Chapter 4 – The Crimson Banner Rises
Morning broke with the rhythmic clang of steel. Lü Bu's voice thundered across the training field long before the sun crested the hills.
"Strike faster! A soldier's hesitation is his death!"
Five infantrymen swung their wooden swords in unison, sweat pouring down their faces. Their movements were rough, but they were improving. Under Lü Bu's merciless eye, even weakness became discipline.
I watched from the rampart we'd built overnight, arms crossed. The once-empty plains around our camp were now marked by palisades, watchtowers, and the beginnings of farmland. Smoke rose from the forge, and the faint smell of bread lingered in the air.
The Crimson Village was alive.
[Territory Productivity: +10% (Morning Work Cycle Active)]
[Morale: 94% | Stability: 87%]
The notifications flickered in the corner of my vision as I mentally reviewed the next goal: Town Rank. Fifty population, two resource nodes, and an upgraded barracks. It sounded simple—until you realized every goal meant conflict.
Evan approached, carrying a bundle of rough parchment. "Lord Kino, I've finished the population report."
I skimmed through the neat handwriting. He'd listed every name, role, and contribution—though, for now, the population stood at only ten. The villagers we'd recruited in the past two days were a mix of wanderers, crafters, and one scholar who'd somehow survived near the ruins west of here.
"We're growing faster than expected," I said. "But too fast attracts attention."
Evan's brow furrowed. "Should we stop recruiting?"
"No," I replied, glancing toward the horizon. "We expand quietly. No banners, no broadcasts. Only progress."
Lü Bu's voice carried from below. "Then why call it the Crimson Village if you hide your colors?"
I grinned. "Because one day, General… we'll raise that banner high enough for the world to see—and by then, it'll be too late for them to stop it."
He laughed, a deep, fierce sound. "A lord after my own heart."
By mid-morning, I headed to the forge. The new blacksmith, an old man named Grigor, was hammering a glowing chunk of metal. Sparks danced in the air.
"Good quality iron," he said proudly. "With proper tools, we could craft spears fit for a real army."
"We'll get there," I said, opening the resource panel.
[Iron: 132 Units]
[Wood: 480 Units]
[Stone: 390 Units]
[Food: 640 Units]
Enough to sustain growth, not enough to dominate. And the forest's resources wouldn't last forever.
We needed to secure external nodes—mines, rivers, farmland. But that meant expansion beyond our borders… and into contested zones.
[System Notification: New Feature Unlocked – Alliance Network]
Lords can now send alliance requests, trade pacts, or non-aggression treaties.
I opened the tab. The world map appeared, showing countless dots of light—each one a lord's territory. The nearest were only a few kilometers away.
I sorted through requests. Three messages had already arrived overnight.
[Alliance Request – Lord Ethan_US]
"Heard of your early upgrade. Let's work together—share blueprints, defend each other. I've got ships; you've got stone."
[Trade Pact – Lord Ling_CN]
"You are Chinese blood, yes? Let us rise together for the Motherland. My commander is Yue Fei. You and Lü Bu could rule the East."
[Non-Aggression Pact – Lord Marcus_BR]
"Don't attack me and I won't attack you. Simple. I've got enough enemies."
I leaned back, thinking. Alliances were double-edged swords. They gave stability—but also visibility. I couldn't afford either yet.
Lü Bu walked in just then, wiping sweat from his brow. "You've been quiet. What's wrong?"
"The other lords are reaching out," I said.
He smirked. "Dogs wagging their tails before the feast."
"You think we should refuse?"
"I think," he said, "we should let them believe we're friendly. Then strike when it benefits us."
I chuckled. "That's ruthless."
He shrugged. "Empire requires it."
I accepted the trade pact from Ling_CN but rejected the others. Trade was harmless—for now.
[Trade Pact Established: Lord Ling_CN]
Weekly Resource Exchange Active (Auto-Trading)
By afternoon, I led a small patrol beyond the walls—Lü Bu, two soldiers, and Evan for mapping. The wind carried the scent of pine and something metallic.
A few kilometers out, we found it—a shallow ravine lined with glittering rock. Iron ore.
[Resource Node Discovered: Iron Vein (Tier 1)]
Option: Claim (Cost: 100 Wood, 50 Stone)
"Claim it," I said immediately.
The sigil of the Crimson Village pulsed across the rock face. My map updated automatically.
[Iron Node Secured]
[Territory Size Expanded: +0.5 km Radius]
While Evan marked the perimeter, Lü Bu stood guard, halberd resting on his shoulder. "This place will draw others," he warned.
"Then we fortify it," I replied. "Set two men here. No one touches this mine."
He nodded approvingly.
On the way back, we passed ruins—ancient, vine-covered stone arches half-buried in dirt. The system pinged softly.
[Structure Detected: Unknown Ruins (Survey Required)]
Estimated Reward: Relic or Blueprint
"Another time," I said, noting the coordinates. Exploration was tempting, but survival came first.
When we returned, the camp buzzed with activity. The villagers cheered as the system blared across the sky.
[Global Announcement: Lord Kino has claimed the first Iron Resource Node in Region 73.]
The World Chat immediately exploded again.
[World Chat]
Ethan_US: Damn! He's doing it again! Who IS this guy!?
Ling_CN: Brother Kino! Your name spreads fast!
AegisFort: If anyone finds Kino's location, DM me. 1,000 food reward.
Kino: …
I didn't respond. Lü Bu was right—dogs wag before the feast.
Still, the announcement couldn't be undone. The world now knew someone was growing faster than they should. That meant attention, envy, and eventually, hostility.
That evening, I climbed the newly built watchtower. The view stretched endlessly: rolling grasslands, forests to the east, distant smoke columns marking other lords' camps.
Lü Bu joined me, his armor gleaming in the fading light. "The men whisper your name when they train," he said. "They say you plan your empire like heaven plans war."
I smirked. "They flatter me too much."
He shook his head. "No. They see what I see. You hide your ambition, but it burns."
We watched the horizon in silence.
Then I opened the system's construction panel and selected Crimson Banner.
[Unique Structure: Crimson Banner]
Description: A symbol of loyalty and morale.
Effect: +15% Morale, +10% Training Efficiency
Requirement: Village Rank, Commander Loyalty > 80%
Lü Bu's loyalty was already maxed at 92%.
I confirmed the build. A pillar rose in the center of the village, topped by a crimson flag bearing a golden halberd—the mark of Lü Bu and I together.
When the banner unfurled, a gust of wind swept across the camp. The soldiers froze, staring in awe. The crimson fabric glowed faintly as if it drew power from the very world.
[Crimson Banner Constructed]
[Village Morale +15%]
[Commander Loyalty Increased: Lü Bu – 95%]
Lü Bu bowed slightly, something rare in him. "Now it feels like a true army."
"It's just the beginning," I said softly.
As the night settled, I sat beside the fire, checking the new notifications.
[Territory – Crimson Village]
Rank: Level 2 (Progress 45%)
Population: 10
Resource Nodes: 1 (Iron Vein)
Military Strength: 5 Infantry + Commander Lü Bu
Morale: 99% | Stability: 89%
Strong numbers—but numbers alone didn't win wars.
Evan approached with a worried look. "Lord Kino… scouts report torches in the distance. Another group heading this way."
Lü Bu's hand went to his halberd instantly.
"How many?" I asked.
"Maybe twenty," Evan said, voice shaking. "They carry no banners."
Bandits—or worse, another Lord's army.
I rose, eyes cold. "Then we test our new soldiers tonight."
Lü Bu grinned, savage and eager. "Finally. Blood to christen the banner."
The drums of battle echoed softly as I gave the order to prepare defenses.
The Crimson Banner fluttered under the moonlight, its gold symbol gleaming like fire.
And for the first time, the Crimson Village would face war.
End of Chapter 4