Dirty straw sandals trampled over the muddy ground, compressing the soft earth of the new spring.
The bleating of lambs and packhorses sounded one after another, freely leaving droppings.
Coming from the wilderness strewn with stones, a dozen monks dressed in patched-up simple black robes stopped on the main road where carts and people converged.
In front of Bear Chomping Castle, which finally ward up in March, arrived the first guests of the new spring—rchants and shepherds.
Although Horn was excommunicated by the Pope, and Leia had sealed off Thousand River Valley, trade among the populace remained fervent, only restricted from selling important strategic resources such as ironware and wool.
Leaning on an alder wood cane, Batis followed behind several aged ascetic monks, gazing distantly at the newly erected bastion at the juncture of mountainous terrain and plains.
Five protruding sharp angles extended from the pentagonal two-story fortress, with a three-pound falcon cannon placed on each.
The falcon cannon, operable by two n, would rapidly proceed into the second-tiered fortress through the passage on the solid city walls.
Between the battlents' shooting apertures and narrow corridors, one could still see wooden barracks and arsenals.
Between ditches and wooden spikes, rchants and shepherds pushing carts were zealously marketing to the soldiers.
Cabbage leaves and peas were scattered in the mud, occasionally attracting scavengers who ran to ticulously collect these precious foods.
The ascetic monks naturally did not jump the queue but stood at the end of the line.
The young monk beside Batis raised his head to look at the three-tiered fortress and couldn't help but ask, "These walls aren't very high, and there are plenty of gaps in between. Couldn't knights easily charge through?"
"During the Battle of Monkulus, such a bastion was able to withstand and hold off knights' charge for several days, proving its reliability," Batis whispered, audible only to the two.
The long line ahead moved with great efficiency; despite a large flow of people passing through, the queue remained short.
Soon, these ascetic monks pulled their walking cart to the checkpoint.
Following the leading devout ascetic monk, Batis, as the spokesperson, smiled and spoke, "Suffering departs forever; the Holy Spirit endures eternally!"
The emaciated ascetic monk Batis bowed towards Old Laver.
After a month of training, Old Laver and other mountain folk began to resemble soldiers quite a bit.
The backs of their hands were swollen and bruised, their backs straight, walking with precision.
In contrast, the veteran soldiers were composed and relaxed, though walking naturally, still projecting a sense of rigid discipline.
As he bowed his head, Batis swiftly scanned the soldiers ahead with his gaze.
Is this the new salvation army that the Thousand River Valley people are proud of?
"The Holy Spirit endures eternally!" Naturally, Old Laver bowed in return, imdiately recognizing who these people were.
Straw sandals, vine staffs, coarse cloth robes, and walking carts are the standard attire for ascetic monks.
Ascetic monks emulate Miseria in suffering for all mankind, reducing the sins on others.
They pilgrimage year-round to various Holy Lands, seeking inner peace.
Thus, ascetic monks are highly respected in the Empire's cultural environnt.
"Is this Bear Chomping Pass? May I use the great power from the Holy Father to offset the levy on our goods from this checkpoint?" Batis smiled devoutly, "We have pledged a vow of poverty, possessing nothing but what is necessary for survival and pilgrimage."
"This is now Thousand River Valley territory, nad Bear Chomping Castle," Old Laver explained earnestly, "This isn't a toll checkpoint, but an inspection."
"It's truly a miracle of the Holy Father that Bear Chomping Castle has sprouted anew from the dust of history."
The na Bear Chomping Castle was not newly established after the foundation of Thousand River Valley, but has existed since ancient tis.
It was once a frontier fortress of the Thousand River Valley Kingdom hundreds of years ago. With Thousand River Valley's integration into the Empire, these frontier fortresses beca abandoned.
When the Broken Stone Primordial People invaded, they split their forces, one route invading Shangruifo County from Bear Chomping Castle, and the other from the farther north Ladan Castle into North Mangde County.
Following the formation of the Thousand River Valley Holy Monarch Country, Her Highness Moliat reconstructed these fortresses, even positioning so outposts on Shattered Stone Plain's lands.
As spring blossod and iced-over roads gradually thawed, sheep rustlers began disappearing, and never-ending crowds erged before Bear Chomping Castle.
The foremost aim was to deliver supplies to Bear Chomping Castle, followed by shepherds and small rchants attending the market.
About sixty kiloters from Bear Chomping Castle lies a self-governed town, Feldheim, on Shattered Stone Plain.
Almost yearly, shepherds and farrs hold a market in the town, even attracting thieves to sell stolen goods.
Many supplies at Bear Chomping Castle are purchased from local villages and shepherds on Shattered Stone Plain.
Likewise, so villages and shepherds trade wool with Bear Chomping Castle.
Though there's a prohibition against trade between Shattered Stone Plain rchants and Thousand River Valley people, restrictions from above are t with clever solutions from below.
Transporting wool is banned, right? Fine, sell pottery instead, with wool rely used to cushion and prevent the pottery from breaking.
Several Norn smugglers have used this trick to bypass the Broken Stone Primordial People's tax checkpoints and transport wool to the base of Bear Chomping Castle.
Through the mountainous path blocked by Bear Chomping Castle, this wool can be transported into the Thousand River Valley territory.
By rights, the Thousand River Valley has no native sheep industry, so there's no concern about being impacted by cheap wool.
Bear Chomping Castle should impose low or even no tariffs on this Broken Stone Plain wool.
However, one major reason the soldiers still inspect the goods is to prevent ard personnel and spies from sneaking in.
If suspicious items and weapons are found in the luggage, they either have to be discarded before entry, or entry will be directly refused.
This is why the soldiers led by Old Laver have set up checkpoints to inspect the goods without charging any fee.
"We are happy to accept your inspection because we are above board, my fellow believer." Batis stepped aside to make way.
"Sorry, but rules are rules; they're not set today." Apologizing, Batis directed a few people to start inspecting.
"My fellow believer, I have sothing to ask." During the inspection, Batis pointed to the wall of the Bastion, "What is this? Mortar?"
"This is a new type of mortar produced by the ry Court Barracks, used to bond broken stones and ironwood." Old Laver forcefully patted the wall of the Bastion, "It's harder than rocks, even a fine steel longsword would only leave a shallow mark on it."
"Oh——" Batis's eyes flashed with a strange light.
"Why are you, an ascetic monk, so curious about these worldly matters?" Old Laver curiously asked as he watched the focused monk touching the wall of the Bastion.
The monk sternly shook his head: "Everything in this world is created by the Holy Father; every new thing represents a new discovery of the Holy Father. How could I not be curious or concerned?"
Old Laver blinked, a smile unconsciously appearing at the corner of his mouth: "That sounds a lot like what the monks in our village would say."
"The truths of the world always lead to the sa destination." Batis leaned his forehead on the wall of the Bastion and whispered with an ethereal and devout voice, "Holy Father..."
"What's this?" Before Batis could finish his prayer, a questioning voice ca from the back of the inspection queue.
Bypassing Batis, Old Laver hurried over to find that a soldier had pulled out a bundle of copper asuring tools wrapped in oilcloth from a handcart, gleaming suspiciously in the sunlight.
The young monk's Adam's apple slid violently, and he suddenly grabbed the soldier's wrist: "That's... that's the instrunt for asuring holy relics!"
Batis walked over at a leisurely pace, his muscles slightly tensed under his black robe, but his face broke into a bright smile: "My child is too anxious, these are rely tools for surveying pilgrimage routes. Look——"
He unfurled a yellowed sheepskin roll, densely marked with coordinates of dozens of sacred sites on a map.
Old Laver's eyebrows knitted into an iron bramble.
"By the Holy Spirit above!" The young monk argued, "Last month at Eagle Beak Cliff, the compass was confiscated by soldiers just like this! This is newly purchased; do you want to take it too?"
"Take it? It's standard to confiscate contraband, or you can sell them on the spot."
"But we'll need it later."
The crowd in line began to stir, and several peasant won made the sign of the cross on their chests.
The quartermaster's spurred boots jingled amid the whispers.
After Old Laver explained the situation, the quartermaster stepped forward, picked up the surveying tools from the cart, and casually examined them.
Batis felt his palm being grasped tightly; when he turned around, he saw it was the young monk with a diterranean haircut who had involuntarily grabbed his hand.
"Priest, you must understand that these items are non-compliant; in principle, I cannot let you take them through." The quartermaster looked at the ascetic monks dressed like beggars, "But since you're here to pilgrimage to our sacred sites in the Thousand River Valley, considering your virtue and credit, let this be an exception."
These ascetic monks' pilgrimage team was renowned, and their pilgrimage to sacred sites in the Thousand River Valley was also a boost to the confidence of the Thousand River Valley People.
Because it ant that they were not aliens but were recognized as part of the Miserian Religious World by the monks.
For political reasons, the quartermaster decided to let this group of monks pass.
"May the Holy Spirit endure!" With hands clasped, Batis imdiately bowed to the quartermaster, "Thank you for your understanding and kindness."
The quartermaster waved a hand: "Let them through."
The monks continued to pull their carts forward slowly, with people spontaneously making way, and so even helped to push.
As he watched the monks leave his sight, the quartermaster turned his gaze to Old Laver: "Are you 170 centiters tall?"
"A bit taller than 170, Quartermaster Ragusa."
"A bit old." The quartermaster circled Old Laver, "But you'll do... want to earn so side money?"
Old Laver instantly tightened his neck: "Quartermaster Ragusa, I'm here to serve in the army."
"I know you're here to serve in the army; I'm asking if you want to earn side money."
"But I'm here to serve in the army."
"I know you're here to serve in the army," the quartermaster rolled his eyes at him, "Next week, Her Highness Moliat will visit Bear Chomping Castle, and we need an honor guard... want to join and earn so extra money?"
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