Central Mountain City, Kingdom Ministry, Amphitheater.
"A diverse group of people live on these islands, including the Tainos and the Caribs, the latter closer to the Northeast Region", I began to explain. "In recent months, we have been trading with them, and they have shown great interest in our kingdom. Furthermore, their religion is very similar to ours… As I have tirelessly repeated, our gods are the same; it's just that our people heard them in different languages and interpreted what they could of that divine language", I told everyone, as was customary.
"Are they hostile?", asked the former Chief of Central Mountain City and now provisional governor of the Northeast Region.
"Hmm… You could say they are territorial; they think we want to forcibly take their land and their resources. The approaches we have had with them have been island by island, tribe by tribe, to establish good initial relations with them", I replied, after recalling the reports I had received a few months earlier. "However, after showing them some gifts and inviting them to visit the villages, they have shown themselves to be very open to change and cooperation", I added confidently.
"That's all for the announcements", I finished. "Any questions?", I asked if there was anything I didn't understand.
"No?", I asked rhetorically. "Well, then we'll move on to the Chiefs' reports", I said, withdrawing to the side of the stage.
Over the next hour, the Chiefs individually reported on the progress made in their districts. This would be the last report they would give, as Chiefs demonstrated considerable progress.
All districts had very high birth rates, due to improvements in the nutritional conditions of mothers, the use of soap and hygiene during childbirth, and the use of sterilized water and tools. Furthermore, due to this, maternal mortality rates also decreased. However, over the years, it was necessary to change the way people thought, forcing women to have children only after turning 16.
Some districts saw an increase in food production, such as the districts under the control of New Valley City and Mountain Crossing City. However, the most notable case was the territories of the new cities located on the eastern side of the central mountain range, in what would now be called the Eastern Region. The leaders of the towns and cities who followed these guidelines managed to multiply their production.
Other districts saw improvements in metal production, such as the districts under the control of Central Mountain City and Mountain Crossing City. Both districts, with improved furnace capacity, were able to produce increasingly more gold, silver, copper, iron, and other metals found in the mountains. At the same time, mineral salt production improved, and other mineral veins were discovered in what are now the Northeast and Southern Regions. The infrastructure and roads in the kingdom's oldest territories continued to improve, and in the remaining territories, roads, houses, and warehouses were gradually improving. Also, the district in charge of Lake Mountain City reported that they were already helping to build new shipyards in the Northern Region, and that ship production for the navy's Sand Division had increased by 300%.
Finally, sightings of scouts from the Children of the Sun people were reported, as well as groups of traders approaching the southern territories of the Kingdom. Furthermore, some of the villages present in the Western and Southwest Regions of the kingdom map have begun sending groups of priests to verify whether our annexation proposals are real.
"Great work, everyone", I congratulated with a big smile. "This will be the last time you speak as Chiefs, and next year I will address you as Governors. I hope this first year as governors is as good as the ones you had as Chiefs", I excitedly encouraged. "By the way, I was forgetting something", I commented before moving on to the requests. "You should know that provisional governor positions, as I told you before, only last two years, but if you wish to remain in these regions, you can apply and be formally elected. You will also be able to determine who will be your provisional Chief for the cities you previously led", I explained, while some of them sighed in relief.
"I had forgotten that some of them didn't want to leave their territories. I hope they don't hold a grudge against me for these two years outside their comfort zones", I thought.
"Now comes the petitions", I announced, moving on to the next topic of the meeting. "First, I'd like to remind the new governors that they must think carefully about their requests. Now you don't just control a small territory; most of you will control a territory twice that size. So, think carefully about your requests", I casually announced as I left the stage again.
"South Central Region", announced an aide at the meeting.
"First of all, I'd like to thank young Chuta for the appointment", he thanked me before expressing his request. "My request, seeing that we will practically be the main managers of mining and metals in the kingdom, is to improve the mining method to go deeper and improve smelting capabilities", he explained.
"Your designated ministers for metals and advanced crafts will present you with new techniques for using water wheels and blast furnaces", I replied from the side of the stage after some consideration.
"North Central Region", announced the aide.
"I would also like to thank young Chuta for the appointment", the governor thanked me. "My request is to increase the number and quality of tools used in agriculture and forestry. I would also like to request an increase in the production of waterwheels", he explained.
"With the increased production and the use of new techniques in the South-Central Region, you will be able to meet that need for tools, but you must keep in mind that the agricultural production areas in the Eastern Region will continue to expand, and they will have priority due to the quality of the soil there. As for waterwheels, your designated minister for advanced crafts will handle that", I replied.
"Northern Region", an aide at the meeting announced.
"Thank you, young Chuta, for the appointment", said the former chief of Mountain Pass City before presenting their requests, placing his hand on his chest in a sign of respect. "I would like to request assistance in establishing inland ports for Lake Suaza and outer ports for the Suaza Gulf. Furthermore, I think it's very important to establish shipyards in the cities along the Gulf coast, as it could help us with exploration", he explained.
"I think these are very good ideas. Very visionary of you", I congratulated him with a big smile. "You will have assistance with establishing the Lake ports, to promote water transportation and also fishing. As for the Gulf ports, not only will they be a priority, but the shipyards you requested will also be built as soon as possible", I explained excitedly.
"Northwest Region", the aide announced.
"I also thank young Chuta for the appointment", said Nyia's father, now governor of the Northwest Region. "My requests concern the transit of goods from the inland rivers. We already have highly developed trade along the Suaza River, but the western branch of the river can also be used for trade and improve connections with the nearby western and southwestern regions. Furthermore, it's possible that we could establish a city in conjunction with the North Central Region to establish a trading city at the crossroads of the rivers", Xiua explained, looking at me confidently.
"You seem to have a talent for business", I thought, considering the commercial opportunities that region would offer.
The Northwest Region would have control of one of the most important outlets to the sea and access to river crossings that cross much of other territories.
"Very well received by you, Governor", I commented. "If you need resources, or any resources, you can come to an agreement with the North Central Region for the founding of that city. As for the river that comes from the west, I believe we should adopt a similar form of transit and trade to that we use on the Suaza River. Present this to your ministers so they can implement transit cities and boat-building workshops as soon as possible", I explained after analyzing his request.
"Northeast Region", the aide announced.
"Thank you, Son of Heaven, for the appointment", said the former Chief of the Central Mountain City.
"My requests will be geared toward the security of this new territory", the new governor began to explain. "As you know, we have the tribes of the endless forest as neighbors, and I don't want us to found small towns until the larger cities have their own regiments to defend their territories… My request is that the cities or towns established to the east be governed by officers or generals", he said stoically. "It seems Michuá still has warlike thoughts even after all this time", I thought, remembering the headaches I'd had with him over the past few years.
"Governor Michuá, your proposal seems right to me", I accepted without much thought, as it was something we had discussed before. "First, I would like to apologize for sending you so far away, but your strengths are necessary for this new position… Furthermore, I want to inform everyone that, unfortunately, the former leadership of this city, led by Governor Michuá, will now be part of the powers of the kingdom's government house and the ministry, so he will no longer be the leader or chieftain of this city", I said formally.
.
----
.
[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Chuta continues with the meeting, and the governors are making their first requests. The idea is for each region to try to dominate one or more industries and form a sort of closed economy until large-scale trade or ocean trade routes begin.
As an unnecessary fact of the day, on Columbus's first voyage, he brought some natives with him as proof that he had found the East Indies.
Read my other novel called The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future.
You can find it on my profile.]