The King and the Maiden, Together They Go

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As night scattered and the sun rose, the southern nobles hurried out early the next morning, leaving Oto and heading south to their respective fiefs. The king did not ask them to stay, nor did he meet a single noble. By the time the sun set and the moon rose, and darkness descended once more, Oto had returned to its former peace.

Black Wolf's Royal Banner fluttered in the night. Xolotl was still seated in the great tent, busy at work. He looked over the terrain map of the south, thinking through the arrangements that would follow.

"Bertad, Purple Grass County is vast, and its environment is complicated. After the southern nobles' fiefs are reassigned, I intend to form a new Purple Grass Legion and place it under the veteran general Etalic."

The Captain of Warriors nodded respectfully.

"Your Majesty, General Etalic is steady and prudent, and he is familiar with the situation in Purple Grass County. He is indeed a suitable choice for legion commander. And with the old general's seniority, he should have commanded a legion long ago."

"Mm. I truly did shortchange him before."

At that, Xolotl smiled in agreement. Etalic was a loyal warrior of the family and had followed his grandfather for many years. Whether in loyalty, seniority, ability, or merit, he was more than fit to guard a region.

"Bertad, where should the manpower for the new legion be drawn from?"

"Your Majesty, General Etalic currently has one thousand warriors under him. Under Director of Mining and Industry Nekali, aside from one thousand warriors and more than three thousand miners, there are also two thousand Tarasco surrendered troops in rest and reorganization. Those surrendered troops have dug mines for a year, and they have been tempered almost enough."

"Mm. Then transfer them south.