The southern lands teed with life. The green leaves never fell throughout the year, and flowers continued to bloom after the fall, adding a touch of color to the twilight.
Outside Otto City’s military camp, seven thousand Imperial Guard Legion stood in a single line. xica Samurai, Prepetcha Samurai, Otomi Warriors, warriors of the Tecos Tribe, Guajili red-haired Hunters... Elite warriors from all tribes across the lands gathered under the King’s command. Each of them wore a grim expression, donned in Copper Armor, gripping bronze weapons, many with Longbows and Javelins slung across their backs.
After resting in the Capital City, the Imperial Guard Legion expanded to seven thousand n, and the proportion of Copper Armor had also increased to eighty percent. At this mont, one could see nothing but a golden "ocean," brimming with the power of tal.
Xiulote, dressed in refined golden Copper Armor, stood on a high platform, surrounded by hundreds of Armored Personal Guards. In front of the platform, hundreds of southern Nnobility and Escorts stood, each with a fearful and uneasy expression. In front of the Nnobility and so one hundred ters away, five hundred warriors of the Artillery Camp had finished loading ten Divine Eagle Cannons and thirty Tiger Squat Cannons, their muzzles pointed towards the west.
To the west lay the fiery red sunset, the glistening mountains, and below the mountains more than twenty Nnobles bound hand and foot, with ashen faces.
Guramo’s expression was solemn. He stood among the ranks of the Nnobility, silent.
Not long ago, he had taken dina up north, just in ti to encounter the Kingdom’s Jingji Legion headed south. A full eight thousand Samurai passed by him, all in impeccable military order, high in morale, and ard to the teeth - a truly strong army. His heart was filled with worry; the combat strength of this legion was clearly much stronger than any southern forces, leaving him uncertain of how to resist. However, when he arrived outside Otto City and saw the golden-armored Imperial Guard Legion, only then did he realize what an unstoppable force truly looked like...
By Guramo’s side, old Crow Xiteli watched the Nnobility prisoners nearby, his hands and feet trembling with fear.
They were the Yolodila family, established for generations in the southwest, occupying the mountain passes, commanding several hundred private soldiers, and renowned for their bravery. Yet the King had rely sent a small detachnt, and within a day or two, the Yolodila family was completely annihilated, not a single male descendant escaping. At this mont, these Nnobility prisoners were tied up before the crowd, their fate only too apparent.
"Your Highness, the Artillery Camp is ready and can fire at any ti!"
Tupa, the Camp Commander of the Artillery, stepped onto the platform and respectfully reported back to the King. He was forrly the deputy general of the Black Wolf, had participated in the nocturnal fire raid during the northern campaign, and had perford outstandingly. Also, as a forr trusted aide from His Highness’s early years, consistently loyal and brave, he was promoted to be responsible for the Artillery Camp, with a bright future ahead of him.
"Hmm, wait a little longer, let the southern Nnobility enjoy the sunset a bit more."
Xiulote smiled indifferently, patiently waiting. It was only when the setting sun dipped behind the mountains and the sky was filled with red clouds that he slightly nodded.
"Go ahead."
Tupa saluted and retreated. He went in front of the Artillery Camp and loudly proclaid.
"...The hereditary southern Nnobility Yolodila, obstructing the Royal Army’s advance southward, disobedient to the King’s orders! The Yolodila family has betrayed the Kingdom, and their cris are unpardonable. All their lands are hereby confiscated, and all male descendants are to be executed on the spot!"
Tupa declared this loudly three tis, each ti more smoothly than the last. To morize this statent, he had spent two full days.
One hundred ters away, the southern Nnobility stood at the pri spot for witnessing the execution, each trembling with fear, their hearts filled with terror. Low murmurs rose among the Nnobility but quickly quieted down.
A rabbit’s death is a warning to the fox; old Crow Xiteli was similarly agitated. He quietly asked Guramo.
"Guramo, how will the xica execute young Yolodila and his family? Will it be a sacrifice?"
Guramo shook his head. He stretched out his hand and pointed at the golden bronze beasts in front of him, still without speaking. The xica displayed these bronze beasts prominently, evidently intending to use them in the execution.
"Hm? What exactly is this..."
"Sun Divine Eagle Cannon, fire!!"
Artillery Camp Commander Tupa waved the small flag and barked the command. The cannoneers imdiately lit the fuses of the Divine Eagle Cannons and then quickly covered their ears, hunkering down on both sides of the cannons.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."
With a terrifying sound like Thunderbolt, it instantly exploded, as if the God of Thunder were roaring! The shocking cannon fire echoed between heaven and earth, and for a mont, the southern Nnobility cried out in terror, shuddering with fear, so even panicking and running away. The bound prisoners collapsed to the ground, howling desperately.
Hearing the dreadful cannon fire, Guramo shivered all over, lost control of his limbs, and shook uncontrollably. Fortunately, his years of dance practice and excellent martial skills allowed him to barely maintain his balance. Two steps away, old Crow Xiteli stumbled and fell to the ground. Then his body trembled violently, his old legs twitched, and suddenly his pants beca wet.
Xiulote waved the command flag, and hundreds of warriors silently moved forward, herding the hundred-plus fleeing Nnobility back to the "viewing platform." It was only after the reverberating cannon fire had faded into the distance that people struggled to regain their senses. Guramo frowned and, with disdain, helped Xiteli up, then stared blankly at the still-smoking bronze beasts.
The range of the Divine Eagle Cannon was long, and this volley did not aim for the captives who were at arm’s length. Ten stone cannonballs traced powerful trajectories, striking heavily into the forest a mile away, snapping several large trees. A giant tree swayed perilously and slowly toppled to the west, crashing to the ground with a thunderous "boom". Then, other trees followed suit, falling one after another with several more "booms".
Watching this scene, the faces of the surrounding nobility turned pale. Guramo was no exception. He whispered to himself.
"Oh Three Divines, please bless your last children..."
If such thick trees could be snapped by a single shot from the copper beasts, then the walls of the nobility’s manors would likewise crumble with ease. Should the Royal Army attack with the copper beasts, apart from Kulamo City with its solid stone walls, all other wooden fortress manors would be utterly indefensible.
Xiulote watched the nobles’ blood-drained faces with satisfaction and nodded approvingly. Half a quarter later, as the sunset was almost complete, the King once again waved his hand to signal.
Tupa, excited, commanded loudly.
"Rain God Tiger Squat Cannon, fire!!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."
The continuous sounds of thunder rose again. The southern nobility trembled in terror like weeds in a downpour, struggling to keep their composure in the storm.
"Thump!"
The old crow Xiteli fell to the ground again. He closed his eyes in despair, covering his ears, waiting for the judgnt to end. Now, he had no intention of resisting the King’s army. His pants were drenched, but he need not feel embarrassed. Because among the nobility, he was far from the only one with wet pants.
Guramo covered his ears and widened his eyes, striving to discern the details of the copper beast’s roaring.
At the mont of thunder, a white mist rose from the cannon’s round mouth, then a large bunch of stone balls furiously shot out. Faster than arrows, they ferociously struck the noble captives a hundred ters away. Almost instantly, more than twenty nobles dropped limply to the ground. With barely a scream, they were turned into perforated sieves. Large patches of blood and flesh scattered across the ground, as if left behind by demons after a feast.
"So, just by igniting a fla, the copper beasts spew out stone balls and emit smoke... What kind of Divine Arts is this?"
Guramo pondered intently but without any answer. He took a deep breath and slled the scent of volcanic demons. Suddenly, he ca to a realization and bowed his head in silence.
"This isn’t Divine Arts! The Divine Arts of the kingdoms have never possessed such power. This must be the witchcraft of volcanic demons! The brutal xica people must have made a deal with the mythological volcanic demons, obtaining terrible power through the sacrifice of flesh and blood!"
Above the platform, Xiulote averted his gaze, not looking at the captives executed by the gunfire. Only the harshest asures could deter the nobility before him from rejecting the Kingdom’s decree of reform, to ensure that the rectification of the south could be accomplished with the least cost and minimal civilian casualties. That would be the true act of rcy.
Seeing the power of the Tiger Squat Cannon, the enthusiastic Camp Commander of the Artillery, Tupa, was so heated that his whole body shook. To command such a powerful force, he had no doubts about earning battle achievents and promotions. And with the trust of His Highness and enough rit, he might even lead an army on his own and beco a Legion Commander like the Black Wolf!
Thinking this, Tupa suddenly raised both hands, taking the lead in shouting.
"Praise the Chief Divine! May the Divine protect His Majesty!... He is omnipotent!"
The gunners of the Artillery Camp also ca to their senses and cheered in unison, followed by hundreds of personal guards, and finally the entire legion!
"May the Divine protect His Majesty! Omnipotent!"
In the midst of thunderous cheers from tens of thousands, the southern nobility maintained a deathly silence. The King sniffed the gunpowder-laden wind with relish, luxuriating in the legion’s cheers. Then, he raised his left arm, and thousands of voices instantly fell silent.
"We’ll have a banquet in the army tonight! Right here in this drill ground!"
The King paused, then in an elevated voice, he boldly proclaid.
"Roar! My Samurai! Tonight, I will rejoice with you all!"
"Roar! May the Divine protect His Majesty! Omnipotent!"
Cheers erupted once more, reverberating throughout the entire drill ground, rging with the rumbling of the cannons amongst the mountains into the most majestic symphony!
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