Chapter 85: The Summons

As time passed, Adis gradually took full control of the northern realm. Though this brought him immense strength, it also left him so burdened with affairs that he could scarcely spare a hand.

A vast population inevitably brought a host of problems.

After all, this was not like a game from his previous life. In the real world, everyone had their own thoughts and their own claims upon life and power.

Faith, land, custom, migration... countless conflicts and matters awaited Adis to settle, and the officials he had appointed were kept so busy that they seemed never able to keep their feet still.

In response, Adis further refined his crude administrative system, and then issued a general summons across the realm.

At once, messengers bearing dispatches traveled through village after village, posting notices in prominent places throughout the land.

In one town, a crowd had gathered around a notice board, arguing excitedly.

Among them were hunters in hunting garb, broad-shouldered and rugged, as well as ordinary-looking farmers, but the majority were nobles.

After all, though the summons was posted plainly for all to see, and Adis harbored no prejudice against commoners—in fact, he welcomed them to answer the call—there stood one enormous barrier.

That was literacy.

Although this world did possess true supernatural power, and the monopoly on certain knowledge was less severe than in the ancient world of his former life, it still remained a tremendous obstacle.

On average, perhaps one commoner in a hundred could read, and that was already considered excellent, let alone meeting any other requirements.

For nobles, however, there was no such problem. Even collateral branches, and even those whose ancestors had been noble but whose descendants had fallen to common status, could mostly read, and many could even learn various skills.

What was more, this group was quite large. After all, when a clan multiplied over several hundred years, the number of its descendants accumulated to a staggering figure. Yet only one branch could inherit the territory; the rest became collateral lines, or turned to commerce, or attached themselves as clients to other nobles. Their lives were not necessarily miserable, but most were far from content.

And the main targets of Adis's summons were precisely these impoverished offspring of noble houses, together with those engaged in trade.

Compared with the great nobles whose hereditary autonomy had been stripped away, these people were numerous and disgraced, and thus naturally much easier to win over.

At that moment, a burly man in tattered leather armor stared at the notice before him, his eyes brightening slightly.

"Fifty junior officers are being recruited. Those who pass the examination will be sent to the capital for a month of training. The outstanding among them will become centurions, each commanding a hundred men. Preference will be given to those who can write, and who are skilled in combat techniques and martial arts. Successful candidates will receive three hundred measures of grain each month and may study battle qi."

The man was stunned.

"Such generous terms?"

In these chaotic times, grain was exceedingly precious. Three hundred measures a month came to thirty-six hundred in a year, already equivalent to the annual yield of many dozens of acres in the past. Even now, though the divine arts once used in sacrifice were gradually fading and yields were increasing, it remained a tremendous sum.

But what truly mattered was the last line.

The ability to study battle qi, even if only the most rudimentary sort, was equivalent to breaking free of ordinary status and entering the ranks of knights. To anyone in this world, it was an irresistible temptation.

After all, even among noble offspring, not every one of them was permitted to learn battle qi. The eldest son might fare somewhat better, but for younger sons and the like, it depended on how favored they were. And even when greatly cherished, no one would ever be given the family’s complete battle qi inheritance. At most, only a shallow method would be passed down, enough to raise one merely to the level of a knightly attendant.

"My ancestors were great knights, and our family even has combat arts handed down. It shouldn't be difficult to pass that test."

The burly man trembled all over, deeply stirred, looking at the people around him and thinking thus in his heart.

And beyond him, there were many others staring at the summons with minds aflame, unable to restrain their excitement.

In addition to military posts, the summons also listed many other positions, such as tax officer, clerk, constable, and village head, along with brief descriptions of each.

Though none of these offices carried much authority, they remained highly appealing to these once-downcast noble descendants.

Some might look down on such posts, but more people hurried to the recruitment point to register.

After registering and noting the date, specialized examiners would come a few days later to test them.

The examination process was simple. For low-level officers such as junior commanders, a knight would personally test their combat ability, and then they would be required to demonstrate their techniques. If they were decent enough, they would usually pass.

Clerical applicants, meanwhile, would be asked to write a passage or answer a few simple questions. Nothing difficult.

Given current conditions, Adis was not in need of some grand talent pool. What he wanted more was a large number of capable grassroots personnel.

A junior officer only needed skill and obedience to military discipline; a clerk only needed to be able to write and to carry out duties faithfully.

In truth, for such simple posts, there was no need for scholars who had read ten thousand books. It was enough merely to possess the most basic education, together with the ability to act and to execute orders.

Once recruitment was completed in the various regions, these people would be gathered in the newly built capital, where they would receive training lasting from half a month to a month, and then be dispatched across the land to serve as local officials.

After some time, when those who had traveled to the capital from various regions laid eyes on the newly built city, all of them could not help showing expressions of astonishment.

The capital was newly built. Planning for it had begun when Adis was crowned king, and after more than a year, with the aid of numerous priests' divine arts, only an inner city had finally been completed. Adis named it Adis City.

Compared with other cities, Adis City seemed somewhat smaller, though only to a limited extent. Its walls were tall and sturdy, making it difficult to believe this was merely an inner city still in planning.

Within the city, green trees and flowers of every season had been planted. The layout was neat and beautiful, blending a sense of ordered, pristine nature perfectly with the city itself.

At the gate, knights and priests stood guard, their bodies faintly surging with battle qi and divine power, daring none to look directly at them.

Moreover, because the city’s temples had already been fully established, with a high priest presiding, and with so many believers throughout the city, a powerful divine domain had formed. In the faintest sense there was a purity to it, something the cities of the past had never possessed.

"So clean, so orderly... even the estates of great nobles are only like this, aren't they?"

Seeing all this, the noble descendants summoned from various regions could not help staring blankly, stunned by the sight before them.

There were many other places that astonished them as well.

Because the use of certain divine arts had already become mature, traces of divine power were everywhere in the city. And since its inhabitants all worshiped the god of nature, large quantities of grass and trees had been planted within the city without the slightest sense of disorder. A pure, fresh aura spread through the air, making it feel almost as though they had entered a beautiful forest.

"Well?" asked the priest leading the way, noticing the amazement on the faces behind him. His tone was proud, and at once drew a burst of praise from the crowd.

Yet among them, one burly man in ragged leather armor wore a hesitant expression. After a moment's thought, he said, "With the city arranged like this, if a fire ever broke out, or if someone deliberately set it alight, wouldn't it be very easy to burn the whole place down?"

As he spoke, several people behind him hurried to tug at his sleeve, signaling him not to say more.

However, the priest in front of him did not look displeased. Instead, he nodded appreciatively.

"What you say is reasonable. In an ordinary place, such a city would indeed be easy to attack with fire."

Then he smiled.

"But for us, such concerns are unnecessary."

He raised a hand. Within his body, divine power gathered faintly, drawing the surrounding water elements continuously toward him until they became drops of water.

"Our Lord, the God of Nature, governs the changes of the natural world. Water and fire are within His domain as well. So for us, preventing such a thing is not difficult."

He looked at the man with approval.

"Still, for you to notice this is quite good. What is your name?"

"My name is Ogdin."

The man quickly bowed, a trace of delight rising in his heart.

"Good. Stay behind me," the priest said with a nod, and then continued leading them onward.

Behind him, countless people saw this scene, and most of them could not help feeling a twinge of envy. They understood that the man had already been noticed. So long as he performed suitably later, he would surely receive special favor.

But there was nothing they could do about it. After all, they were in truth rivals for these positions, and they were being watched as well. All they could do was secretly resolve to perform well from here on.

Passing through the gate, they went deeper inside.

Because the city had only just been completed, the streets were still sparsely populated, with people scattered here and there.

Following the road, they eventually arrived at a large camp.

There, the priest leading them told them to stop at the perimeter and went forward himself to greet the priest standing guard at the entrance.

"Fifty military officers, and the remaining one hundred and seventy are from Kouruba."

At the front, a rather young-looking clerk nodded slightly, then motioned for the people to come forward one by one and write down their names, places of origin, and other information.

After the records were complete, the priest stepped up to look. There, among the names, was Ogdin's.

He nodded slightly, then picked up a quill made of feather, hesitated for a moment, and drew a mark after Ogdin's name and a few others.

This indicated special attention. As the officer in charge of recruitment, he had the authority to recommend certain people with priority. Though this could not guarantee anything, it could at least ensure they would be regarded more seriously. That was enough.

Yet as soon as his mark was made, in the unseen depths around them, a faint violet aura began to rise, carrying with it wisps of destiny that drifted through the air and slowly gathered upon it.