A wonderful duel is over. Although everyone didn't see the scene of Yaolio and Amon's secret fight, they still feel dazzled. This is a duel between the top masters on the mainland! After watching the duel, Aluka no longer had the idea of winning with Amon, and thought to himself, if it were him who played, there would be no chance of winning at all, and Amon won easily while talking and laughing, obviously not doing his best .
The guard captain of the city-state of Syria, the great warrior Mu En, was stunned. He was the captain of the guard at the Blackfire Forest Station when the flood broke out. He was rescued by Ge Lie, and he saw the magic of this great magician with his own eyes. Later, Ge Lie became a ninth-level great magician and commanded the Hatti army invincible. Mu En only obeyed Ge Lie in his heart, and regarded this old man as a god-like existence. Now there is another Amon, who is not only a mighty general of the nations, but also has such a powerful combat power, so in Mu En's mind, Amon has become the second person worthy of admiration and admiration.
As for Celia, of course she was convinced that she lost. She knew how powerful her summoned beast was, and the armored beast king "summoned" by Amon was not weak, but it obviously didn't help much. Just to join in the fun. She could afford to put it down, and her face flushed when the staff was taken away, but she was relieved after the duel, and returned to the banquet to toast Amon.
Celia looked at Amon and felt extremely regretful, not because she lost, but because a talent like Amon was not used by Hardy. While toasting, she couldn't help but said: "General, you have already left Eju, and it is impossible to go back, not to mention that the Eju Empire will send masters to hunt you down. You once led the army to fight Hatti and captured him alive." The former king, but you also contributed to the peace talks between the two countries, and you are admired by the soldiers of both sides.
Now that King Asher has succeeded to the throne, Hatti's political situation has recovered from the turmoil, and a talent like you who can shake the continent is urgently needed. The city-state of Syria is your hometown, since you are back, why not serve your hometown? Lord Ge Lie and Governor Xiao Mo’s suggestion just now, please think about it again. I am also a great magician of the court and the royal family of Hatti, so I can jointly recommend you. King Asher himself appreciates you very much, and you will definitely be reused in Hatti! "
Amon looked at the wine glass and said: "Princess Celia, thank you for your kindness. I am also here to serve my hometown this time. I have just made an agreement with Master Ge Lie. I won this duel. Next, we should talk about us." I have made an agreement, and I would like to ask Her Royal Highness the Princess for help."
Celia is Asher's cousin. After Asher succeeded to the throne, she was granted the title of princess of the kingdom. But to be honest, an ordinary princess of the kingdom is not more honorable than the status of a great magician, so everyone still calls her She is a great magician, and Amon changed her name at this moment, which obviously has something to do with it.
Governor Xiao Mo spoke: "General, you said just now that you have a business. What kind of business do you need to talk to us? If you want wealth or territory, you can just ask. You don't need to do business yourself to earn money." money."
Amon smiled: "The business I want to talk about is not to make money for myself, but to let the city-state of Syria make money. Duke Town is my hometown, and everyone is very clear that the city-state of Syria has lost its control over the Duke Plain. Controlled by the north and southeast of it, there are city-states established by the kingdom of Assyria and the kingdom of Baron respectively.
That piece of fertile land has been gradually developed over the long years, and in the future it can accommodate hundreds of thousands or even millions of people. It is rich and beautiful, but it is bound to be accompanied by disputes in the world. I don't want the city of Salem, where my friends and family live in peace, to be destroyed before it's fully built, so I need support. The business I want to talk about is of course related to this. First of all, it is to build a road. "
Amon moved the cups, plates and utensils, took out a map and put it on the table, and drew a winding road from their current location to the east end of the Black Fire Forest. He hopes to hire workers to open the road in the city-state of Syria, and build roadbeds along this route to fill up the road surface. According to the scale that two carriages can go wrong, three post stations will be built on the open land between the swamps for the caravans coming and going. rest.
Naturally, the workers can't be allowed to work for nothing, Amon will pay enough. Governor Xiao Mo looked at it for a long time, and pondered: "This project is big enough! I don't know how long it will take to finish it?"
Amon said with a half-smile: "Since I asked you to come here and I am willing to pay a lot of money, naturally the sooner the better, I hope to get it done within three months."
Governor Xiao Mo shook his head and said: "It's impossible to do it so soon. It's one thing to organize people, but there is no way to pass through the swamp, and it's impossible to get local materials. Many things have to be transported from all over the city-state, and they must be pushed in and repaired little by little. It's very difficult."
Ge Lie looked at the map and added: "If someone opens a narrow road that can be walked in advance, and then organizes enough people to reinforce and widen it, it is not impossible to complete it in three months... Amon, this road is winding and winding, It seems that it is only suitable for trade and not for marching and fighting?"
Amon spread his hands: "No way, this is the Black Fire Swamp. It is already the credit of the Iron Armored Beast King to find such a road. It is called Yunmeng and has lived in the swamp since he was a child... Yunmeng, fight everyone! Say hello!"
After the duel, Yunmeng kept crawling on the open space by the swamp, and when she heard Amon's call, she raised her huge body and nodded to everyone. Governor Xiao Mo frowned again and said: "This requires a large-scale recruitment of civilians in the name of the government. How can I explain it to the capital?"
Amon pointed to the Duke Plain on the map and said: "You have been the governor for many years. In the past, there was only one Duke Town with more than 2,000 residents. Most of the daily necessities needed to be transported from outside, but such a small The place is already an important source of taxation for the city-states of Syria... Now there are city-states established there, but the city-states of Assyria and Baron Kingdom will not bring you any benefits, only the city of Salem can cooperate."
The original Duke Town only had more than 2,000 people. Excluding the old and weak, women and children, there were no more than 800 registered miners at most, but the sacred stones they mined and the refined iron they smelted were already important products of the Syrian city-state. That area is rich in resources, and there are ore veins in the nearby mountains. The miners in Duke Town have known for a long time, but they don't have so many people to mine. They just chose the area with the richest mineral reserves and the easiest to mine to build a mine.
If the Duke Plain is fully reclaimed in the future, it will be able to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people. Even the city of Salem can provide housing for tens of thousands of people. If this city-state develops, it will be the Syrian city-state that will benefit the most, because the products there must be shipped out, and the materials needed must also be shipped in. Passing through the road that Amon wants to open will not only benefit business, but also increase a lot of tax revenue.
In the past few years after the Great Flood, the city-state of Syria has been very stable under the governance of Ge Lie, but after two wars, it has lost such an important source of tax revenue as Duke Town, and it is obviously not as prosperous as before. Now Amon has provided another opportunity to open up financial resources, but the status of Salem City is no longer the same as that of Duke Town.
The city of Salem not only needs backup, but also needs more people. Homeless people who lost their land in the city-state of Syria, wandering explorers who are trying their luck, and bankrupt craftsmen can enter Salem City from here to look for opportunities, as long as they obey the instructions there. Management, all will be welcome. The more prosperous the city of Salem develops, the more prosperous this commercial road will be, and the greater the profits of the Syrian city-state will be.
The reason why Amon wanted to talk about this matter in person was because the ownership of Salem City was very delicate. It was not under the jurisdiction of Hatti Kingdom, but a relationship of mutual benefit through trade. In name, the Kingdom of Hatti may not accept it openly, but the fact that three city-states have been established on the Duk Plain is also a fact that the Kingdom of Hatti cannot stop.
Amon's cooperation plan has three steps: the first step is to pay a lot of money to hire people to build roads in the city-state of Syria. The second step is to organize a large commercial firm in Eju to transport supplies through the checkpoints of the city-state of Syria, and to do business with the city of Salem through this commercial road, which needs to be released by the city-state of Syria, and they will pay Tongka taxes according to the regulations. In the third step, the Syrian city-state can conduct personnel and business exchanges with Salem.
Although Xiao Mo is the governor, he dare not nod easily, so he needs to talk to Ge Lie. If Ge Lie supports Amon's proposal, even King Asher will not be able to oppose it given his status and prestige in Hatti Kingdom.
Everyone was reluctant to express their opinion, and looked at Ge Lie with questioning eyes. Ge Lie twirled his goatee and said, "Did Amon win the duel just now?"
Celia replied with a wry smile: "Of course it was General Amon who won, the arbitration was done by your old man!"
Ge Lie said to Xiao Mo again: "Then we have to keep our word! The Governor doesn't have to worry, whether Hatti Kingdom is willing or not, a city-state has already been established on the Duke Town Plain, and we are powerless to intervene. At least there is this way It’s better than not having this road, it’s better for the present and better for the future! In the name of Amon’s money to hire people to build the road, this commercial road will be opened first. There is a peaceful trade agreement between us and Ecu, so naturally it should be allowed Their caravan passed through. If everything goes well, it would be better if we could do more business ourselves... Let’s treat it as private trade, and the city-state of Syria should acquiesce.”
Governor Xiao Mo then nodded and said: "Since you have stated your position like this, let's do it this way. From the perspective of actual interests, the city-state of Syria will also benefit. No wonder you asked me to bring the two directors and clerks with you. By my side, I already thought of it.”
Amon stood up and toasted: "Then I wish you a happy cooperation in the future!"
Ge Lie also raised his wine glass and said: "Wait a moment to celebrate. The time required by the general is so urgent, presumably Salem City is under a lot of pressure at the moment. The conflict on the Duke Plain will come soon. The city-state of Syria can recruit civilians." Build business roads as soon as possible, but the prerequisite is that the general needs to open a walkable road ahead."
Amon nodded and said, "I'll do it right away. I'll open up the road within a month. As for the people of the Syrian city-state, they don't have to worry about where I've gone. Just pave and widen the road."
Ge Lie also nodded and said: "Of course I can trust what the general said, then the city-state of Syria will immediately organize manpower and supplies, and it won't take long for the work to start."
Raphael interjected: "There are now three city-states on the Duk Plain, the city of Enlil built by Assyria, and the city of Marduk built by Baron, and General Amon did not have the support of a kingdom, but he also guided People built a city of Salem. I am very curious about this city-state that seems to have been conjured out of thin air, and I hope to see it.”
Celia also interjected: "I also want to go to see the excitement, it's like a miracle!"
Amon smiled and said, "You are all welcome to visit Salem City, but it is best to wait until the road is repaired, so that everything will be convenient."
Raphael replied: "General, don't worry, since Teacher Ge Lie has agreed to cooperate with Salem City, then this road will definitely be repaired within three months, as long as the old man says something. "
After discussing the cooperation matters, everyone toasted and drank. During the meeting, they chatted about all kinds of knowledge in the war among the nations, especially when Amon witnessed the final destination of Enkidu in the casserole on the battlefield. Unknown doubts. After the banquet was over, Ge Lie did not leave immediately, he wanted to ask Amon to have a private talk.
That night, the huge body of the armored beast king Yunmeng was lazily floating in the swamp, while Raphael stood on its back, looking at the muddy quagmire around him with great interest, and didn't know what he was studying. This noble magician and Iron Armored Beastmaster had just met, and they got along pretty well. They could talk in their souls. Yunmeng was also willing to take Raphael around in the Black Fire Forest and tell him where to eat of.
On a strange rock out of the swamp in the distance, Ge Lie and Amon stood side by side, talking in secret words with information magic. Ge Lie asked: "Enkidu's fall, do you know what happened?"
There are only a few people in this world who can let Amon tell the secret without reservation. Except for Schrödinger who has left and Maria who is far away in Ecu, the remaining one is the great magician Ge Lie in front of him. It is also interesting to say that they were enemies who led the army to fight on the battlefield, but Ge Lie was a friend of the old lunatic and an elder respected by Amon.
Amon replied frankly: "I didn't know it at the time, but I realized it later because of a special experience. It is a 'question of fate, judgment of the end', the final consequence of choosing to bear for a lifetime. Please forgive me for not being able to explain it to you It is too clear, because you know that it may not be beneficial. But I can tell you that if a mortal wants to become a god who truly transcends immortality, it is a must-pass test."
Ge Lie was slightly taken aback: "You mean that Enqidu has cultivated to the end of the realm of the human world, and may become a god?"
Amon sighed: "Yes, he already has that kind of achievement, but it's a pity that he didn't succeed, but he is worthy of this life! Your original assumption may be right, whether it is a magician like you or Enkidu. A samurai who cultivates to the end of the human realm may touch the light of the kingdom of God, but this kind of hope is too slim and too accidental. I once told you about the power of one body and two sides. When I was in Egypt, I realized that there is no such thing as one body. Two sides, strength and body and mind are one.
A samurai or magician may also come to the end of human achievements due to superhuman luck, talent, and perseverance, but there are many contents that are omitted in the practice secrets handed down in the world, unless the body and mind have met the requirements of these tests unintentionally. Impossible to take the last step. The ninth-level achievement of the original power has a seemingly endless life, and although the nine-level great magician in the world has a long life, it cannot compare with those messengers of the gods. "
Ge Lie asked again: "The messenger of the gods?"
Amon smiled: "It is some so-called gods. For example, today I can be called a god in myths and legends, just like Humbaba was once called the God of the Youdi River. There is still a difference between the gods. As for what the difference is, I have not verified it. Of course, this requires the achievement of level nine with the original power. Not all angels can reach this level. They just understand the secret of the original power. "
After Amon finished speaking, he kept silent, waiting for Ge Lie's questioning. Regarding the secret of the original power, if Ge Lie did not ask, he would not take the initiative to tell it, but if Ge Lie wanted to know, Amon would not hide it. He can tell Ge Lie the secret. As for the guidance of faith, that is Ge Lie's own business. Even if he knows the secret, it doesn't mean he can become a god.
Ge Lie did not continue to ask, but sighed and said: "Amon, if you want to open this road, what you want is not only supplies, but more importantly, population, right? Attracting the poverty of Hatti and Eju The vagrants went to the city-state of Salem to live in peace, so that they could have a growing strength to fight against the other two city-states. From a personal point of view, I would even send unemployed soldiers who were disarmed and returned to their hometowns. With a little organization, they could become an army. But there is a The question is, if you do that, for whom do you build a temple in the city-state of Salem?"
Amon replied very simply: "Salem city-state has built a temple for Goddess Mu Yun, which is the same as the original Duke Town. I don't think anyone can have any opinions? As for my people, they have their own beliefs. of the gods."
Maybe in a different era or a different region, people don't quite understand what Amon and Gelie said, but in the Tianshu Continent at that time, belief in gods was an indispensable spiritual support for people. What is the difference between working day in and day out and being alive in the world, and birds and beasts without intelligence or walking dead with no knowledge and desires? That is the longing and hope in people's hearts. The world is material, but people live in spirit.
If a person loses his sense of taste, the best delicacies in the world are meaningless to him; if he loses his vision, the beautiful colors will no longer be brilliant. This is the meaning of belief. It is not necessarily a debate about whether there is a god or not, but a belief in finding the meaning of existence. No matter whether the gods exist or not, people need the sustenance of gods or symbolic gods in their minds, so that they can face the sufferings in life and the unknown in the world.
On the other hand, relying on theocracy, the royal power is also beneficial to the rule of the kingdoms, giving the emperors a self-evident transcendent status. When the two are combined, every city-state on the Tianshu Continent has its own temple. No matter what Amon does, it cannot be divorced from reality. There must be a temple in the city-state to be stable. The difference is nothing more than which god or what kind of god you believe in.
Ge Lie smiled, this smile was a bit weird, he habitually twirled his beard and said: "For so long, you haven't visited Salem City, have you? The temple you mentioned has been repaired, and the altar is indeed The statue of Goddess Mu Yun is sculpted, but it is hugged by your statue! God Amon, hehehehe... "