Atlas Battle Song

Chapter 21 XXI.Burning sun

The status of the governor is paramount in the hearts of the West Plateau people.In many places in the western plateau, people still refer to the governor as "Shapur" in the Gushan language, which means "king".

When the new governor takes office tonight, not only will a grand banquet be held in the palace, but the ruler will also gift the food of the banquet to the people—

Roast goat, figs, dates and wine.

Meat is rarely available to the poor.The children were full of joy, and the mothers prepared clay bowls and jugs.Shops and rich people's homes are hung with colorful paper lanterns with pictures of beautiful snake gods, and travelers are lucky enough to observe the grand scene of Calder as the "capital of mermaids".

People greet each other and bless other people's boys in the name of the "Shapur" of the dynasty.The girls painted golden and red snake scales on their arms, and put on bright robes and bloomers to go to the market.

Joy, however, is never everyone's joy.

The boy looked around the alley corner vigilantly.Beside him are more than a dozen middle-aged men, holding weapons.

They watch carefully—

The guards usually stationed by the springs and wells were absent, probably attracted by the free distribution of wine and meat.

Now, the spring water in the oasis is unattended, just like ordinary clear springs, which can be drawn by anyone.The luxury hotels on the shore are lit, and from a distance, luxuriously dressed guests can be seen sitting on the terrace, laughing with the dancers holding tarrs.

This situation made the boy very angry.

The reason why the administrators of the Valan District forbid all poor people to fetch water from the spring, and sent guards to watch day and night, is only to allow the rich to enjoy the beauty of the oasis.

"We must take back the water source tonight!"

"But... do we really need to use force? In fact, we can fetch water now, and there is no need to conflict with the soldiers..." another thin man asked timidly.

This question caused dissatisfaction among many people.

The hotel owner "Silver Bear" reminded him very sternly: "Even if we can fetch water tonight, can we do it tomorrow? The manager Dart is a greedy guy, and he will definitely take the river water and well water for himself tomorrow morning. Captain Trande also said that if we don't protest, nothing will change."

"But... will this work... What if the administrator retaliates? After all, his family is very powerful."

"Let's talk later."

"It's still according to the plan: let's hurry up and fetch water first, and we'll see the situation later." The fox boy nodded, put two fingers in his mouth and blew a whistle——

Upon hearing the signal, the people who had been waiting for a long time waited for an opportunity to move.

Women with pots in their arms hurried to the river, looking around vigilantly as they filled as many containers as they could.The men and boys watched from the shadows with weapons, and came out to protect the women fetching water if there was any trouble.

The spring of the oasis is cool and sweet, reflecting the silver moon and sparkling.

The spring is so vast that it is almost like a lake, and it has not been thirsty for more than 1000 years.It is the origin of the "City of Gold".Legend has it that the Goddess of Beauty once turned into a snake and guided her descendants to an oasis deep in the desert, where she established a city-state.

The poor have not had access to such a fresh water source for a long time.The girls were overjoyed, but were reprimanded by their elders for moving quickly.

But there were too many people, and the spring suddenly became noisy.The rich people on the terrace noticed the movement by the spring, and soon the guards were back.

"Go away! Go away! You are not worthy to fetch water here, it is so filthy!" Many soldiers waved their spears recklessly, trying to drive away the women who were fetching water.

"Why! Why!"

"No reason, this spring water belongs to Master Dart, get out!"

"He is just the administrator of this district. The spring has a history of thousands of years, why should it belong to him!" The angry women refused to leave, but were forced to retreat by the sharp spears savagely waving.

Soldiers rudely used their shields against the crowd who were drawing water, and the jugs kept falling to the ground, and there was a continuous sound of shattering.The younger girls cried, and the old women slapped the children as they held their children behind them.

"Silver Bear" couldn't bear it at all, and blew his whistle again——

The men who were ambushing in the dark and at the corner of the alley rushed out, carrying hoes and sickles, and directly ran into the soldiers.

"roll--!"

"Who are you!"

"Go to hell, the water source belongs to everyone, what kind of manager go to hell!"

"Put down the knife, or..."

"Don't touch her!"

"Bold beasts, who gave you the guts to offend Mr. Dart!"

Screaming and arguing, clamoring and pleading.Soldiers and thirsty people pushed and pushed, spears and farm implements resisted.The square by the spring suddenly became chaotic.Pots were shattered, clothes were torn, and a waving torch accidentally touched a hanging Zombie lantern and caught fire.

"We also need to drink water, clean water!"

"Please, my child is dying of illness, please, let me go! All I need is a jar of water..."

"roll!"

Fortunately, there was a mage living in the hotel, and he quickly extinguished the flames with meteorology.The blond knight saw it and hurried downstairs.

"Hey, stop these guards! They just want water!"

"Your Excellency, please step aside. This is an order from the administrator of the Valan District—Honorable Lord Dalt. The inferior people are forbidden to draw water by the spring. It will pollute the water source and destroy the scenery."

"Wait, I'm the governor's friend, so I'll just say..." Before the blond knight could finish speaking, screams came from the crowd.

Heart-piercing screams.

People stepped aside one after another, only to see a half-grown boy stabbed in the waist by a spear, and his body slipped limply to the ground.And the young soldier holding the spear also screamed, the expression on his face was even more painful than that of the boy, tears and sweat kept rolling down.

"I didn't mean it...I, he just, I didn't..."

A woman screamed and threw herself on the boy. It was his mother.

"You worthless coward," the soldier captain slapped the trembling soldier away, "This will be the consequence if you continue to make trouble, no one of you dares to..."

People are outraged.

The sword is no longer a symbol of protest, but a real weapon.Roaring, shouting, the battle is on the verge of breaking out.

"Get out of the way, that child needs a doctor..." The blond knight pushed away from the crowd, picked up the injured boy and ran to the hotel.The boy's mother wailed and tugged helplessly at the knight's arm, like a drowning man grasping at the last straw.

But the manager of the hotel wouldn't let them in.

"Your Excellency, everything in this hotel is of great value. Only someone with status can..."

"Then you can go out." The one who spoke was a silver-haired mage, he made a gesture, and the manager walked out of the hotel involuntarily.

The mage came to the wounded boy and healed him.

In the square, the crowd was chaotically shoving, like a torrent of pain, shouting with a voice that could no longer be suppressed.

Soon, the soldiers were defeated.

A yellow flag was raised and waved, horns sounded - dozens of heavily armed hoplites rushed to the square, defeating the people's resistance in one fell swoop.

The rusty sword was broken, the sickle was useless, and the pick was no more than a stick.The rebels roared and were gradually surrounded.

From the heavy armored infantry, a short and fat man like a wild boar walked out, also in full body armor, like a durian that was dying.

The man put his hips on his hips and laughed: "Hahahahaha, how secret do you think your little thoughts are? Let me tell you, someone has already told me your every move. Including that you are going to rebel tonight and you want to take away the water source. See , I also prepared a surprise for you..."

"Dart, you bastard...you lied to us!"

"Cheat?" The boar-like man made an expression of wiping his tears with a handkerchief, "I didn't lie to you. You all agreed to give up the right to use the water source. I have clearly posted a notice that clearly states He said: 'Those who disagree can sign within three days, and a meeting can be held to veto this plan as long as one hundred people sign it.' But none of you came to sign, three days have passed, don't you just By default?"

"Liar! You never posted that notice."

The wild boar-like man laughed loudly: "You didn't even see that notice, how do you know I didn't post it? It's just because you don't look good, you deserve it!"

"Your Excellency, there is no need to talk nonsense with these people, let's arrest them all." The captain of the guard said.

"Arrest? After arrest, do we have to bother the newly appointed governor to interrogate these troublesome people one by one? According to the laws of the empire, rebels will be shot to death."

"Bastard, you—"

The wild boar-like man laughed loudly and shrieked: "Hahaha, what are you waiting for, do it! Be careful not to dirty the water source, and don't let a drop of blood go in."

The heavy armored infantry drew their giant axes, and the soldiers raised their spears horizontally.The surrounded people huddled together, back to back, clutching the only remaining weapons tightly in their hands.

"asshole……"

"No, there are not enough people..."

The encirclement became tighter and tighter, and the blade gradually approached.

The onlookers hiding behind the window dared not look at it, and the old man hiding in the corner covered his mouth while crying.The wild dogs barked, restless.

"Captain Trand, it should be fine now!"

The "Silver Bear" in the crowd blew his whistle for the third time.As soon as the whistle sounded, golden fireworks rose not far away.

The blond knight recognized the signal.The knights lurking in the dark also saw it, it was the signal of their seventh knight order.

Heeding the golden call, the knights appeared.

Mighty, reinforcements rushed from the four directions of the city.

Like the west wind that ignited the fire, like the flying arrows that destroyed the city-state, the knights surrounded the square.The number is several times that of the administrator's guards and heavy armor.

Like a wall of darkness, fear and amazement surrounded everyone.

"What, who...!"

"He asked who we are?" The strong man "Silver Bear" smiled, and patted the blond knight beside him, "Say it, 'Star of Petlyar'."

The blond knight said righteously: "It doesn't matter."

"No, this is very important! Brother Neil, don't miss this opportunity to be handsome, Captain Trand will definitely look forward to it."

"Let them go!" The blond knight didn't listen at all.

"This……"

The soldiers were stunned, and they didn't understand what was going on, and the managers had no clue.Soldiers now surrounded the rebellious poor, who themselves were surrounded by knights of unknown origin.

The embarrassing situation was deadlocked. "Wild boar" Dalt suddenly felt that he was being rebellious, and became angry in an instant, and shouted: "What are you doing in a daze! Kill them, and all rebels will be killed!" Only then did the soldiers react, turned around, and waved Spears charged at the nameless knights.

"Ahhh-"

But the result is obvious, the knights are like veterans who abuse recruits, easily knocking the enemy to the ground and humming.

However, "Wild Boar" Dart did not give up, and still ordered the soldiers to fight back again.

"How could it be...! Who are you guys!"

"Neil, don't miss the second chance, quickly say: We are—" Silver Bear was really anxious, wishing he could hold down the blond-haired knight and shout out loudly.

At this moment, the melodious whaletooth horn blew, like a long tune of music——

The glazed lamps of Ardahir Palace in the "Governor's Mansion" seemed to have just added sesame oil, and the red-gold color became brighter.The whaletooth horn sounded again.

People suddenly woke up from the chaos, and looked up at the large terrace of the palace facing the square, where the king once announced to his subjects.

Soldiers, unknown knights, poor and rich merchants, all stopped and looked up at the great terrace hung with scarlet curtains.Through the firelight, one could see the figure of a man standing there, tall and mighty, formidable.

The waiter bowed out from both sides of the curtain, and slowly opened the heavy curtain from the left and right sides with a golden long hook decorated with peacock feathers——

The new Governor of the Western Plateau.

Everyone saw that the king-like man came out, wearing a military uniform, a large fur cape on his shoulders, and a silver lion roar helmet on his head.

Trand Muawia.

Then, a dark-haired beauty came to the man and took his partner's arm.They are well-matched in appearance and suitable for each other, standing side by side on a high place overlooking the square.

The majestic gaze was like a dark cloud about to fall from the thunder, and the humble people dared not speak for a while, forgetting that there was still a scuffle in the square before.

"Shapur..." The boy's eyes widened, "My God...Trand is actually Shapur..."

"What?" asked the blond knight.Master Baiyin had no choice but to spend 15 minutes explaining the history and political system of the West Plateau to the students.

Anyone who had seen and knew about Tland was stunned and could not utter a word.Mrs. Aimee couldn't help crying: "Oh my god...Trand, our little lion Trand..."

Standing on the terrace of Wang's house, Trand slowly raised his hand and announced to everyone:

"With the authority of God Nu and Serpent, and in the name of Emperor Sibyl, I, Trand Muawia, will be the new ruler of the western plateau."

Language is like a brand.

A name, a word, stamped on the ground like hot paint stamps.

He is the master.

When Trand uttered these words, people's hearts changed.Attitudes have changed, arrogance has been tempered, and fear and awe have grown.

"President, Your Excellency Governor, I am really rude! Let you see such an ugly state in the Valan District...! These unscrupulous people have violated the law... No, not only that, they are treason!"

"Wild boar" Dalt was the first to react, and shouted to the large terrace in a very humble tone.He suddenly realized that he was still wearing a helmet in front of the governor, and hurriedly took off the durian-shaped helmet, revealing a greasy bald head that was sweating.Because he was too nervous, his hand slipped, and the helmet fell to the ground with a ding ding dong dong.

The square is exceptionally quiet.

The sound of the helmet falling was abrupt and embarrassing.

Trand smiled, and whispered something in the beauty's ear.The blade-like beauty was expressionless, staring at the crowd.

What's the meaning?People hold their breath and guess, not knowing whether the next sentence will be punishment or scolding, and they don't know what price they will pay.

"I see." Trand bit the beauty's ear, and then asked below: "Let me ask you, who is the ruler of the western plateau?"

"It's you! It's you!"

"Then who is the owner of the golden city of Kald? Is it you, Dalt?" Trander asked again.

"No no no no! Of course, of course it is you, Honorable Shapur."

"Then who is the owner of this 'Silver Snake Spring'?"

"It must be you!"

Trander smiled: "Very good, since this spring water belongs to me, I will give it to everyone. From now on, anyone can come here to get water."

"But...these people are rebels...! They should..." Dalt wanted to say, but held back.

"I pardon all the crimes committed today." Trander raised his hand and pointed at "Wild Boar" Dart in the square.

"But you have already committed the crime of dereliction of duty, and the crime is unavoidable. From now on, you will be relieved of your position as the administrator of the Valan District. Other punishments will be discussed later."

"Your Excellency!" Dart seemed to be choking on his own breath.

Hearing what the governor said, the crowd didn't react at first, and after a while, the cheers broke out completely.The old men prayed, the women hurried to the spring to fetch water, the men threw down their weapons, and shouted the Governor's name as if celebrating a festival.

Trand laughs and kisses his lover on the terrace.

The moon hangs high in the sky, and the golden-red happiness in the world is also bright all night.

Music is played everywhere in the "Mermaid City", and people drink and revel, until the red scale tattoos drawn by the girls on their hands fade away, and they don't fall asleep until dawn.