"Let lead twenty thousand people to garrison lands and have the Imperial Guards returned to ?"
The morning light fell through the tent's apex, illuminating the faces of the two kings, leaving no expression concealed. Hearing Aweit's jest, Xiulote was initially stirred. Whether in terms of prestige, experience, or ability, he was the most suitable person to oversee the garrison, having previously managed the cultivation of twenty thousand tribes in Water Valley City. If he could manage one area now, without being limited to the God King's side...
"No! No, that's not right! I must refuse!... The fourth line of the hexagram reads, 'In all things, nothing harmful, wield humility.'... Being in a position of assistance, with the King above and subjects below, one should rely adapt to the grand sche, allocate tasks and resources, and maintain modesty and low profile!..."
Such fleeting thoughts took only an instant; Xiulote felt a sudden chill in his heart, yet maintained a humble smile, revealing nothing outwardly. After pondering for a few monts, he gently shook his head and said.
"Honorable God King! As the Supre High Priest of the grand army, my duty is divination and sacrificial rites, to inspire the troops' morale. The army marches southward, attacking Cloud Mountain City, and it's unknown how long the tough battle will last. If entangled in a prolonged siege, priestly rituals to reassure the troops beco increasingly necessary!... As for the garrison's mundane affairs, it would be prudent for the God King to appoint an able Legion Commander to fully oversee them!"
"Oh? Appoint a Legion Commander? Xiulote, you should not decline; which Legion Commander's governance skills can compare with yours?"
Aweit's smile remained unchanged, his gaze fixed on Xiulote's face, keen to catch any minutiae. Yet Xiulote continued to shake his head, earnestly saying.
"Honorable God King, as the Supre High Priest, I should serve the Chief Divine, following the divine path of the priesthood instead of governing one area... Within the Eastern troops, Legion Commander Chichimiqui guards the rear diligently. Legion Commander Chilto can win hearts, adept at appeasing each tribe... Legion Commander Mihoti holds royal lineage, respected status, and as the honorable nobility of Sun City, he can stabilize an area... In my humble opinion, these three Generals can handle the garrison affairs well!"
"Being the Supre High Priest, one should follow the divine path of the priesthood rather than govern one area? Quite right! Xiulote, you have always been graced with Divine Revelation, dedicating your energies to the noble divine path is the greatest divine blessing for the Alliance!..."
Hearing this, Aweit gazed deeply at Xiulote for a while, confirming his sincerity, then nodded with particular satisfaction. Afterwards, he gently rubbed his temples, contemplating the three candidates Xiulote suggested.
"Chichimiqui and Chilto are plain Samurai whom I have promoted personally; their ability and loyalty are indeed sufficient! However, speaking of governing the garrison, neither has local experience, nor do they command a cadre of literate and calculating individuals to manage village affairs... As for Mihoti, though a local City-State leader and of royal descent, possessing governance capabilities and talents, he's not trustworthy enough to entrust the rear to him!... Moreover, by holding the three Southern City-State corps, I intend to deplete them in sieges to weaken powerful nobles, completing the centralization and redistribution amongst the Southern Three States... The choice of the garrison leader is of critical importance, it must be soone reliable and capable!..."
Aweit deliberated for so ti, his smile unchanged, once more directing his gaze at the properly seated Xiulote. He shook his head slightly and spoke with a smile.
"Xiulote, here in my tent, since there's no one else, no need to be so restrained! Co, sit beside …"
"Yes! Honorable God King!"
"I've said, as this isn't a formal council eting, you need not be so distant! Call teacher…"
"Yes! Respe... teacher!"
Xiulote relaxed slightly, intending to kneel-sit beside Aweit. Aweit, however, laughed and drew him over, transforming his stance into a cross-legged xica family gathering posture. Xiulote showed a trace of surprise on his face, then appropriately displayed a bit of gratitude. Aweit, with a gentle deanor, patted his shoulder.
"Xiulote, my student. The three candidates you ntioned earlier do not fully satisfy ; they can at most serve as deputies. And the harvest of Divine Stone City's garrison will determine the foundational support for subsequent southern expeditions, holding imnse significance! It must be managed by a truly experienced and capable general, who also has a cohort of skilled garrison folks to get the matter done sincerely!"
"An experienced general? Familiar cadre?…"
Hearing this, Xiulote pondered briefly, gaining insight. This matter, after much circling, still lands back onto his lap… no, it lands back onto the Kingdom of the Lake line! He considered for a while, softly asking.
"God King, do you an for to select one of my trusted aides to be the Alliance's garrison general?"
"Hmm, indeed! For chores like these, to be executed truly, a reliable cadre is necessary so as not to hinder practical execution…"
"I understand!…"
Xiulote contemplated briefly, then bowed respectfully and answered humbly.
"Honorable… teacher! The key task of the garrison can be entrusted to my Guard Commander Ecatl. He is steady in his affairs, thoughtful, having followed and overseen the Water Valley City garrison, both capable and experienced! For managing the garrison cadre, he can bring along my Thousand Imperial Guard Legion. Those thousand participated in the previous garrison and have many skilled in calculus, fit to handle this essential task!"
"Hmm! Xiulote, you intend to give your Guard Commander, along with the last thousand Kingdom Imperial Guards in the army, to the garrison?!"
"Yes, teacher! The Chief Divine bears witness, this is the most suitable choice. They can manage the garrison well! And I beg your forgiveness for my small selfish motive. These one thousand Imperial Guards have been ticulously taught by ; most of them can read and calculate. If used in critical siege monts like the Tonsured Guard, it would be sowhat of a pity. Rather, it would be better to leave them behind to garrison..."
After speaking, Xiulote bowed humbly, his face genuinely sincere with a tinge of regret. Aweit put away his gentle smile and showed a rare expression of surprise. Xiulote was handing over his last trusted power to him, genuinely open-hearted, entrusting life and death to his hands. Though he had always kept Xiulote by his side, separating him from the Kingdom's Imperial Guards, the fact that Xiulote willingly gave up his remaining force...
"Xiulote..."
Aweit's gaze was deep at first, watching his student's candid, respectful, and sincere expression. It took quite a while before he showed real comfort. This ti, he paused for a mont, without a friendly smile or any stern deanor, and simply spoke calmly.
"My student, your ability to prioritize the Alliance's overall situation brings great comfort!... Shadow Dagger!"
"God King, Your Majesty!..."
With Aweit's call, the Chief Intelligence Officer, Shadow Dagger, erged from nowhere. He was dressed in inconspicuous gray robes and silently knelt before Aweit, waiting for the God King's command.
"Royal Decree: Establish a garrison in the Divine Stone City Valley, appoint Ecatl as the Great General of the garrison, leading one thousand Kingdom's Imperial Guards, four thousand City-State Warriors, and fifteen thousand Militia, overseeing the garrison of over a hundred thousand Mistec Tribe mbers! Flower Carving Legion Commander Chilto will serve as deputy, leading eight thousand Royal Legion mbers to assist. All affairs related to the garrison should be primarily managed by Ecatl, while the north and south defense of the valley is entrusted to Chilto!..."
"Yes!..."
Shadow Dagger bowed respectfully and promptly prepared to draft the Royal Decree. But Aweit gently waved his hand and added another instruction.
"Shadow Dagger, deploy forty of my trusted aides, plus ten Secret Guards, under Xiulote's command. Protect his safety diligently, and all Alliance intelligence reports should also be copied to him!"
Without a single unnecessary word, Shadow Dagger simply glanced at Xiulote and nodded firmly in response.
"Yes!"
"Dismiss!"
"Yes!"
After Shadow Dagger left silently and swiftly, Aweit turned to his student beside him, advising him earnestly.
"Xiulote, since you have clearly chosen the priestly path of divinity, the position of the Alliance's High Priest is naturally reserved for you! However, given the current complex situation within the High Priesthood and your age of under thirty... there's no need to rush. You need to build a solid foundation."
"The Chief Divine bears witness! You've received a Divine Revelation, acquiring the divine thod of 'divination,' which has already created so hindrances with the High Priesthood's Elder Priests! You should anticipate the impact this new divination will have on those old priests' divination authority; it's a true power struggle! If you hadn't introduced it in the Eastern Expedition but had revealed it in the Lake Capital City, it might have already stirred quite a commotion, perhaps even leading to confrontation..."
"My student, upon your return to the Capital City, you will naturally beco one of the strongest contenders for the position of High Priest. Now you have displayed clear intent to seize power... Although High Priest Uguel may not be inclined to vie for power and perhaps is even willing to step down, the other Elder Priests and the various priest factions' clandestine struggles are highly unpredictable!... You must constantly guard against these hidden arrows! Staying by my side, with the protection of my trusted aides and Secret Guards, is the safest place!"
"Additionally, starting tomorrow, a batch of young nobles and Royal Family scions will co to learn from you as their teacher, studying the new divine thod of 'divination'! By spreading this new divination, you can accrue a group of reliable Royal family priest disciples, augnting the Royal Family's divine authority… and enhance your royal reputation, making you safer, with deeper roots!… Little Quetelawak is seventeen years old and with the troops; I will have him sent over too. You and his bond are profound, so you must teach him patiently, guiding him onto the sacred path of priesthood!..."
"Ah? Little Quetelawak? Guide him onto the path of priesthood?"
The earlier words, Xiulote had anticipated long ago. He was prepared for the struggle with the Alliance Priesthood Elders when he introduced the new 'Eight Trigrams Divination' and embarked on the divine path of the High Priest! In this niche he occupied, he was already a thorough competitor against those with ambitions for the High Priest position among the Supre High Priests. Aweit's political recognition and expression of support did not co as a surprise to him.
After all, this was actually Aweit's preferred divine path for him; it's the road Aweit hoped he would take. Aweit didn't mind, and even hoped that after his death, the Alliance would gain another elder. Because on this path, Aweit would beco his reliable political ally, sharing temporal power. But many in the Capital City, many Elder Priests, many honorable nobility, and many Royal Family branches do not wish to be enveloped by an immortal sun for several decades!...
"Teacher, what do you an... the Asar Lineage's enfeoffnt, Little Quetelawak?..."
Hearing Xiulote's perceptive inquiry, Aweit smiled and nodded. His expression turned wistful as he patted Xiulote's shoulder, speaking solemnly.
"Regarding the enfeoffnt of the Land Amidst the Clouds, I've actually conceived new ideas... Your second child with Alisa is soon to be born! If this ti it's a boy..."
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