In late autumn, the Mexica Plateau is still full of green grass and evergreen trees that do not lose their leaves. Large flocks of migratory birds have returned from the cold north and are hovering in the distant mountains and forests, looking at the lively scene here and screaming "young". Based on their little experience, there is always food that can be found in the range of this large-scale two-legged beast. Sometimes it's grain, sometimes it's dead bodies... Of course, there are dangers here, especially those red-haired hunters with extremely accurate archery.
"Lord God! There are so many big birds, if I can shoot one down, it will be a meal... tsk tsk! It's a pity that I don't have canine descendants who are good at shooting... Bah! Those archery thieves and accurate native dogs shot me blind One eye! Otherwise, I would have to be a fourth-level warrior, and maybe I could become a military noble..."
Tai Shishan, the leader of the field, raised his head slightly, looked at the sky, took a sip, and then looked at the road ahead. On these secondary county roads built last year, he walked very fast and steadily. After a while, a large station appeared in front of him.
It is said to be an inn, but it is actually a large area of simple shacks. There is not even a serious wooden house, only a half-built wooden longhouse. The smoke from the chimneys rose from the large open space between the shacks and the longhouses, and the aroma of grains wafted from the distance.
"Lord God! It's so good!..."
But seeing this newly built and simple inn, Tai Shishan, the leader of the field, licked his lips and felt a little envious. He knew that there was a good well in this inn, which was dug very deep and could provide a stable water source; a deep and large cellar was used to store the transported grain; and there was also a wooden shed that was carefully guarded. There are precious metal tools stored inside...and all of them belong to the station master, the retired fourth-level senior warrior, Luo Duju!
"Praise the Lord God! Luo Duzhu, how was today's lunch? The strong men in the village have worked hard all morning, so they need to eat more!"
"Praise the Lord God! Things are being done in the kitchen. A lot of your pumpkin cakes and refried beans have been prepared. They will be finished soon!"
At the door of the inn, a strong one-armed warrior grinned, smiled at Tai Shishan, who was blind in one eye, and then held the golden amulet around his neck and prayed devoutly. Then, he turned around and walked to the open-air kitchen in the back. Food for so many people and grains were piled in piles. It would have to be cooked outside in the open air. There was no way it could be cooked in the small shed at the inn.
The strong one-armed warrior is called "Luo One-Armed". I don't know what his real name is, but everyone calls him that. He didn't care that he only had one arm, and was even very proud of it. He often talked about his injuries in battles.
There were many small scars on Luo Duzhi's face, like corn tortillas sprinkled with chili strips, or like rags that had been sewn together, which looked very hideous and weird. His smile was stiff and even more sinister than when he wasn't smiling. His accent is also very strange, always having the flavor of a villager in the mountains and forests in the south of the kingdom. The only thing that makes people feel friendly is the pure gold sun amulet around his neck. It is said that it is a reward personally given by His Majesty after his military exploits!
"A pure gold amulet! His Majesty gave it to you personally!...It's really amazing!..."
Tai Shishan, the leader of the field, opened his eyes wide and couldn't help but look at the shining sun amulet on Luo Duzhi's neck. He had long been used to the other party's ferocious appearance and strange accent.
He knew that Luo Duju was not from Prepecha, but a warrior from the Tekos tribe in the southern mountains and forests. He was recruited into the Kingdom's army and even joined the Kingdom's Guards Corps led by His Majesty himself! In the Guards Corps, the battalion that Luo Duzhi belonged to, like many Tekos warriors, was a pioneer throwing battalion that was famous for its bravery and piety, specializing in throwing "magic balls"!
"O Lord God! If you get even a little bit of the ball of divine power and the roar of thunder, you will be disabled even if you die!..."
Thinking of the throwing and explosions he had seen during the Northern Expedition, Tai Shishan's heart trembled, and he looked at Luo Duzhu with more respect. His opponent had boasted that the minor wounds on his face and the half-broken arm were caused by the fact that he was the first to board the water valley city during the Eastern Expedition against the Tlaxcalans, and was blown apart by the magical sphere he threw. of. Also killed and injured were dozens of Tlaxcala warriors from the city!
"According to the laws of the kingdom, being the first to kill the enemy is a first-class military merit. And throwing the divine power ball is also a highly rewarded military merit! The vanguard throwing camp of the Guards Corps is really a life-threatening road to reach the sky!... "
Thinking of this, the leader of the field, Tai Shishan, looked at the vast post station and then at the fields around the inn. He couldn't help but feel envious on his face.
He knew that after Luo Duzhi survived the brutal vanguard siege, he and the surviving throwing vanguards were collectively given a pure gold sun amulet and promoted to a fourth-level kingdom warrior! This warrior level is one level higher than his third-level warrior.
According to the kingdom's military merit rewards, a fourth-level senior warrior should be granted 240 acres of land and 12 slaves. But God bless you! The other party returned to the kingdom at the right time and encountered the construction of a post station in the kingdom, so he was awarded the position of post master and fief.
"The Lord God has given me a blessing! The position and fiefdom of the postmaster...are not much different from those of a first-level military aristocrat!..."
good! According to the latest laws of the kingdom, the position of the postmaster is not an ordinary clerk, but a real title of managing a road! This title is between the fourth-level senior warrior and the first-level military noble. As long as there are no major omissions, it can be hereditary!
"On the secondary county roads of the kingdom, a post station is set up every 20 to 30 miles. The post station is equipped with a post master, two or three warriors, a dozen militiamen, and thirty servants and serfs to protect the surrounding areas. Thirty miles of road!... And Luo Duju's fiefdom is 400 acres around the inn! In the inn, wells, tools and houses are all ready, as well as rewards from the kingdom... As long as nothing goes wrong, this position and land ”
"It is said that several senior warriors from Gyeonggi County originally wanted to compete for the position of the postmaster. Although Keluo Duju was a Tekos man, he was from the Guards Corps, and he had set a precedent. No one else can match Deng’s military exploits..."
"Well, a post station has been set up here, and there is a small group of soldiers. The surrounding transportation has also improved, making it more stable..."
The leader of the field, Tai Shishan, thought with envy as he followed the postmaster Luo Duzhu into the post station where the fragrance of grain was floating. Although he doesn't understand any big principles, he understands that the extended road can facilitate the movement of the army. And with the establishment of these stations, the roots of the kingdom's rule will become deeper...
"Oh! This is so lively!..."
Taishishan walked into the crowd of people busy cooking, looked around, saw two Tekos warriors who were also not good at words, and said hello with a smile.
"Luocang! Luojing! Have you gone hunting in the woods recently?"
Hearing Tai Shishan's question, Luo Cang, who was taller and carrying a hunting bow, said nothing and just shook his head. The shorter Luo Jing smiled and answered in blunt Prepecha.
"No! There's too much work to do. I'm busy... If I want to pass the army, I have to look at the inn. I don't have any time."
The two Tekos warriors, Luo Cang and Luo Jing, were actually relatives of Luo Duju, and they were also brothers from the southern mountain forest tribe. Luo Duju was never married and was sealed here, so he brought his two clan brothers over. They were all from the Tekos tribe in the south. They originally had no surnames, only names based on birds, animals, plants, and tribal camps. The "cang" is born next to the barn, and the "well" is born or conceived near the wellhead. Well, concise and to the point, very innocent and very wild.
As for the surname "Luo", it was actually the middle character of His Majesty Xiulote, the surname given by Luo Duiju when he joined the Guards Corps. In fact, almost most of the entire Guards Corps and the 2,000-person Tekos Battalion have the surname Luo! It is worth mentioning that "Xiu" (xo) means "walking light". It is a royal surname with divine nature and cannot be used casually!
At this moment, Tai Shishan, the leader of the field, did not think too much. He looked at the two people in front of him, pulled his hair, and asked hesitantly.
"You want to pass the army? Where did the soldiers come from? We are all close to Gyeonggi County, and Hekou County will not send troops from here?... Is it the dog tribe in the rear? Or is it from Gyeonggi County?"
"Yes! The Lord God witnessed that it was not the red-haired hunters carrying bows on their backs, but the soldiers from Gyeonggi County! Uh... that's what, the tribes from the east are also carrying bows..."
"The one from the east, who carries a bow on his back, is also very good at shooting!..."
The short Luo Jing hesitated and made gestures, but couldn't explain clearly at the moment. The tall Luo Cang touched the bow and arrow on his back and turned the topic to archery. At this time, after hearing the conversation between the three of them, the postmaster Luo Duju came over from the open-air kitchen again. He glanced at Taishi Mountain, thought of something, and said in a deep voice.
"Tai...shan. The kingdom's scouts have sent word. Today at noon, we have to pass the troops...Pumpkins and refried beans are enough. Corn tortillas are not enough. The corn tortillas in your village must come from the south, Tlaxcala warriors You guys, eat first!”
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