Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 357

  [Qingqiu]

   is over.

  horned deer, antelope, bison, gray wolf... Countless carcasses of prey were brought to the Qingqiu mountainside for inspection by special personnel.

   Once properly inspected, the catch is skinned, deboned, distributed, and pickled on the spot.

  The blood of the animals flows along the terrain and gathers all the way, watering the wasteland under the mountain into a blood swamp.

  No one can get around the blood swamp, and those who want to go to Qingqiu can only continue on the dirt and mud.

  In the end, there were countless dark red hoof prints and footprints on the hillside.

   In this scene, although the Chihe Department is only counting the hunting results, the actual process is no different from cleaning the battlefield.

   As for the other hunt, the human remains, complete or incomplete, have already been collected.

  Hard's tribes usually don't need to be buried, but there is no ferocious beast and raptor around Qingqiu that can digest so much flesh. So the unclaimed bodies were all thrown into the fire pit and hastily buried.

  …

   Contrary to many people's expectations, the first thing the white lion did when he returned to Qingqiu was not to suppress the rebellion, but to send troops and horses to encircle them on all sides.

  The [Naiman] of the Chihe Department divided into more than a hundred [Tulu] like mercury pouring down the ground, pulled up a huge net that was sparse and did not leak, and drove most of the prey and tribes that escaped from Qingqiu back to the hunting ground.

  The attitude of the white lion is well conveyed - no matter what happens, the hunt will continue.

At the same time, it was also conveyed to the leaders of the various divisions that the Chihe Division had just won a great victory - the white lion set up an ambush at the mouth of the Hantuo River, defeated the Suzi Division and the Haidong Allied Forces, which were attacking Baili, cut down twelve feathers, and captured sixty-four flags. , killing the enemy is useless.

  …

   Then the felt walls were repaired, the corpses were removed, the beasts that escaped were captured, and the hunters who escaped returned.

  The stage was set up again, but this time no one dared to whisper when the white lion was shooting at the horse.

  Everything follows the old ritual: the white lion shoots the first arrow, followed by the green plume feathers of the Chihe tribe and the [Nayan] tribes, and the red plumes and feathers of the Chihe tribe and the [Kota] tribes.

   When the noble warriors got tired of hunting and went to Qingqiu to rest and feast, it was the turn of the white hunters to enter.

   In an air of unease, anticipation and blood, the shooting went turbulently towards the finish line.

   Because everyone is waiting for the next ceremony that may decide the fate of the tribes:

   "Separate meat".

  …

  [Qingqiu Mountainside, Inquiry Field]

   A stag with huge antlers was lifted onto the chopping board.

  This beautiful big animal has two arrows in its body, one in its hind legs and one in its ribs, and it has already returned to all souls.

   "[Herde] Twelve." The old man from the Chihe Department in charge of the investigation muttered a few words, put the last bunch of hay between the teeth of the dead animal, and then started to check the two arrow wounds:

   If the arrow in the ribs goes deeper, it can pierce the lungs of the prey, but unfortunately the arrow gets stuck between the ribs, but it is only a flesh wound;

   The fur below the arrow wound on the right hind leg of the prey was covered with dried blood.

   pulled out the arrow, the old man nodded imperceptibly, and it really was a crescent arrow.

   After re-examination of the wound, the large blood vessels could not be touched, which should have been cut by the crescent arrow. The same is true for tendons.

   The old man from Chihebe briefly explained a few words, and then picked up the crescent arrow to make a ruling: "[Hede] This arrow is the first shot."

  The two hunters who brought the deer corpse to investigate, the middle-aged one with a happy face, and the younger one, although he couldn’t hide his disappointment, but he didn’t argue, so he took the arrow and left.

  The old man checked the marks of other arrow clusters in the middle-aged hunter's quiver—the same marks as the crescent arrows.

   Thus, the ownership of the prey is determined.

The    Bucks were quickly dismantled:

   antlers, furs and tendons were given to middle-aged hunters as a "first shot reward";

   Venison smoked, grilled and marinated, waiting to be evenly divided;

  The bones belong to the public and are used to boil glue.

   Not only is there nothing wasted from the beginning to the end of the hunt, but even the recovered arrow clusters must be returned to their original owners. Once the possessions are discovered, they will face severe punishment.

  For the Hurds, the distribution of spoils is a top priority, even more important than looting and hunting itself.

   Distributing the spoils means power, and how much of the spoils can be divided indicates status.

  According to the traditions of various tribes - the first shot is rewarded, the flesh and blood are equally divided, and the white lion fairly distributes the catch of the hunt, and does not favor the Chihe tribe, nor discriminate against hunters who oppress other tribes.

   No matter what the leaders of the various divisions think, the white hunter of Hurd is all convinced.

The   chief may not care about that trivial catch, because they already have herds of slaves, cattle and sheep.

   But ordinary hunters are very concerned about how much meat they can get, because that is the reward for their hard labor.

  …

The    hunting lasted a full day and a half. While the hunters were chasing the beasts in the paddock, the leaders of the various tribes gathered on the green hill to watch, feast and rest.

   Until there were not many live prey left in the hunting ground, the leader of the Bad Earth Division, the grandfather of Koshhaqi [Taya], left his seat and went to the golden tent solemnly.

The dancing slave girl quietly left, the wrestling wrestler turned around and left, and the ponytail and tambourine no longer played. The originally bustling Qingqiu became silent in an instant.

   Chihe Nayan, who was still drinking and laughing just a moment ago, and the leaders of the various divisions, their expressions became serious and solemn.

   Everyone vaguely felt that a momentous moment was coming.

  Old [Ta Ya] led eight old Heards with the same white hair and beard, and walked into the golden tent with the most humble and humble attitude.

   It is a difficult thing to live in the wasteland, and nine is the "big number" of the Hurd people.

  The nine old Heards first prayed for the white lion, and then toasted the white lion.

  The white lion took the golden cup and drank the milk wine: "[Herde] said, old man, you can ask for anything. No matter what you ask for, I will promise."

"[Hede] a wise white lion, a benevolent white lion, and a powerful white lion." Ta Ya bent down deeply: "[Hede] please forgive the spirits still alive in the paddock, so that they can survive. Breed where there is water and grass, so that the next big hunt can still harvest wild beasts full of mountains and valleys, and let the beautiful voice of your wisdom and kindness spread across the grasslands.”

  The white lion nodded in agreement.

   The dull sound of the horn resounded through the hunting grounds, a command of forgiveness, a signal to end the killing.

  The hunter, who was still chasing his prey, reined in his horse, and did not dare to pull the bowstring even if he had not yet had enough fun. The felt wall was wide open, and the prey that survived was able to escape and return to the embrace of the wasteland.

   Letting go of the last prey in the paddock is a tradition of the Heards, and everyone is not surprised.

What really made the heads of the various ministries sweat on the backs of the old [Taya]: "[Herde] a wise white lion, a benevolent white lion, a powerful white lion. Forgive the beasts, and the beasts can multiply. Indulge Wildfire, wildfire will only spread. Those who disobey you, please destroy them like ashes, and let every pasture and every river know your power!"

  No need for the white lion to signal, the palace guards of the Chihe Department have already taken a group of prisoners bound with five flowers to the golden tent.

  The captives included noble warriors from the eastern sea and the Suzi tribe, as well as the leaders of the vassal tribes of the Chihe tribe who had been rebelled.

   Some of the captives struggled desperately with anger in their eyes; some of the captives were weak in their knees, nodding their heads and begging;

   During the time when the hunters of the various tribes were busy hunting, the troops of the Chihe tribe were also hunting down the fleeing enemies all over the mountains and fields.

   This time, the white lion did not answer Lao Taya directly. He took the silver pot and poured half a glass of wine with his own hands.

   Chief Guard Su understood, held the horn cup in both hands, and walked slowly to the prisoner on the far left.

   "[Herde] would like to drink this wine?!" Chief Guard Su asked loudly.

   Gongwei took off the stick from the captive's mouth.

   The captive took a deep breath and opened his eyes wide before shouting. However, he just made a sharp sound, and another palace guard behind him has already cut off his head with a knife.

   The unsupported head fell to the ground, and a clear "Gulong" was heard. The corpse was slowly dumped, and blood stained the gorgeous embroidered carpet.

   None of the leaders of the various departments under the tent had no blood on their hands, but for some reason, everyone felt a chill in their necks when they saw the merciless slashing by the Imperial Guard of the Chihe Department just now.

   Chief Guard Su walked up to the second captive. This time, Gong Guard, who was escorting the captive, was smart enough not to remove the stick from the captive's mouth at all, so the captive could only shake his head and nod to answer.

   The second captive was a samurai from Suz, his eyes were struggling, and he finally shook his head slowly.

   Palace guard pierced the heart of the captive from behind, leaving a whole body.

  It was the third captive's turn, so don't ask at all. The third captive nodded desperately, with such force that one feared that he would break his neck bone.

   Captain Su gave the third captive a sip of wine—and others.

"[Hede] has drank the wine in the cup, and you are my guest." The voice of the white lion came out of the golden tent: "[Hede] Your life is my gift; your felt tent, slaves, animals The group must take out all of them and pay the dead and wounded disciples as your gift."

   The white lion is not asking, but directly giving a judgment.

   The prisoner who had just recovered his life had not had time to be happy. Hearing that all his property had been taken away, he couldn't help feeling sad. But this guy's mind is fast - if he is killed, his property will still not be preserved, and he will save his life in vain.

   The third captive threw himself to the ground, and weepingly praised the mercy of the white lion.

   The chief guard lowered his eyes slightly, and the palace guard took the third prisoner away.

   Most of the leaders of the tribes were overjoyed. In the previous turmoil, many tribes suffered losses, and it would be best to have some compensation.

   Only a few keen heads frowned slightly - according to the way of dividing the meat today, even if there is compensation, I am afraid it is not the head man.

   The prisoners were questioned one by one, and they were all disposed of before long. The living and the dead were taken away, except for a few pools of blood on the carpet.

  The leader of a small tribe under the tent started, and all the leaders brought wine and praised the kindness of the white lion.

  Benevolence is a relative concept. The reason why the Chihe Department can expand rapidly has a lot to do with the fact that the white lion rarely uses cruel means of excluding dissidents.

   In the process of the merger of Heard's ministries, wheel slashing was a very common procedure - all men above the wheel were killed, children who did not remember anything were adopted, and women were redistributed as resources. There is no other reason, only the family can trust it, and only when you are raised from a young age can you be assured.

   Most of the time, the Chihe tribe will accept the adult males of the defeated tribe. The white lion only defeated the Zhuerqin tribe last year. This year, the Zhuerqin people have already become members of the Chihe tribe. Even the quiverers in the palace tents are not lacking in the figure of the master.

  Because of the reputation of the "fairness" of the white lion, the lower class members yearned for the Chihe Department. However, the heads of the tribes and nobles were willing to attach themselves to the Chihe tribe because of the reputation of the "kindness" of the white lion.

   At this moment, all the leaders of the various departments sitting inside and outside the golden tent of the Chihe Department have already convinced themselves:

   "Whatever the White Lion wants, let him go."

   "Whether it conforms to customs, rules, or breaks an appointment, just let him go."

   "Follow him as the master, if he wins, he will share the spoils, and if he loses, he will be restored."

   As for the leader who didn't convince him... The one who was just **** and taken away.

   The leaders of all the divisions are waiting for the old Taya to say that sentence, waiting for the white lion to nod, waiting for the opportunity to agree loudly.

   "[Herde] the greatest and most magnificent white lion!" Old Taya stood still for a moment, then fell to his knees, crying with tears streaming down his face:

   "[Herde] would like to make you the Khan of the tribes!

   You are the king of Khan!

  When hunting cunning beasts, I would like to hunt them for you!

   All enemies are in front, I am willing to lead for you!

  Bring the ladies and ladies back to you!

   I will bring the palace tents and treasures back to you!

   I will bring back the women and wealth of alien races to you!

  If you disobey your orders, you can separate my wife and concubine, take away my property, and throw my head on the ground!

  If you violate your resolution, you can kill my children and grandchildren, burn my felt tent, and leave me in a place where no grass grows…”

   As soon as the old Taya knelt down, all the Hurds inside and outside the palace tent knelt down.

  Old Taya swore an oath, followed by the leader, Nayan, Kota, Gongwei, and Quiver.

The voice of    spread beyond Qingqiu, regardless of whether the tribe of Chihe or the tribes next to it, all the Hid people bowed down to the golden tent and bowed their heads.

In the big hunting ground of   , only one person is still sitting - the white lion.

  The white lion looked at everyone's bowed heads. At this moment, no one dared to look directly at him.

   For many heroes, they reach the peak of their lives at similar moments, and they will tremble from body to soul, but the white lion does not seem to care.

   After listening to Old Taya's oath quietly, he even took a sip of milk wine to moisten his throat.

   "[Hede] I..." The white lion's voice was steady and with a bit of a smile: "[Hede] once swore that he would not be a sweat in this life, or he would die under the arrows of ten thousand arrows."

  Old Taya's body trembled obviously, the heads of the various departments buried their heads even lower, and no one dared to move.

  If Brother Rhett was present, he would have to say something weird; even if Winters, who only learned a little of Brother Rhett's wit, was present, he would probably have to make a few sharp comments.

   "[Hede] White Lion!" Old Taya spoke again, his voice a little pleading: "[Hede] If you are not the sweat of the tribes! No one can be the sweat of the tribes!"

   "[Hede] You are the king of Khan!

   When hunting cunning beasts, I would like to chase them away for you!

  …”

  The people inside and outside the palace tent recited the oath with Lao Taya again.

   "[Hede] I am not a Jin Ren." The white lion refused again: "Red Cloud Khan once swore an oath with the tribes that non-Golden blood descendants cannot be Khan. I am not qualified to be called a Khan."

"[Hede] King Khan!" Lao Taya panicked, and his voice was already crying: "[Hede] the river will be diverted! The stones will be smoothed! Weeds grow and wither, wither and grow! Every year we change faces! Oaths will have to be broken one day!"

   "[Herde] I would like to break my vows for you!

   You are the king of Khan!

   When hunting cunning beasts, I would like to chase them away for you!

  …”

   This time, the old Taya didn't have the chance to finish the oath, and the white lion's majestic order interrupted him.

   "[Hedde] shut up!" The white lion smashed the desk and stood up proudly: "[Hedde] raised his head! Look at me!"

  No one dared to look up.

   "[Hedde] are all looking at me!"

   The leaders of the various departments raised their heads slightly, but their chests were still on the ground.

"[Hede] The river will be diverted! The stones will be smoothed! The weeds will come back to life! The disciples have changed their faces!" The white lion's voice pierced through the clouds and cracked the stones, resounding through the Qingqiu: "[Hede] But Hede A man's oath is stronger than a mountain! Longer than a river! More precious than gold!"

"[Herde] I have sworn an oath, and I will never break it! If my ancestors swore an oath, I will never break it! You should do the same! Whoever breaks the oath will be punished by heaven and man! Die under ten thousand horses and ten thousand arrows!"

   "[Hedde] can..." Old Taya kowtowed desperately, blood dripping from his forehead: "[Hedde] If you are not the sweat of the tribes! No one can be the sweat of the tribes!"

   The leaders of the various ministries echoed their voices and continued to kowtow along with the old Ta Ya.

   "[Hedde] shut up!"

  The white lion roared, and the room of Qingqiu was silent.

   "[Herde] I don't want to be the sweat of the tribes! I don't want to be the sweat of the tribes! I don't want to be the sweat of the tribes!" The white lion spit out his chest and was extremely happy.

   He glanced under the tent and enjoyed it quietly. At this moment, he really reached the pinnacle of his life: "[Hede] you wait for me to obey my laws! Respect my rules! Take my oath! Then I don't need to be your sweat!

   "[Hede] obey my laws! Respect my rules! Take my oath! I will serve all the tribes..." The curtain fell, revealing a golden tablet inscribed with fine words:

   “[Hedde] Legislators!!”

  …

  …

   "[Herde] First, the great code of the white lion of the legislator is beyond doubt;"

   "[Herde] Second, the great law of the white lion of the legislator shall not be altered;"

  “[Hedde] Third…

Winters was not present when the palace guards of the Chihe tribe read the Code to the leaders of the tribes, Kota, and the tribe.

   He was lying in an ox cart, slowly approaching the valley where gold was buried.

  One day in the future, Winters may regret that he missed the most exciting part of the events that happened in Qingqiu—the children of Heard all over the mountains and plains smashed arrows together to swear, swearing to keep the law of the golden tablet forever.

While   The Hurds were showing how to destroy arrows efficiently, Winters was wondering how to coax Kaman to rub his legs, because his legs were so sore and itchy.

   He lay upright on the hard deck, every inch of skin and every inch of muscle on his body was aching to death, and he didn't even have the strength to hook his little finger.

   "...I didn't expect..." Winters sighed intermittently: "...The white lion doesn't even need the white lion..."

This sentence    seems to be ambiguous, but in fact the two "white lions" refer to different objects. The former is naturally the one who is worshipped in Qingqiu.

   And the latter—the white lion named Little Guy—was asleep in the cart behind Winters at the moment. In the same car with the little guy were Bell and two dogs that looked like wolves.

"Return the white lion? Care for yourself first!" Father Kaman sat leaning beside Winters, holding a small silver jug ​​to feed Winters hot milk, half gloating at the misfortune, half scolding bitterly: "I I really don't understand, how did you make yourself look like this? Normal people fainted or lost their strength long before they became like you, how on earth did you manage to neither faint nor die?"

   Lieutenant Colonel Moritz, who was sitting on the other side of the ox cart, sipped a little wine and said leisurely, "The power of love."

   Kaman sneered coldly: "It did enter a field that I don't understand."

  "I...want to...you..." Winters squeezed out the words with amazing perseverance: "...to die together..."

   "Yes." Kaman continued to drip milk into the corner of Winters' mouth: "Come on."

   Winters' eyes gradually became wet: "That old man... gave me... the wine... there is something wrong!"

  ——————

   "...the first written law of the Hurd culture as we know it today, the "Golden Stele Law", is also the origin of the Hurd script..."

  ——"History · Grade 7 (Part 1 [New Hailan Education Press]

   [The moment of highlight is often the moment of death of the society]

   [There are a lot of things to do today, I wrote a part at noon, and I have some free time before I get off work. Sorry for being late]

   [About the oath of Taya to support the white lion, rewritten from the oath of the Qiyan families to support Temujin in "The Secret History of Mongolia". This should be the earliest, written record of the nomadic oath of the Khan.]

   [There is a very interesting detail in the original oath, that is, the first sentence "We will make you sweat". We make you a khan. This sentence shows that the authority of the khan throne actually comes from the collective grant of the nobility. It's not a gift from God, and it's not all inherited or earned. In the early days of the Mongolian regime, the change of the khan throne had to hold a "congress", which indirectly proved this point]

   [(The following is the content of this book) In addition, although the white lion's methods are relatively mild, the background of the internal conflict in the Hurd society is still extremely **** and cruel. If you say kill the whole family, kill the whole family, no mercy]

   [It is precisely because of the high level of internal friction that the expansion of Heard's ministries is very difficult. The clan and the clan are killed too hard, the expansion of the clan depends on its own life, I don’t know what year and month it will be born]

   [So, it's not the Platoons who kill the most Hurds, but the Hurds]

   [The white lion can become bigger and stronger in a generation, part of the reason is that he seldom "wasted manpower" and seldom killed indiscriminately]

[But having said that, only people other than the Hurd people will call the Hurd people "the Hurd people". For the people living in the Northwest Wasteland, the people of other tribes are not one family with themselves. You kill me, I Killing you is a natural thing, there is no compatriotism at all]

   (end of this chapter)