"Have you two finished studying the Witch King's Dictionary?" Xu Chen asked the two timid little witches.
"I'm done!" The two nodded almost at the same time.
"What about number calculations?" Xu Chen asked again.
"I learned three-digit addition and subtraction, I can memorize multiplication tables, and I also learned some division!" the older girl said.
"I learned three-digit addition and subtraction and some simple multiplication and division." The younger girl quickly followed suit.
A smile appeared on Xu Chen's face and he nodded slightly and said: "You have learned well. You may have heard your great witch say that to become a qualified witch, you must not only learn the Witch King's Dictionary and addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, but also
Learn to record various things in the tribe. Because your great witch passed away suddenly, and no one of you was appointed to inherit the scepter and become the new witch of the tribe, so I need to conduct some simple assessments on you..."
"Your Majesty the Witch King, you don't need to take the test. Let your sister be the new witch!" Before Xu Chen finished speaking, the young girl hurriedly said.
Xu Chen was stunned for a moment and asked curiously: "Why, don't you want to be a great witch?"
The girl hesitated and nodded and said: "It's not that I don't want to, it's that I'm too young and can't do many things well. My sister is serious about her work and the great witch often praises her. I, I want to follow His Majesty the Witch King to go to the Ba tribe and learn more knowledge.
I heard that the Ba people can learn planting, brewing, painting, music, and even healing. I want to learn these even more..."
Although the little witch spoke nervously and her face turned red, the order and words were very accurate.
Xu Chen's eyes lit up when he heard this.
It seems that the old witches from the Gonghuo tribe are really powerful. Although this little girl is a little nervous, it seems that she has studied very hard in the past two or three years and is very independent. She actually wants to go to the Ba tribe to further her studies.
This idea has not been proposed by anyone in other tribes.
After conquering the Gonghuo Tribe, Xu Chen proposed that the Gonghuo Tribe send some boys and girls to the Ba Tribe to study. The old witch indeed arranged for five boys and girls to go there and study for more than a year, and then returned to the Gonghuo Tribe with a group of captive hunters.
The Fire Tribe stopped sending people away after that.
That was just an experimental education promotion by Xu Chen, but he found that the effect was not very good. The main reason was that the learning time was too short and there was no complete teaching plan. These boys and girls only learned a little bit and did not know a few words.
Being able to do some simple addition and subtraction calculations is somewhat useful for cultural exchanges, but in the end it doesn't play a big role.
In order for all tribes to slowly keep up with the development pace of the Ba people, Xu Chen needed to cultivate a group of knowledgeable and cultured people who were proficient in writing and simple calculations in each tribal system to cooperate with his future government construction.
It is unrealistic to rely solely on the high-end group of witches. After all, no matter how powerful one person is, he cannot take care of all the tribes. This is also his plan to implement two low-level professional witches, namely witch doctors and wizards.
Although this discussion was only a simple exchange at the level of the great witch, the little witch in front of me could think of so many things, and had such a strong desire to learn that she was even willing to give up being a great witch that everyone respected. This has to be said to be a full-fledged witch.
A little female savage who has independent thoughts.
From this we can also see that the old witch has a very good eye for selecting successors, and the two little girls she trained are both very good.
"What do you think?" Xu Chen turned to ask the little witch.
The little witch looked at the two heirs of the Gonghuo Clan, thought for a moment and nodded, "That's good too. There can only be one witch. My elder sister is older and will definitely be more serious and prudent in her work. My younger sister is younger and can follow."
If the Ba people learn, they will still have the opportunity to succeed the great witch in the future."
Xu Chen nodded: "I think so too, but now that the great wizard has just passed away, there are many things that need to be dealt with within the tribe, and the two of them have studied with the great wizard for a long time and have a deep relationship. I suggest that she stay in the tribe to assist the new wizard in management.
Tribe, what do you think about us taking her back after next year’s witchcraft conference?”
"His Majesty the Witch King is thoughtful, and I think this is better!" the little witch nodded slightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Witch King, thank you, Great Witch!" The little witch's excited voice was a bit choked up.
"Well, this is an opportunity that you strive for. This year, you will stay in the Gonghuo tribe to help my sister manage the tribe. Next year, you will not be disappointed when you go to the Ba tribe. Give me the ring!"
Xu Chen gently touched the little witch's head, and then took a yellow-orange witch ring from her hands.
The candidate for the great witch has been decided, and it will be announced tomorrow after the old witch's funeral. This matter will be a perfect end.
Xu Chen breathed a sigh of relief and summoned the leader of the Gonghuo clan and a group of leaders to announce the results of the selection to them. After the news broke, the atmosphere of the extremely sad Gonghuo clan became much more relaxed. Many people's faces were filled with joy and excitement.
smile.
Another night passed, and it was time for the witchcraft meeting.
However, not only has the gathering venue been changed this time, making all the tribes who come feel new and fresh, but a grand funeral ceremony will be held today, which makes the atmosphere of the entire venue become dignified and serious.
After breakfast, the sun rises.
The thick fog that filled the entire basin gradually dissipated, revealing the vast wilderness on both sides of the Jicang River.
The clear river water flowed gurglingly, and three strange river boats and dozens of rafts of different sizes were parked densely near the misty pier.
Many people gathered around the pier to watch the three wooden boats.
Suddenly, several deep horn sounds came from the Gonghuo tribe's mountain col, followed immediately by a dull thunderous sound of drums.
"All tribes gather!"
Amidst the sound of drums and trumpets, more than a dozen heavily armed hunters came galloping towards the river beach on horseback, shouting along the way.
All the tribes stationed on the riverbank immediately became busy. Men, women, old and young gathered in formation in front of their stations. More than ten pole flags and Wang flags and dragon flags were lined up and placed on the pile of stones in front of each tribe. In autumn,
The sun's morning breeze swayed slightly, and the river beach soon became orderly and quiet.
The hunter teams from each tribe, all wearing leather armor and holding bows, arrows and spears, lined up neatly at the front of their respective tribes, with their heads held high and their faces full of seriousness.
As the tribes' teams were lined up, Xu Chen came with a group of shamans on carriages and horses, followed by hundreds of men, women, and children from the Gonghuo tribe.
Soon, Xu Chen and others got off and off their horses in the open space in front of the trading area. Facing the neat lines of dozens of tribesmen, they cleared their throats with satisfaction, and then loudly announced the arrangements for the witchcraft conference.
Said it for a while.
In the morning, a funeral was held for the old witch. After that, the inheritance ceremony was held for the new witch of the Gonghuo Tribe. In the afternoon, a hunting competition was held.
The second day is for entertainment competitions. In addition to traditional events such as horse racing, archery, spear throwing, wrestling, and running, this year there will also be a tool-making competition held by apprentices from each tribe who are learning to make wood and stone tools.
Of course, making stone and wood tools is time-consuming, so it will be held at the same time as all competition events, but the evaluation will be completed at the end of the conference, and the tribe that wins the competition will receive a set of wood and stone tool making tools.
This news immediately aroused great interest from all the participating tribes.
There are seven or eight types of wood processing equipment in a set. They are all specially made professional tools and are valuable.
Although stone tools are relatively simple, there are several different sizes of copper hammers and drills, and they are not cheap either and require a lot of wealth to buy them.
Therefore, even if nothing is gained from this party, just getting these two complete sets of tools is a huge gain.
The third day is trading time, but this year’s trading will be conducted in the trading area. Each tribe will allocate a stall. In the future, these trading stalls will be fixed. Each tribe can retain it as a trading place for a long time, and can even arrange long-term personnel.
Live and manage care here.
Because the construction and management of the trading area consumes a lot of manpower, material resources and time from tribes such as the Gonghuo Tribe and the Thunder Tribe and the Five Ghost Tribes, daily transactions require a certain amount of transaction management fees.
The specific payment amount will be announced at the end of this gathering. In the future, all tribes that trade with the Gonghuo tribe must complete it in the trading area.
This trading area is the prototype of the future trading market. Although it is too early to charge fees at the moment, Xu Chen decided to implement it in advance so that these barbarian tribes cannot develop the habit of free prostitution.
Of course, the fee will not be too high, and each tribe will only charge a token of one or two pennies.
The purpose is also very simple, which is to let all tribes gradually develop the habit of paying fees and lay a certain foundation for future fee management.
After all, when the palace is built and government agencies begin to be set up, there will be many special management classes who are not involved in production. These people will need to consume a lot of extra wealth to feed, clothe, house and travel. They only rely on the Ba people's free blood donations and the Gonghuo people.
These tribal voluntary labors are definitely not enough. Over time, you will only have to pay but not gain anything, and it will also greatly reduce enthusiasm and enthusiasm.
Tax collection and fees have been the most important means of revenue to support a political power since ancient times.
As the kingdom's territory continues to expand and its strength gradually increases, there will definitely be more important military construction in the future, which will consume a lot of wealth, and therefore will also require a wider range of fiscal revenue to support it.
Although it is too early to say this at the moment, Xu Chen needs to prepare for a rainy day and cultivate the habit of paying fees and taxes among these tribes. Over time, it will be a matter of course.
After the arrangements were made, everyone set off to follow Xu Chen and others to the mountain col where the Gonghuo tribe lived to hold a funeral ceremony for the old witch.