diymy Chapter 212 - 120: Promises and Governance
Chapter 212 - 120: Promises and Governance
Outside the window, it was already afternoon. The slanting sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the dignitaries inside the room. Faced with things beyond their cognition, a range of true emotions finally emerged on their profound faces: there was surprise, contemplation, confusion, concern, and even fear. Xiulote, with his back to the sun’s glare, looked like an angel envoy stepping out of a myth.
As they gazed at the mysterious smoke and the boy under the sunlight, everyone was momentarily stunned.
After a while, King Aweit was the first to speak, his interest piqued.
"Xiulote, this burning saltpeter, the soil’s... saltpeter, it resembles the Tarasco’s Stone of the Dead. How is it used?"
The young man smiled confidently.
"The burning mixture of saltpeter and sulfur from the Stone of the Dead, along with powdered charcoal, can create a revolutionary... um... fire potion that can easily ignite ships on water. With the Tarasco campaign impending, it can help us gain an advantage on water!"
Xiulote paused midway through his explanation. He was still unsure about the explosive power of the original gunpowder and needed time to experiment with the right formula, so he simply outlined the enhancing effects of the gunpowder.
"A fire potion that can burn on water? Xiulote, is it really so?"
Listening to this, King Aweit’s expression became serious and his gaze intense as he looked at the young man.
With the new year beginning, the Council of Politics had already been discussing the invasion routes after the autumn harvest. The Alliance was about to mobilize tens of thousands of Samurai and Militia to march west against Tarasco and initiate a genuine divine war.
The failure of last year’s Otomi war was still vividly remembered; the enormous army required an astonishing amount of food supplies and had to establish a stable and efficient logistics transport line. In this era, convenient water transport was the only choice.
Unlike the Otomi, the Tarasco people had taken over the land of the fishermen of Miquechquatl. They possessed an equally formidable fleet that had always been deeply feared by the Mexica Alliance. Without securing sufficient naval superiority to suppress the enemy’s attack boats, there was no hope for the water supply line.
King Aweit’s gaze grew deeper as he recalled the terrain of Miquechquatl, between the north and south rivers, with the Great Lake in the middle, the fertile core being the flat lakeside valley, and the solid outskirts being the undulating mountain hills.
Years ago, during his first western campaign along the Balsas River, his forces had encountered the Tarasco fleet not long after setting off. The Mexica fleet and the enemy engaged repeatedly, with Samurai and Militia falling like rain, yet neither side could achieve a real advantage.
The army was forced to abandon the waterway and land, only to attack the Tarasco’s eastern line of fortresses through complex and narrow mountain terrain. It was a protracted bloodbath, with difficult logistics and treacherous terrain, recalling it was like a nightmare.
Feeling the pressure in King Aweit’s gaze, Xiulote nodded cautiously and explained earnestly.
"Gunpowder can burn in water. Its combustion does not require air. It produces a large amount of gas and high temperatures when it burns, and the high-temperature expanding air can push away the water, providing space for continuous combustion..."
King Aweit’s look of confusion lasted only a moment. Fortunately, he was exceptionally intelligent and often chatted idly with the young man; he was vaguely able to understand.
On the other hand, the three Samurai ministers looked at each other bewildered. Doubting yet believing, they could only attribute it to the Priest’s divine arts.
The Intelligence Officer, unnoticed, had returned to the corner. His perspective different from others, he focused his attention on each person’s face. With just a brief observation, he was certain that Xiulote was confident and not lying. Then, he silently continued to watch each person’s expression, guessing their psychology and memorizing their characteristics.
After a long moment, King Aweit, slightly pleased, commanded gravely.
"Xiulote, my student, the gunpowder you speak of is crucial for the war against Tarasco. If you truly can develop a flame that burns in water, it will be the greatest achievement of this western campaign! What do you need? The Alliance will support you fully!"
Finally hearing this promise, Xiulote smiled slightly and bowed earnestly.
"King, I need the Capital City’s southern great salt mine until March to collect ingredients for making saltpeter. Additionally, I need a spacious re
As the sun set and the twilight filled the king’s palace, the nobles in the outer palace gradually dispersed, forming groups to attend banquets. Iskali and Tepopolo also bowed to the king before leaving side by side from the council hall.
King Aweit continued busying himself, weighing priorities. The king’s power did not fall from the sky but came from each decision in state affairs.
Xiulote watched the retreating figures of Iskali and Tepopolo together. He felt a hint of unease. After pondering for a long time, he finally identified the source of his discomfort. Then, he suddenly realized.
"The royal nobility is the strength of the royal family, but they are not detached from the great nobility; they are closely connected! Different classes are never clearly separated but are dynamically intertwined. The great nobility are not united as one; they are divided into different wholes. Therefore, reforms targeted at the great nobility should not be overly aggressive; instead, they should strike down a batch of noble enemies, ally with a batch of partners, and neutralize a batch of onlookers."
Having understood this, Xiulote smiled widely, ancient philosophers’ words coming to his mind:
"Governing is about how to make our enemies fewer and our friends more... Managing a large country is like cooking a small fish; unhurried and deliberate, just right.""
From a distance, Gillim silently observed, analyzing the changes in the youth’s expression. This time, he frowned slightly, silently puzzled.