Time is Running Out

The red sun sank westward between the mountains, stirring ripples of light across Lake Texcoco. Dusk turned to rosy clouds, shining at the edge of the sky. As twilight descended, wisps of cooking smoke once again rose from every corner of the capital, accompanied by an unbroken tide of evening prayers and praises, like the Main God's Divine Kingdom upon the earth.

The great hall towered in majesty. The High Priest sat high upon the divine seat, calm and composed as he handled the daily affairs of the faith.

Midway through, King Avet's envoy came once. After meeting Prince of Tlacopan and confirming the arrest operation in Tlacopan, the royal envoy swiftly departed again. By now, the capital's royal warriors had long since been mobilized, heading to the Tlacopan city-state to assist in suppressing the rebellion.

Xolotl sat cross-legged, leafing through the documents at hand as he pondered the direction of further reforms.

"The Alliance's capital region registers households and commoners uniformly, bringing them under direct administration. Taxes and tribute amount to roughly forty percent of the annual harvest, which is quite heavy. In the city-states to the west, south, and north, the great local nobles can collect twenty-five to thirty percent of the annual harvest as tribute, while the royal house and priesthood receive the remaining ten to fifteen percent. The tribute obtained by local authorities and the central government is roughly split at seven to three. As for the more distant enfeoffed city-states, the ratio of local to central tribute tilts even further toward the great local nobles."

Reading this, Xolotl fell silent in thought. The Lake Kingdom lay in the far west of the world, the greatest distance away, and also received preferential treatment from the Alliance. To settle people's hearts, the kingdom's taxation and tribute amounted