NOVPUBUnder such grassroots construction, the old nobility’s influence, along with their bodies, were completely erased by the devastating national war. New civilian administrators were able to emerge and become the managers of the village, striving to implement the will from the power center... meaning, the degree of centralization had further increased.
Seeing the sign from His Highness, the three power-holders in the village once again bowed respectfully, and then carefully stood up. The village Priest softly called out, and two young girls came forward, heads lowered, to offer fresh wreaths to His Highness.
Xiulote smiled slightly and tilted his head. The Head Warrior then took the wreath and handed it to the Escort beside him. Next, the young King gazed solemnly at the middle-aged Priest.
"Take me to see the village’s altar. How is the spring cultivation sacrificial rite? Are the dawn and dusk prayers completed on time? Have the Alliance’s religious laws been recited?"
The middle-aged Priest, half-bowing yet displaying a hint of a Warrior’s demeanor, came from the Alliance. He had undergone five years of military training in his youth and was also skilled in combat. Fluent in both Tarasco and Mexica, he was at the far end of the great tree of the Alliance’s rule.
"Respected Priest-King, the spring cultivation rites were grand. According to the latest directives of the High Priesthood, the Chief Divine has replaced the God of Harvest, without erecting statues, only leaving an Emblem... Prayers are held communal in the morning and evening, and although the villagers were somewhat confused, they are now gradually getting on the right track... The busy farming season just ended, and I’ve just finished reciting the merits of military promotion by the Alliance, encouraging cultivation and fertility... Your Majesty, the altar is here."
As they spoke, they arrived at the center of the village. There stood a stone and wood altar, two meters in height, with a large wooden Emblem of the Sun Hummingbird atop, nearly four meters in total height. Around the altar lay various grains, as well as some sacrificial feathers, birds, and small beasts.
Xiulote watched for a moment, his face revealing a slight smile. With religion at the core of the Alliance’s rule, the altar was crucial to both divine right and public opinion.
"The Chief Divine is bright and merciful... preservation of manpower should be maximized; sacrifice birds and beasts... even in major festivals, do not sacrifice humans."
The young King commanded solemnly, the middle-aged Priest blinked and nodded seriously. Then, Xiulote turned to the village chief who followed him.
"How well was the village’s spring plowing done? Was the required acreage achieved? How was the collection of manure? How is the village’s granary construction?... Everyone in the village must participate in labor, and you are no exception!"
The elderly village chief nodded repeatedly, his face’s wrinkles blooming like a flower. He replied lowly and respectfully.
"Yes, yes! Your Highness, I have personally led everyone in cultivation, not resting for a moment. The village’s spring plowing was completed three weeks ago, without delaying the farming time!"
Hearing this, Xiulote frowned slightly, but said nothing. He simply glanced lightly at the old village chief. The latter shuddered slightly and continued.
"As per your instructions, the able-bodied men in the village need to cultivate eight acres, adult women six acres, and the elderly and frail four acres. Additionally, a few craftsmen were specially arranged to repair damaged farming tools... Outside the village, a pit was dug to collect manure, which is also used as a communal toilet. Everything is guided by the Priest, and we are also making compost... The village’s granary is somewhat damaged, being filled with earth and stone, and will soon be repaired."
The old village chief led Xiulote to the front of the granary. This was a robust brick and stone building, usually the most important building in a village. Due to the lack of metal farming tools and plowing animals, villages in Central America mostly still maintained a collective village system, somewhat similar to the well-field system of the West Zhou dynasty. The villagers needed to work collectively, then centralize most of the harvest into a public granary for storage during barren years, and subsequently, the village administrator was responsible for the allocation of granary food, paying the Lord’s tribute, and arranging villagers’ labor.
Under Bertade’s escort, Xiulote entered the granary. He looked at the corners of the room smeared with mud and the rainwater seeping into the warehouse, then touched the slightly damp clay floor, and slowly shook his head.
"This won’t do! The granary must be waterproof, and the foundation needs to be paved with brick and stone!"
Xiulote pondered for a while. He looked at the frightened old village chief and reassured him.
"This is not your fault. I will soon build a large kiln around the Capital City for firing building bricks. When that happens, you can send someone directly there to get bricks for repairing the granary... But, these bricks must be used on the granary, and the granary must be completely waterproof! Otherwise..."
Hearing this, the old village chief immediately prostrated himself, repeatedly assenting. Xiulote nodded, then strode out of the granary. Next, he beckoned and walked away with a hint of a smile on his face.
"Come here. Are you a militia under Ezpan’s command? How are things going here?"
The Militia Captain set down his spear, approached Xiulote empty-handed, and then dropped to his knees with a thud to pay his respects.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you! Yes, I am a militia under Captain Ezpan’s command. The captain often says that you are our only sun!"
"I am doing well here! I married a local wife, raised a flock of turkeys, and even got a large house... Oh, about the village... Now I have five militiamen who followed me here, and another twenty local able-bodied men recruited to protect the whole village... When harvest time comes this year, I will lead them to deliver the tribute to the capital city!..."
Xiulote listened patiently and nodded slightly. A village of two thousand people, with five seasoned militiamen and twenty ordinary militiamen, along with the authority of the priesthood and the village leader, could almost maintain basic order and catch sporadic bandits. After all, this was the heart of the Lake Region, not the borderland ravaged by the Canine Descendants. The village’s militiamen could take an extra ration from the storage to sustain several training sessions a month.
"Very good!"
After hearing the Militia Captain’s story, Xiulote smiled and nodded. He raised his hand to take a red cloak from a trusted aide, and personally handed it to the Militia Captain. The captain, somewhat excited, draped the cloak over himself and then knelt to pay his respects.
"Your Highness... Marshal! When will the legion march again? I want to fight valiantly for you and also to rise as a respected senior samurai!"
At these words, Xiulote’s eyes twinkled with amusement and admiration. He stepped forward, kindly patted the Militia Captain’s shoulder, and spoke with a smile.
"There’s no need to rush, just patiently root down in the village and maintain good order in the community. You are the cornerstone of the Alliance... There will be many opportunities to go on expeditions later..."
Afterward, Xiulote continued his tour around the village. He stood outside, looking at the villagers’ humble and cramped thatched houses and peered inside through the doorways. The expression of the young king grew serious; the limitations of the era restricted the development of productivity, leaving the lives of ordinary people merely to struggle for existence.
The young king issued no further orders but only stood in front of the altar for a while, then gazed at the wooden emblem of the Sun Hummingbird. The towering hummingbird spread its wings, flying toward the hopeful sun. Then, under the escort of his aides, Xiulote turned and left, not stopping until he disappeared at the end of the fields. Only then did the prostrate villagers rise, their faces showing divine-like reverence.
Rumors had already begun to spread unconsciously around the royal city that the king, embodied as a high priest with the Emerald Divine Staff, foresaw all futures...
Xiulote returned through the drizzle. He passed through the sturdy city gates, traversed the empty streets of the capital city, and returned to the magnificent Palace of Wind, all the way to the grand hall. Two painters, who had been working, immediately set down their brushes, paid their respects to his Highness, and bowed out.
The young king briefly surveyed the wall murals, which were being altered. The Prepetcha people, led by the Sun Hummingbird, had come to the fertile lakeside. Then, they joined the powerful and tolerant Mexica Alliance, with their Mexica kin, they built the magnificent Qinchongcan City. The existence of the "House of Wind" pyramid stood as a testament to the Chief Divine descending to the mortal realm, issuing decrees, and completely merging the two clans!
Then, Xiulote took off his raincoat, wiped off the rainwater, and sat down at a wooden table to examine the latest album.
Kuluka the Monkey busily helped hang his Highness’s clothes and brought over a cup of honeyed hot cocoa, then sat cross-legged beside him.
"Monkey, have all the latest scout reports been delivered?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, they’re all here... Your fief is truly vast!"
At this, Kuluka took out a large wooden board, carefully handed it to Xiulote. The young king looked at the densely marked board, studied it for a moment, and a satisfied smile finally appeared on his face!
