Heaven Capital.
The imperial palace of the Xilan Empire.
After staying here for several days without even catching a glimpse of a soldier, McLennan had grown somewhat bored. So he dragged his adjutant around to look about the place.
The adjutant was named Aaron. He belonged to the civil service system, had worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and held the rank of chiliarch. Around three years ago, he had been sent to Boro Province to manage the local interests of Triumph City's civil servant faction. His understanding of the place was no less than that of the locals.
As they passed a side hall of the palace, McLennan spotted a group of finely dressed young men and women gathered around a sand table.
The sand table covered roughly ten square meters and was filled with carved wooden game pieces shaped like ferocious tigers, leopards, wolves, birds, and beasts. Servants wielding long poles pushed them about.
McLennan could not help asking curiously.
"What's this?"
"Wargaming."
"...Where are the soldiers?"
"The beasts on the board are the soldiers. Snakes eat mice, eagles eat snakes, lions and tigers fear elephants, herds of cattle under the blazing sun can do anything, and mice in the night cannot be seen..." Seeing McLennan's strange expression, Aaron chuckled and offered an explanation. "Don't underestimate this thing. It actually reflects the political philosophy and spiritual world of the survivors here."
After a pause, he continued.
"Also, a standard board must cover twelve square meters and weighs six tons with all the pieces included. Ordinary people simply cannot afford to play with one. As for the examination board beneath the steps of the palace side hall, that one is even more incredible. It covers a full three thousand three hundred square meters and has a thousand pieces