NOVPUB"Yes, yes... Noble lord, we will follow your orders!" The old Militia squeezed out a wrinkly smile, respectfully and repeatedly responding.
Looking at the submissive old Militia, "Huitu" Puap carelessly patted the other’s head. Then, dressed in the vibrant attire of the Hummingbird Nobility, he surveyed the ramparts until the squad of a hundred Samurai all bowed and saluted, only then did he nod his head in satisfaction. Afterward, he called over his loyal Samurai and asked loudly.
"What have those Tekos barbarians been up to lately?"
The Samurai loyalist bowed and reported.
"Lord, the barbarians have been mostly well-behaved. They kidnapped a few ordinary merchants, abducted a dozen or so civilian women, and a few of them died in tribal armed conflicts, nothing major."
Puap nodded, responding indifferently.
"As long as they don’t involve the Nobility, the death of a few civilians is no concern. We aren’t planning on giving them any grain anyway. These ragtag Tribes have feuds with each other, fighting and brawling doesn’t matter, but we don’t want them dead. We still need to suppress them a bit, otherwise, I’d have trouble explaining to the High Priest!"
Hearing this, the loyalist understood and complimented with a smile.
"That’s right, lord, you’re a big shot who can talk directly to the High Priest!"
Puap burst into loud laughter, continuing proudly.
"Our Huitu Clan has served the supreme High Priest for five generations!..."
Just then, another loyal Samurai came rushing over, anxiously proclaiming.
"Lord, the Tecos Tribe Militia have heard of the great defeat in the north, and they’ve riled up again! They’ve put forth several representatives, demanding to return west to their homes!"
His mood deflated, Puap’s face darkened, and he scoffed.
"Stupid barbarians! Once inside the city, they still think they can escape, as if such good fortune exists?! Even the Noble lords can’t leave now!"
Then, the newly elevated Nobility clenched the Copper Spear in his hand, eyes flashing fiercely.
"These barbarians still need to be disciplined. Come with me, pick out two who don’t have connections and are causing the most trouble, and kill them to serve as a warning! Hmm, the High Priest has instructed, we’ll also go and get some more wine, cakes, cotton, and women, to keep the Chieftains appeased."
At this point, "Huitu" Puap spat forcefully, muttering under his breath.
"Damn it, the Nobility are behaving themselves, and yet the barbarians are causing trouble in the Capital City, the world truly has changed!"
The newly minted Noble nonstop talked as his expression shifted. These past few months had been an eye-opener for him. A war like never before had thrown the world into chaos, only the sharp weapons in one’s hands and the following Samurai are the true foundations of standing tall! As for Divine Descendant Nobility, century-old bloodlines, in wartime, they are all mere flesh and cannot escape a spear to the head.
Having realized this, Puap put on a smiling face, looking back at the Samurai following him.
"Brothers, after dealing with the barbarians, come with me to the logistics camp to pick up stuff! After that, let’s all have a good time and thoroughly enjoy ourselves!"
The following Samurai roared with laughter, loudly agreeing. They gripped their weapons tightly, as if holding everything they desired.
"Old man Chi, are you coming?"
Puap turned his head to ask Chiwaco.
"Noble lord, I’ll stay to guard the ramparts. I need to take care of my daughter when I get back..."
The old Militia smiled along, his wrinkled face blooming like a flower.
"Then you just guard the wall, keep an eye on what’s happening outside... you old blockhead, last time everyone else got a pretty woman when we partied, and you ended up with a tiny daughter!"
Puap slapped Chiwaco on the shoulder with a rough kindness. Then, he smiled at the other six conscripted men. The turban-wearing Weizti shook his head, the bachelor Ayuli readily agreed, half stayed on the ramparts, and the rest followed agilely.
Puap indeed harbored thoughts of winning over this group of seven Militia.
These men had seen blood and experienced great battles, clearly different from the strong men hauled in from the city. They were extremely united, and for some reason, they were all led by an unassuming old man. In reality, Puap had personally assessed that each Militia, when separate, had only average Martial Arts skills. But once they formed a Spear Formation, they were quite formidable and could battle with real Samurai. Among those rough Samurai under his command, out of a hundred, only about thirty were truly combat-worthy. This was the situation in most of the newly formed squads in the Capital City.
As the sun slanted westward, Puap held his head high, leading his men triumphantly away. The Samurai’s laughter carried far, and the civilians along the way cleared out, even the Noble estates were deathly silent. The old Militia silently kept watch on the ramparts until dusk fell, and the replacing Militia arrived, then he took the remaining three Militia and headed back to their dwellings in the city.
Along the way, the bustling Capital City displayed a hint of desolation. The markets were sparse, few people were about, only the Craftsmen forging weapons worked tirelessly, their "clang-clang" hammering sounds carrying with the wind. Under the setting sun, the sacred "House of Wind" pyramid cast a long shadow, while the magnificent "Palace of Wind" glowed with a bloody light.
Chiwaco paused to look for a moment, then lowered his head to walk, heading straight for the Civilian District in the southern part of the city. Apart from the Priestly Temple, Royal Palace, and Noble residences, most civilians resided in simple huts, and even ordinary Samurai did the same.
Passing a large estate, the old Militia took several keen glances; inside were the faint silhouettes of several women. This stone house was recently acquired by Leader Puap, a grand residence with several sections, often calling everyone over to gather and drink. The original owner seemed to be a large spice merchant, who had now been executed for colluding with the enemy, his property all confiscated to replenish military supplies.
