After Lin Tian's army occupied the capital of the Roman Empire, they paid no further attention to other regions of the empire.
This gave the people of the Roman Empire a glimmer of hope that they might be able to restore their nation after Lin Tian left.
However, seven days later, their hopes were shattered.
This was because they discovered that an army of no less than three hundred thousand men had suddenly appeared within the Roman Empire.
This army all held black banners and rode powerful warhorses. Their appearance alone exerted an immense pressure on everyone.
But this was not the most significant aspect. The most important thing was that when they saw Lin Tian, they immediately prostrated themselves in submission.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
These sounds of worship echoed in all directions. The submission of three hundred thousand soldiers brought an overwhelming sense of oppression to the people of the Roman Empire.
It was at this moment that they truly understood why Lin Tian had not paid further attention to the Roman Empire after conquering it.
It turned out that there was a large army behind Lin Tian.
These troops would manage the Roman Empire for Lin Tian after their arrival.
At the same time, many people finally realized that Lin Tian was truly backed by an incredibly powerful nation.
Seeing this army of three hundred thousand men, countless people fell into despair.
"Alas! They still have three hundred thousand troops. We couldn't even match their hundred and fifty thousand. If we have to face these three hundred thousand, we'll likely all be slaughtered on the spot!"
"Hiss! This Great Qin is indeed overwhelmingly powerful. With these three hundred thousand troops appearing, how can our Roman Empire possibly resist?"
"This time, our Roman Empire truly has no chance of recovery!"
Initially, the people of the Roman Empire were filled with hope regarding the restoration of their nation.
But after the appearance of Great Qin's three hundred thousand troops, all their expectations vanished.
Not only that, but a deep fear gnawed at their hearts.
Lin Tian's three hundred thousand troops had arrived, and they had no idea what these soldiers would do to them.
However, they harbored a terrible premonition.
They felt that their Roman Empire would be completely relegated to history, and they themselves would not fare well.
It must be said that sometimes their premonitions were remarkably accurate.
Lin Tian was not as benevolent towards the people of the Roman Empire as he was towards the citizens of Qin.
Upon the arrival of the three hundred thousand troops, Lin Tian immediately issued his orders.
"Go and confiscate all weapons from the people of the Roman Empire. They are not permitted to possess any weapons. Anyone who dares to resist or refuse will be killed!"
"Simultaneously, all the wealth from the cities is to be gathered together, and we will take it back to Great Qin!"
"Secondly, they will be put to work in the mines. The Roman Empire possesses vast mineral resources, including numerous gold mines and gem mines. Furthermore, there are significant reserves of petroleum energy that will be useful in the future!"
"Therefore, the people of the Roman Empire must engage in mining!"
"Thirdly, have the people of the Roman Empire construct large ships. We will need immense vessels to transport our goods back to Great Qin when we depart!"
"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Lin Tian would not return to Great Qin immediately, but he was already making preparations for his return.
The construction of a large number of ships was crucial.
This was because the amount of goods they needed to transport back was simply too vast.
If they relied solely on their warhorses, it would take an unknown number of years to move everything.
However, by utilizing ships, they could transport everything in one go.
Even if one trip was insufficient, they could make repeated voyages.
Of course, the ideal scenario would be to transform the Roman Empire into a perpetual source of wealth, a mine of inexhaustible riches, rather than depleting its treasures in a single sweep.
Only with a continuous influx of wealth into Great Qin could the empire remain eternally strong.
This principle was understood even by ordinary soldiers, who therefore worked with exceptional diligence.
Within just ten days, they had assigned roles to the Roman populace.
Some of the citizens would continue to cultivate the land, while others would go to the mines to extract ore. Yet another group would be tasked with constructing ships.
No one was allowed to remain idle, regardless of their assigned task.
With this division of labor, the people of the Roman Empire immediately began to lament their fate.
"Ah! I knew it, I knew that once our Roman Empire fell, we would never have good days again!"
"Ah! Why were our Pope and Emperor so careless? We clearly had a massive army, yet why did we suffer such a devastating defeat?"
"If there were another chance, I would definitely take up my weapon and resist to the end, fighting for our future!"
It was only after losing their weapons that they truly understood the importance of defending their nation.
Now that Great Qin had occupied their land, they were living a life worse than death.
If it weren't for the fact that the soldiers of Great Qin showed a modicum of compassion, providing them with clothing and food, it's likely that every single one of them would have rioted.
After all, these were once citizens of the Roman Empire, and their lives had been quite comfortable.
Now, they toiled ceaselessly, not to earn for themselves, and their very lives were not their own to control.
A single misstep could result in their death.
How could they accept such a drastic change?
Consequently, many harbored deep resentment.
Fortunately, at this juncture, Lin Tian offered a new promise.
His promise was quite simple: five years later, the people of the Roman Empire would be granted their freedom.
This promise brought a renewed sense of hope to the Roman populace, as if they had glimpsed a new dawn.
"Is that true? Freedom after five years?"
"So, if we persevere for five years, we can return to our former lives?"
"Hiss! Five years, it's not an impossible duration. After all, if we were to join the army, we would be away from home for many years. Five years, I can endure that!"
The figure of five years seemed manageable to many.
They felt that if they could just hold on for five years, they would survive.
Thus, new hope began to bloom in their hearts.
This newfound hope also led to a significant shift in their attitudes.
Many had been deeply pessimistic, and while they hadn't considered fighting Lin Tian's army, some had contemplated suicide.
This was because, amidst the endless labor, they saw no hope for survival.
However, with the promise of five years, they immediately felt that continuing to live might lead to a better future.
As for many of the Great Qin soldiers, they found it difficult to comprehend why Lin Tian had stipulated only five years of forced labor for the Roman populace.