"Be careful not to wake him up. If you get bit by this thing, your body will rot!"
Four or five soldiers cautiously approached a two-man-tall beast covered in scales and with a bloody mouth.
"It is most important to tie it up properly, including the claws, and tie them to the body!"
"Are you ready?"
Coils of hemp rope bound the dangerous beast.
"Are you ready? Come on, get up!"
The soldiers worked together to lift the beast and put it into a large wooden cage.
"Cover it with a black cloth, cover it! This will make it quieter when it wakes up."
Most of the other soldiers around were doing similar work.
The large number of wild animals captured in Nolan City were all classified by the soldiers and placed in wooden cages, which were then covered with black cloth and loaded onto flatbed carriages.
However, they only selected the living ones. Those that were bitten to death by other wild beasts, trampled to death, or smoked to death would be skinned and meated by special personnel. The meat would be used as a snack for the soldiers in the army, and the furs would belong to the nobles.
Hundreds of carts were requisitioned, each of which was loaded with 4 to 8 wooden cages. In addition, there were more than a dozen vehicles containing various supplies. After all, the guards needed supplies, and they could not let these beasts die on the way, at least not too many.
This time's convoy was far more exaggerated than the last time it went to the imperial capital to pay tribute, and the arrangements were also more tight.
Under the king's order, this time Heno was the one who personally escorted the group, and Brent also followed him.
In addition to Nolan City, all the major noble territories and imperial army bases throughout the Qinggele Empire are carrying out a series of hunting activities, and nothing running on the land or swimming in the water is spared.
The nobles in many places have no awareness of ecological protection, and many of them are captured for extinction. Fortunately, in this world and this era, there are still far more virgin forests than Ridgetop cities, and most of the captures are made in the outer layer of the forest, so it is impossible to cause a devastating impact on the overall ecology.
In addition to a wide variety of wild animals, certain large livestock farms throughout the empire also contribute large quantities of livestock.
This year these farmers no longer have to worry about the sales of their livestock. The Qinggele Empire, which had just confiscated all the major churches across the country, now has an extremely full treasury. Vogoff waved his hand and purchased more than 30% of the livestock from farms across the country at a price that was 10% lower than in previous years.
Don’t think that these farmers will lose money if the sales volume is 10% lower. 30% of the total sales volume is equivalent to more than half of the total sales volume in previous years.
If they are sold at one time, you can put all the old, weak, sick and disabled people in there directly, and save at least half a year's worth of fodder money.
Moreover, the selling price in previous years included the average price of livestock sold by ordinary free-range households. In fact, the prices of large-scale farms are already relatively low, so even if the price offered by the empire is lower, the farmers will be able to accept it. In addition, the empire has not defaulted on the payment of arrears and has paid it in full all at once, so these farmers are willing to escort the animals in person.
…
At the foot of the mountains outside Kyoto, more and more livestock have been coming in from all over the country.
Many workers who built the altar had their jobs changed to building animal sheds.
The foot of the mountain is filled with the stench of wild animal and livestock feces. The amount of work required to clean it up every day and load it onto trucks to sell as fertilizer is staggering.
The Qinggele Empire's master of ceremonies was in a wooden house halfway up the mountain, and next to him was the general supervisor in charge of the project and subordinates in charge of livestock and wild beasts.
The chief supervisor sniffed. Even though they were inside the wooden house, even though they were halfway up the mountain, the stench of feces was still unavoidable. One could imagine how strong the smell would be at the foot of the mountain.
"Sir, the ground carving part of the project has been basically completed. Now we are building the road steps and the outer hall. The remaining workers will help take care of the livestock..."
Strictly speaking, the main body of the altar is the ground carving, which is a mere form of the inspirational ritual array. However, in the eyes of the officials supervising the project, this is only a small part of the altar project.
"Well... let's finish building the Royal Lounge first. The rest of the process can be slowed down. His Majesty the Emperor may come over in a few days."
"How many days!?"
The supervisor was shocked.
"How can it be built in a few days, unless we use wood... And it will take more than a short time to decorate the interior to a level that His Majesty can rest..."
"Then use wood, chairs and beds, and be able to rest and be sheltered from the wind and rain. These are the original words of His Majesty the Emperor, but everything must be done quickly!"
The master of ceremonies looked straight at the general supervisor, who was stunned for a moment and then quickly responded.
"Yes, sir!"
This was a strange project, this was a strange order, the general supervisor was full of doubts but he didn't dare to ask.
Privately, a large number of laborers and soldiers in this mountainous area, as well as many supervisors, have long been aware of the strangeness of this project.
"So how many animals have arrived?"
The master of ceremonies flipped through the silk cloth book and asked his subordinates casually.
"Sir, there are now more than 30,000 large livestock from all over the country, and nearly a thousand new ones are transported every day. However, due to the lack of facilities, hundreds of them die every day... In addition, the wild animals captured by the major territories and the imperial army have also arrived one after another, and the total number has exceeded 10,000. However, it is more difficult to take care of the wild animals. Many of them are unwilling to eat and can't last long..."
At this critical moment, the subordinate did not care to hide anything and explained everything to the master of ceremonies in detail.
But Sendek didn't blame anyone.
All those here are his capable subordinates, and he is well aware of the urgency and difficulty of the project. It has not been easy to achieve what he has achieved so far.
Sendek drummed his fingers on the wooden tabletop.
"What kind of sacrifice is His Majesty going to hold..."
In fact, some smart people in the upper echelons of the empire have basically made guesses, and many people do not think that this sacrifice is really for the God of Light.
Some even suspected that His Majesty the Emperor might be preparing to believe in a new god.
At about the same time, in the imperial capital of Qinggele Empire, in the study of His Majesty the Emperor in the palace.
Vogoff sat quietly at the table, reviewing reports and intelligence from domestic and foreign spies.
“Cough… cough cough… cough…”
A violent cough suddenly broke out from the old emperor's mouth, and he couldn't stop it no matter how hard he tried.
"Hoho...hoho...huh..."
After coughing, the old emperor took a sip of the medicine soup that was warmed by the charcoal stove beside him.
Although the court physician said that the Emperor's illness was caused by catching a cold and was not serious in itself, at his age, any minor illness cannot be ignored.
Moreover, Wogov has already become anxious and worried in the hope of prolonging his life, and has also developed mild paranoia.
"I don't have much time left... That person said that my request would cause changes, and perhaps these changes would include the intention to take away my life span in advance!!"
"Cough cough cough... cough cough... ugh..."
The violent coughing eased only after he spat out a mouthful of thick phlegm, but it also caused the old emperor to feel severe pain in his chest.
"No, I am the God of the Qinggele Empire, and I am also the emperor who has made a deal with a god-like being!! I will not die, I cannot die at this time!"
He used his right hand to squeeze the information cloth on the table tightly.
"The ceremony will succeed! It will!"
Qin Xiaoxia had never thought that his casual remark that the more sacrificial offerings the better would be over-interpreted to this extent by Vogoff.
He originally said that at least five thousand livestock or animals were needed, and the more types, the better the effect. In order to ensure the success rate, Vogoff spared no expense.
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