advantages of Greenfield City’s situation by the mountains and river.
Maximizing advantages and turning disadvantages into strengths.
Even the Empire’s top military designers might find it difficult to achieve such precision!
However, this project would consume a vast amount of manpower and resources. It would be the most expensive project since the founding of Greenfield City.
Shen Tang noticed the City Lord’s hesitation, "Don’t worry, I know the city’s conditions are limited, but this project will benefit future generations. The sooner we start, the sooner the city’s inhabitants will benefit."
She called Xiao Jin over, "For the next few months, put aside the hunting work, and lead a team to get these walls up. It’ll be safer in the future."
Xiao Jin said, "I always thought this rickety old wall needed urgent renovation. If I led a team to attack, just a hundred men would be enough to take this city."
Shen Tang, uninterested in his boasting, gave him the concrete formula, "Building the walls is a major project; there’s much to prepare. It’s tough, exhausting, and time-consuming. Others may complain, but I’m more at ease leaving it to you."
"You’re in charge of preparing raw materials!"
Facing her smiling gaze, Xiao Jin’s lips slightly curled as he spoke dominantly, "Just a small matter."
He glanced at the formula, surprise flashed in his eyes, then he put it away, tapping his temple with confidence and smiling, "Leave it to me. I promise to complete the mission."
Then he transformed into his true form and called a squad to work outside the city.
"Xiao Tang, I heard from the City Lord that you plan to renovate the walls." Shen Li had also heard about this after returning from a hunt outside the city.
Upon seeing him return, Shen Tang’s eyes lit up, "I was just thinking of finding you. Perfect timing, I have something for you too!"
Seeing her mischievous smile, Shen Li had a bad feeling and grinned, "Xiao Tang’er really knows how to make use of people. I just came back from hunting, and you’re eager to put me to work."
"Don’t worry, compared to the dirty and exhausting work Xiao Jin is doing, your task is much lighter, just some record-keeping and accounting."
Xiao Jin’s task involved building quarries and lumberyards outside the city for processing and transporting materials, requiring someone to handle accounting, checking if materials sent to the city were secretly diverted.
Such tasks naturally must be entrusted to those closest and most trustworthy to her.
This sly fox in the family has the most cunning mind, the fastest brain, and is the most suitable choice.
She couldn’t quite grasp the sly fox’s mind, but on such minor matters, Shen Li certainly wouldn’t hide anything from her, and Shen Tang trusted him greatly.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Help The Villainess Trapped in the Beast World's Drama (by Lotus Seeds)