The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

Compared to the monster meat that King Roland distributed to everyone, the people preferred the forty or so calves of the Wild Horned Bull. When they learned that King Roland allowed everyone to adopt these calves, the entire city of Jiliu was in an uproar. Regardless of whether these things were monsters or not, for the common people of Lagrang, whose farming talents were also maxed out, the word "cow" in their names made it all worthwhile. What did it matter what they were?

The fresh meat they had just acquired lost its appeal. People on the street divided the calves among themselves, one calf per household. After registering, everyone quickly distributed the calves. Roland King, who had been thinking about how to encourage everyone to raise livestock, couldn't say a word. When he finally had a chance to speak, he discovered that the calves in front of him were gone...

“Spring plowing is just around the corner, and the kingdom is facing a shortage of animal and human resources! It’s tough on the people…” Yunfeng walked over and shook his head at Roland.

"Hmm." Roland nodded knowingly. Indeed, in this magical world where productivity was underdeveloped, livestock were equivalent to the labor of several people for ordinary people. No wonder those people rushed over like they had a red-eyed disease, snatched the reins, and ran away.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter!" The dull sound of cow hooves came from the stone road.

"Ah!" Roland turned his head and saw, good heavens! A huge group of people were returning with calves!

"Um... my people, do you feel that raising a high-level magical beast is a burden for you? It's alright..." Roland quickly stepped forward, trying to persuade the people. After all, the royal family was currently dirt poor; where would they find the manpower to run a ranch to raise these future behemoths? (Just kidding, Yun Feng is currently part-time as the manager of a chicken farm...)

"Excuse me, Your Highness, please make way!" An old man bowed to Roland, patting his chest.

"Huh?" Roland stepped aside, puzzled, while staring at the old man with a strange look.

"Tsk tsk tsk! It's covered in dust. Oh well, it'll be clean after a wash! A little dirt won't hurt you!" Under Roland's abstract gaze, the old man picked up a few strips of cut adult horned beef from the ground and slowly tossed them onto the calf's back.

(Buffalo calf: Hmm? This smells like mom!)
"Your Highness, I wish you good health..." The old man bowed again and led the cow, whose meat had been hung up, away.

"We've brought everything from the neighborhood, time to go home!"

"Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness!" Everyone brushed past Roland, picked up a few pieces of meat from the ground, and then slowly left.

“…Thank you!” Roland’s eyes twitched wildly.

In total, it seems that no one came to return the goods, but rather to pick them up... They were in such a hurry to take the cattle back that they forgot to bring the beef with them.

……

"The people love you dearly, Your Highness." Nyx quietly crept up from behind and wrapped his arms around Roland's waist. Roland stood by the window, quietly gazing at his kingdom. "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown!" Roland murmured. He only saw the thief feasting, but never saw the thief being beaten. The current glory was earned through the blood and sweat of the past.

If Roland hadn't chosen to join the dwarves on their expedition to Erebor, and had instead let history unfold as it would, the Kingdom of Lagrange would probably be nonexistent now, and the situation in the North would likely be just as chaotic as it is now. In the end, Dain and King Brand would still have died on Erebor...

“But how many kings can truly do all that?” Nyx sighed. Kings all like to claim themselves as sages, but how many can actually reach the heights of those sages?
"I doubt I can do it..." Roland shook his head with a smile. If he were to write his own biography after his death, it would probably go something like this: "I was originally a nobody on Earth (a nobody without land is called a nobody, a nobody without a house is called a nobody), fortunately favored by the system, Heaven will entrust me with a great mission, and I will surely suffer hardships... Ugh! I'm getting off-topic. I spent my whole life on the battlefield, striving for the restoration of the empire throughout the Central Plains, and later I received the supreme title of Emperor on Horseback..."

Roland put his arm around Nyx and gave him a doting smile. In fact, Roland didn't have any lofty ideas. He was just an ordinary student, at most with the mindset of a petty bourgeois. He simply wanted to live a better life for himself and for Nyx and his subordinates. It was the times and other people who pushed Roland forward.

"I am unhappy with my own life, yet I cannot bear to see the suffering of others..." Roland smiled bitterly. Wasn't this the best description of himself? Logically speaking, the people of the Middle-earth did not live particularly happy lives. Only the nobles could live a life of luxury, while the rest of humanity struggled to make ends meet.

Even if Roland could barely keep the people under his rule from starving, the commoners would be eternally grateful. The Lagranges are actually quite easy to please; a bite to eat and a shack to live in would make these refugees who had lost the empire's protection very happy (the reality of refugees in the game). But when Roland saw those hopeful eyes, perhaps it was his mission... at that moment Roland's heart was touched. They were all living, breathing people, loyal subjects of his, and under the same banner as those brave and fearless soldiers!

“Because I am King Lagrange, destined to become the man of Emperor Lagrange.” Roland looked at the horizon and embraced Nyx with a light laugh.

“Yes, you are the greatest king!” Nyx’s eyes were filled with longing as she looked at her beloved Roland, and she leaned sweetly against his chest.

……

"Tsk! System, system, it seems like it's been a long time since you've refreshed my troop types." Roland muttered irritably as he idly fiddled with the system panel that only he could see.

His main purpose was to check on Apophis Breo and his group. Roland had no idea how these loyal Lagranges were faring in places beyond the reach of the kingdom's influence, but he could see their general situation through the system panel (though it was of little use).

"They seem to be in trouble!" Roland rubbed his temples, looking exasperated. Caslo was fine when he left, but how long has it been since he left? So many of his warriors are already wounded! However, the King's Knights are unharmed. It seems they encountered some unexpected situation, but they are fully capable of handling it.

"Many of the brave warriors have lost nearly a third of their health... I hope they're not seriously injured." All Roland could do now was pray. Although there hadn't been any casualties yet, with so many wounded... how many of them would still be able to fight when they arrived? Roland couldn't help but wonder.

"Ugh, novels are a curse! If I ever get the chance to go back to Earth, anyone who spouts nonsense about how wonderful it is to be an emperor or king, I'll slap them across the face with my Dragon Slayer Sword! Like, I'll blow their head off!" Roland thought viciously. He'd just calmed down and realized that since becoming this damn king, he hadn't lived the supposedly happy life. He had a lot of power, but he was exhausted like a dog! It's true what they say, power and responsibility are linked! The only ones who truly indulge in mindless enjoyment are either tyrants or last kings!