NOVPUBDuring this western campaign, nine out of ten of the effective nobles from the north and the Lake Region had not survived, while the southern effective nobility remained largely intact. For them, the central Kingdom decided whether to absorb or dispose of them, or take conditional actions, and these decisions were all up to the King. But it was best after the autumn harvest."
The sage did not speak for the old nobility; he simply made a detached suggestion. Xiulote nodded, having plans of his own for the arrangement of the South.
"Moving forward, the Kanchalicha, the frontier military nobility, wielding weapons and shields, wearing beast helmets. Originally, they were military chiefs during wars, but later evolved into military nobility constantly waging wars in the frontier regions. Their titles passed down without interruption, their fiefs were remote, and their positions were more independent, with inheritance rights seldom interfered with by the central authority.
Of course, like the Crocodile and the Feathers, those from the great nobility of the Tarasco Kingdom, who supported the survival of the kingdom, their political status was almost the same as Ivachi, yet their autonomy far exceeded it.
In the western campaign, the military nobility were conscripted on the spot by the Kingdom to stand at the very front lines against the Alliance’s two corps. They suffered the heaviest losses in the war, either falling on the battlefield or becoming prisoners."
Images of gruesome battles surfaced in Xiulote’s mind. He nodded slowly, his expression unchanged, indicating his understanding. Jatili continued, moving his fingers to point at a figure dressed in priestly attire, holding a gemstone-laden divine staff.
"Petamuti, the High Priest. In the early Kingdom, religious authority still held considerable influence. The high priests from various regions also controlled tribes and samurai. They possessed their own lineage systems, and even had their own temple schools.
However, the Divine Eagle Royal Family, learning from the experiences of previous kingdoms, intentionally suppressed the priests’ influence. The Royal Family claimed the realm by force, taking direct control of two sacred religious sites and intervening in the selection of priests. Over more than a hundred years, the originally independent priestly power gradually became vassals of the Royal Family. After the war of the western campaign, very few of the kingdom’s high priests remained."
A glint sparked in Xiulote’s eyes. The blue flames of the House of Wind Temple were unforgettable. Deep down, he favored the secularization of religion. However, he had entered the Alliance’s upper echelons as a Black Wolf Priest, and his grandfather was the supreme priestly leader. His background limited his choices. Moreover, together with the elder’s will, he ultimately steered the Alliance’s reforms toward a path of theocracy.
"Apart from these three, from the middle period onward, the Kingdom gave birth to a new type of nobility."
The sage looked at the Kingdom of the Lake’s priestly ruler for a moment, then decided against commenting further on the topic of priests. He moved his finger from the High Priest to the last figure, which was depicted slightly newer, a bejeweled noble holding a drawing tablet.
"Achacha, the court’s advisory nobility. Most were by-blows of the effective nobility, inheriting knowledge but unable to receive fiefs. The Royal Family absorbed them as bureaucratic officials, overseeing directly governed towns and villages, managing urban trade taxes. They had no fiefs, and their incomes came entirely from the Royal Family’s support. These individuals were the pillars of the Royal Family’s centralization, the true administrators of the kingdom. During the Alliance’s western campaign, many of these individuals survived but lost their original positions."
Xiulote pondered in silence, not responding. Unlike the civil official system of the Celestial Empire at this time, this was a fledgling form of the traditional nobility system.
The degree of centralization in the Tarasco Kingdom was higher, naturally requiring more administrative bureaucrats. Unlike the Alliance, the kingdom lacked broad community schools, and with the priest class suppressed, knowledge became even more concentrated among the upper layers of the powerful nobility. Also, as the kingdom’s nobility propagated over several generations with many descendants, it was easier to select administrative talents from among them.
"The future administrative officials of the fief can absorb some of the nobility’s descendants. However, the main administrators should come from the current commoner priests, commoner military officers, and future commoner civil servants. The path from bottom to top needs to be open!"
The young King extended his hand, pointing directly at the third tier’s bottom layer.
"Chieftain, this first person on the third level, wielding a war club and shield, wearing a forked feathered helmet, I have encountered many on the battlefield. No need to mention more, this definitely represents the high-level samurai of the Lake Region. As for these few behind, please elaborate further."
The sage nodded. He was well-versed in the content of these drawings, and now he narrated the details meticulously.
"Second, Anjiangmecha, village chieftain, the village manager. The kingdom’s villages are divided into three types: those near the frontier are mostly owned by Lords, while most of those in the Lake Patzcuaro region are directly affiliated. In the forests, there are many tribes that pay homage. The land there is barren and the terrain is harsh; many tribes semi-farm and semi-hunt, are rough and difficult to tame, and the cost of tax collection is very high. Their villages retain a higher degree of autonomy, and village chieftains can almost be considered low-level nobility Lords. In the distant southeastern mountains of Weytamo, their villages are even completely autonomous,"
"The kingdom uses force as a threat but only requires them to pay tribute once a year, offering food, wood, feathers, and leather, and to provide labor during wartime. At the same time, the royal family controls the import and pricing of salt and cotton fabrics, taxing them in a more gentle manner."
Xiulote’s eyes flickered slightly as he understood.
The Mexica Alliance handled mountain tribes in the same way. However, the Alliance, being martial, often employed more severe methods. Longbow Hunters from the Toltec were thus recruited from the mountains. These hunters have now been promoted to First Level Samurai and still serve in the army. Their tribes, totaling about twenty thousand mountain villagers, will gradually migrate from the Holy City Teotihuacan to the damaged fief in the north, replenishing the population of Rivermouth County."
"Third, Kasixuale, low-level priest. In the villages, priests often come from local families with many members and high influence. They hold the power to conduct festival sacrifices and arrange marriage and funeral ceremonies, and they are revered and respected by the commoners. Their status is second only to the tribe chieftain. During the Alliance’s westward campaigns, grassroots priests didn’t have much influence. In fact, many low-level priests are quite flexible about faith. As long as the identity of the Sun God is slightly adjusted, it is possible to effectively absorb many grassroots priests..."
"Chief, low-level Prepetcha priests can be absorbed. However, they must travel to the Lake Capital City to worship at the Great Temple of the Chief Divine and then receive complete priest training!"
Grasping the implication in Jatili’s words, Xiulote responded solemnly.
"In the tribes and villages of Prepetcha, the priest and village elder are often the same. I know, Chief, as a sage renowned among the tribe, you certainly have a great influence on the lower priests. Please assist me earnestly in naturalizing the priests!"
"The Alliance is willing to accommodate these low-level priests and can temporarily regard Prepetcha’s Sun God Curicaveri as an incarnation of the Chief Divine Huitzilopochtli. However, as the Alliance is founded on religion and promotes the will of the Chief Divine, this decision is irreversible! For the vast majority of commoners, the Alliance demands devout faith."
The young King displayed a regal gaze. He watched the knowledgeable elder until the latter averted his eyes and respectfully lowered his head.
"Your Majesty, I have understood your will and shall assist diligently,"
"Good!"
Faced with Jatili’s submission, Xiulote nodded slightly before he smiled gently.
"The future path of the Alliance is one where divine and political powers are unified. Kings govern the world with genealogical laws. As the Supreme High Priest of the Fifth Level in the whole Tarasco district, I can grant the elder the rank of Fourth Level Chief Priest, to facilitate your endeavors."
"...Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing the honor of a religious title, the knowledgeable elder remained calm, offered his respects, and then stroked the last vacant position of the Third Level and leisurely added,
"Your Majesty, actually, this Third Level should also include newly emerged Trade Tax Officers and high-status Craftsmen. They are newly formed groups that have gradually emerged with the development of the kingdom’s trade. Since Your Majesty strictly controls trade and encompasses many materials into state enterprises; and at the same time, you dispatched legions to take control of the craftsman camp upon taking over the Capital City...Certainly, you already have a complete Divine Tree in mind, and there is no need for this old official to speak more."
"With that, the binary Third Level system of the kingdom has been largely explained. I hope it will be of assistance in your administration of the fief. Now please step forward two paces, and behold these last two important Heritage Slabs!"
