Way of Overlord
Chapter 120: Talent in This Era

Chapter 120: Talent in This Era

Durka sighed and for a moment there is tense silence in the tent

"It seems our Overlord is truly expanding their influence," Durka mused with a bitter smile, looking around at the gathered Elders who shared his concerns.

One of the wise Elders nodded sagely, offering a perspective of resilience and patience.

"Tall trees attract wind, but we are only below the tree. Storms and rains will come, but let the big tree endure it. We only need to do our best."

Durka chuckled softly, appreciating the Elder’s words.

Indeed, they found themselves in the shadow of a powerful force, but they only need to do their best

However, the uncertainty still lingered, and Durka couldn’t help but express his confusion. "I still don’t understand why Aeryon treats us differently from the other tribes he has subjugated and conquered."

The other Elders also shared his bewilderment, their faces reflecting puzzlement.

When they heard what Belarion did, they felt no revulsion toward Belarion deed of killing all of the Kanun tribe chief family and friends, leaving no roots behind.

It is very common to do that. But Aeryon method is really rare. One could even think of his generosity as a weakness.

The people of the Great Steppe knows how to bow their heads and kneel on their knees, but they are also very rebellious.

The small tribes under great tribe is like sharks in the sea. When their overlord is strong and powerful, they bow their heads and bent their knees. But once the Overlord has spill blood, they are like sharks in the water, smelling blood and circling against the prey

So, this is rare for the Duhai tribe to be accorded with such kindness.

As Durka observed the unfolding events and mapped the expansion of the Brolgadhr tribe in his mind, he couldn’t help but sense their growing strength.

The conquests and alliances were becoming clear in his mind, forming a map of interconnected tribes in the Western part of the Southern Great Steppe.

Aeryon plan seemed evident - to extend his influence and control over the entire western region of the Southern Great Steppe.

"Is that your plan?" he thought to himself.

Durka wondered if this was part of a larger strategy, perhaps involving an alliance with Utgard, who could potentially take the north-eastern part of the Southern Great Steppe.

These thoughts were mere speculations, yet they occupied Durka’s mind as he anticipated his meeting with the young chief.

He would like to talk more about this when he meets with the young chief later.

"It is time for me to meet with the young chief" he muttered to himself

...

While Durka is ready to meet Aeryon, Aeryon is still in his tent. He woke up early this morning around dawn and he has been prepared to meet Durka

Last night when a messenger arrive sin his tent and told him that Durka had awoken, he was overjoyed.

He always wanted to recruit this seasoned warrior and so when he heard that Durka is now awake, one could only imagine his joy

And last night he already had a plan on how to recruit this man and make sure that this man is loyal to him.

He was excited by this prospect that he woke up early and make sure everything is ready when Durka wanted to meet him.

Throughout the night, he had meticulously prepared for their meeting, making sure everything was in order when the time came.

In a brief moment of respite, he stepped away from the final preparations and retreated to his tent.

There, he delved into the detailed report provided by Mayeux, which chronicled the conquest of the Khulun tribe and the expansion of their forces.

Most of the report is written in Marynku Script

The writing system had its origins in the Old Empires of the Steppe, tracing its roots back to a time of great cultural and historical significance in the history of the Great Steppe.

The script is unlike any kind of writing that James is used to

It is unique in its vertical lines that flowed from top to bottom, right across the page.

Derived from the alphabet of the Old Steppe Empire, Marynku Script boasted a true alphabet, with separate characters for consonants and vowels, making it a sophisticated and precise means of written communication.

It is said that the script had evolved from an adaptation of the Uihur alphabet, a language once spoken by the dominant Old Steppe Empire that ruled vast territories in the Southern and Western Great Steppe in the past during the late Xun dynasty and early Yan dynasty.

In the past, Uihur is one of the Old Empires of the Steppe had marched southward, engaging in fierce battles against the Yan people who threatened the southern tribes.

As time passed, Marynku Script spread across the Great Steppe, giving rise to different dialects in the southern, eastern, and western regions.

However, the northern territories, inhabited by the Eresian and Ashran peoples, retained their distinct writings and dialects due to their unique cultural history before they arrived in the Great Steppe.

Over the centuries, they too adapted to the ways of the Steppe, mastering the art of writing and speaking in Marynku, though hints of their ancestral culture still lingered in the deep accents of their speech.

The Marynku script bore a resemblance to the vertical Arabic script, characterized by the presence of the dot system, which lent a sense of elegance and complexity to the writing.

To create these ancient texts, skilled scribes used reed pens dipped in black or cinnabar red ink.

Birch bark, silk or cotton fabric, and occasionally leather skins served as the canvases for recording the rich history and stories of the Great Steppe.

Among the many tribe members, the only one who possessed the skill of writing was Mayeux.

Aeryon chose to exclude the elders from this group, not because they lacked the ability to write, but because they held the responsibility of guiding and advising the tribe, rather than engaging in frontline battles.

As for his officers, Aeryon was surprised to find that none of them showed interest in learning the art of writing, except for himself.

He took it upon himself to acquire this valuable skill, realizing the importance of communication and record-keeping.

Upon transmigrating into Aeryon body, he found that he already possessed a natural understanding of the spoken language in the Great Steppe.

Additionally, he quickly grasped the intricacies of the written language, the Marynku Script, with ease.

Whether this ability was a result of his transmigration or a manifestation of his inherent talents, he could not determine, but it proved to be a valuable asset as he read detailed reports from distant tribes.

The proficiency in language and writing allowed him to stay informed about the events and developments in far-off territories.

This knowledge to him is very important.

Because it is instrumental in strategizing and making informed decisions for the Brolgadhr tribe’s expansion and influence.

As Aeryon delved into the detailed written report provided by Mayeux, he is impressed by the thoroughness and meticulousness of his work.

The report contained valuable insights about the tribes in the region, their military strengths, and their alliances.

Maps detailing the geographical layout of the area provided a clear understanding of the strategic positions and potential areas of expansion.

The report also analysed the reasons behind the victories in each conquest, shedding light on the tactics and strategies employed by the Brolgadhr tribe and their enemies.

Aeryon noted the strengths and weaknesses of his foes, which would prove invaluable in planning future campaigns.

As he read through the report, Aeryon felt a sense of pride for Mayeux’s dedication and competence.

" Trusting him with high position is not in vain" he muttered to himself.

Mayeux’s abilities not only in the battlefield but also in organizing and presenting crucial information made him a valuable asset to him

He could tell that Mayeux is developing.

Aeryon always felt that if Mayeux could be cultivated, he could be a talent that could be a prime minister.

Why does Aeryon have such an evaluation toward Mayeux?

Aeryon evaluation of Mayeux as a potential talent and prime minister is rooted in the scarcity of literacy and knowledge in their world.

In this era, the ability to read and write sets individuals apart from others and elevates their status significantly.

The Southern Great Steppe, despite its vastness, shares this characteristic with other regions in this world where knowledge is limited to a privileged few.

This world in a way is different than his Earth but sometimes it also has its similarities In this era, those who could write is already a level higher than everyone else. Because literacy is very low and knowledge is kept by the few.

Even more so than in the Great Steppe.

Every regime in this world is like this right now.

In the Yan dynasty, a similar situation persists.

Access to knowledge and education is tightly controlled, primarily favouring the scholar class and the nobility.

Imperial examinations, a system where officials are selected based on their academic performance, have not yet been established.

Consequently, most individuals in government positions are either from noble backgrounds or have received recommendations from influential families.

Like when Xu Shu in the Romance of Three Kingdom recommended Zhuge Liang or Pang Tong, that is how the official position is filled.

In this world, the Yan dynasty also have that same kind of system. It is the Yan dynasty practice of recommending noteworthy locals for political office.

Since the Fourth Emperor of Yan, the Yan court relied mainly on nomination by local magnates and officials as a way of identifying talent, by nominating them under titles such as Filial and Incorrupt or Outstanding Talent

The thinking of it is very simple "I know people who knows some people and I recommended this person to you"

During this era, social advancement was indeed a complex web of connections and recommendations.

It was a matter of "who you know" and "who knows you" that often paved the way to success.

As rare as it was, possessing the ability to read, write, and possess knowledge of history and the art of war held immense value and potential.

In a society where literacy and knowledge were not widespread, those who possessed such skills held a significant advantage.

They had access to information, wisdom from the past, and the ability to strategize, making them stand out in a sea of ordinary individuals.

This is especially true when opportunities for social mobility were extremely limited, making it challenging for most to rise above their station.

And because of that he is sure that if Mayeux is cultivated a bit more, he could be a great talent.

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