CHAPTER 408: CHAPTER 286: THE NEW PROBLEM OF RESERVE TRIBE MEMBERS

"This proposal is very good." Maximus nodded and said seriously, "Since everyone agrees, let’s settle it this way. The name of the Twenty Peerage System decree will remain unchanged, and a new level of Foreign Auxiliary will be established below the Reserve Tribe Members. From now on, all captives who are unwilling to join the tribe will become Foreign Auxiliaries."

"Leader... I have a question." Quintus hesitated and said, "After these captives become Foreign Auxiliaries, compared with other captives who have already joined the tribe, they may see the benefits of becoming Reserve Tribe Members and then demand to join the tribe and become Reserve Tribe Members. What should we do then?"

Before Maximus could respond, Volenus spoke up in defense, "Isn’t this a good thing! Isn’t the goal of setting up the Foreign Auxiliary to ultimately make these captives our tribesmen? Anyway, whether they are Reserve Tribe Members or Foreign Auxiliaries, they all need to work hard for the tribe."

"I think there’s a difference." Quintus warned, "These Foreign Auxiliaries suddenly change their mind to join the tribe not out of sincerity but to suffer less. If they become tribe members in large numbers in a short period, then what is the point of setting up the Foreign Auxiliary? Moreover, doesn’t this go back to the problem the leader just worried about!"

With Quintus’s reminder, others immediately realized the problem, and even Pigeris muttered softly, "Hmm, it seems like that’s the case. We’ve gone in circles, and the problem hasn’t been solved. Establishing the Foreign Auxiliary seems a bit redundant..."

Maximus had of course considered this issue beforehand. He smiled slightly, "If Foreign Auxiliaries want to become Reserve Tribe Members, they can’t just be allowed to join the tribe with just a word. A period needs to be set, and their performance must be assessed—"

"Oh, I understand now," Volenus said suddenly. "Leader, you mean to set a three-year period like for Reserve Tribe Members to become Official Tribe Members, and only those with good performance can become Reserve Tribe Members?"

"Three years is a bit too long. It could be six months per term, with some vacancies for Reserve Tribe Members released every six months to those Foreign Auxiliaries who perform well. This way, other Foreign Auxiliaries can see hope and work harder, ensuring the tribe always has relatively sufficient labor..."

"The leader’s proposal is good—" Gaius just started to say a flattering remark when Maximus waved to stop him, "Let’s not rush. For foreigners who voluntarily join the tribe, and those Foreign Auxiliaries becoming Reserve Tribe Members, it’s not as simple as just saying they join or registering with the Financial Department. They must also participate in a sacred ceremony—"

"Leader, what sacred ceremony?" Kefisofon hurriedly asked, as this pertained to his responsibilities.

"It’s to have them swear an oath of loyalty to the Nix Tribe in front of the statue of the Goddess at the Danu Temple." Maximus said solemnly, "If someone refuses to take the oath or cannot loudly recite the oath during the ceremony, no matter how well they performed before, they cannot become Reserve Tribe Members! Kefisofon, you need to discuss with Emmerich to plan the whole process and the oath for this sacred ceremony, and make sure! Make sure this sacred ceremony appears solemn and dignified, so they feel the majesty of the Danu Goddess!"

Quintus, Capito, and others present did not object to Maximus’ decision that those joining the tribe should only swear allegiance to the Danu Goddess. Not only because Emmerich had been publicizing for months that "the Nix Tribe leader is the offspring of the Danu Goddess," which made them wary, but also because they understood that their current enemies, the Pannonians, had great respect for the Celtic Deities—especially the Danu Goddess. During the ceremony, facing the statue, they would not dare to lie or break the oath, ensuring that after becoming Reserve Tribe Members, the tribe could still maintain stability, which was indeed a good plan!

However, this clearly means that the Nix Tribe has officially clarified the Celtic Deities as their primary belief, leaving Quintus and others feeling a bit wistful.

Maximus was not in the mood to consider his subordinates’ thoughts at this time. His gaze swept over to the tribal Priest at the other end of the table and said, "Emmerich, how is the temple construction by the Kupa River going?"

Emmerich, long prepared for Maximus’ inquiry, immediately answered, "Leader, the temple was completed more than a month ago, and the statue was finished just a few days ago. I originally wanted to ask you when a grand sacred ceremony should be held to welcome the statue of the Danu Goddess into the temple, after which the temple would open to the tribe’s people for prayers... But because of this war, it had to be temporarily postponed."

"Luckily it was postponed." Maximus was not regretful, but rather relieved, and said, "Get those people who built the temple and carved the statue all called here soon, as our tribe’s first Danu Temple should be built here! I’ve thought about it for a long time today, and I think building the temple in the southern mountains of Lin Kou Village would be better."

"Ah! This—" Emmerich was a little reluctant, because the long-awaited Danu Temple was about to open and the Druid teachings were about to formally take root in the tribe, but now Maximus wanted to delay it.

"The reason for prioritizing the construction of the temple here is not only to make it more convenient for the soon-to-join Skodisqi people and Segestica people to swear oaths at the temple..." Maximus explained patiently, "but also to quickly stabilize this newly occupied area, so the Segestica citizens here know that we have the same belief, allowing them to recognize us faster! The temple by the Kupa River won’t be abandoned. Once this one is finished, that one will continue to be completed. In the future, in all our newly acquired territories, Danu Temples will be built!"

After hearing this, Emmerich no longer felt disappointed but was instead invigorated: "Leader, I will hurry back to Snowdonia tomorrow to get them all here to build the temple! Building a temple is actually quite simple. As long as we select a suitable place in the west mountain ridge of the village and according to the previous blueprint, transplant some trees and flowers, place stones, construct altars, and build rain sheds...

They’re already experienced. It should be finished within fifteen days. Originally, the statue was the most troublesome, as before it relied on you, leader, to carve it personally, taking several months to create this sacred Danu Goddess statue that compels one to kneel in prayer at first sight.

But since we’re moving that statue here, I think within half a month, new tribe members will be able to take oaths in the new temple. But afterward, we’ll still need to ask you, leader, to spend time carving another Danu statue to place in the temple by the Kupa River."

"Of course, I can." Maximus readily agreed. He had studied modeling at an art academy in a previous life, had additional training in sculpture, and after graduation, joined a teacher’s sculpture studio, working there for two or three years. His sculpting skills and knowledge far surpassed those of this era.

Maximus then continued to ask, "Regarding my earlier proposal to grant some positions to Foreign Auxiliaries every six months, allowing the well-performing ones to become Reserve Tribe Members but only after taking an oath at the temple... does anyone have any objections?"

"The leader’s ideas resolved the problem I mentioned earlier; I fully agree." Quintus responded first.

"The leader’s ideas are excellent! I can’t find a reason to oppose them!" Gaius immediately said.

Everyone expressed their agreement one after another, thus establishing the Foreign Auxiliary as an auxiliary provision of the Twenty Peerage System.

Then, Volenus asked with concern, "Leader, which department will manage these Foreign Auxiliaries in the future?"

Maximus said seriously, "Previously, the Agricultural Department, Public Works Department, and Military Department jointly managed the Reserve Tribe Members, gaining valuable experience. I believe that this time, these three departments can still take the lead in managing the Foreign Auxiliaries without any issues."

Volenus, Capito, and Quintus exchanged glances for a while. Not adept at opposing Maximus’s opinions, Volonus reluctantly voiced his difficulties, "Leader, our supervision was already somewhat strenuous before. Now that we’ve taken over such a large area, needing to supervise even more Reserve Tribe Members, we’re short-handed, and it might not be feasible to have us manage the Foreign Auxiliaries as well."

Maximus did not display any displeasure at Volenus’s opposition and nodded understandingly. "You’re right. If we have to manage everything, we don’t have enough manpower to handle it all. So, your current institution for managing Reserve Tribe Members will only manage Foreign Auxiliaries, and let the Reserve Tribe Members manage themselves."

"Manage themselves?! How can that work?" Volenus and Capito blurted out in astonishment, and others were somewhat surprised as well.

"Listen to me," Maximus, looking at everyone, seriously explained, "Previously, the Reserve Tribe Members provided substantial labor for our tribe. They cultivated fields, cut trees, built houses, and constructed bridges and roads... The tribe’s public construction was mainly done by them, alleviating many officials and Official Tribe Members from agricultural burdens.

Now we have the Foreign Auxiliaries, so these tasks can be handed over to them. If we continue letting the Reserve Tribe Members do the same tasks as the Foreign Auxiliaries, it will neither show the advantages of joining the tribe and becoming Reserve Tribe Members nor prevent them from harboring resentment.

They will certainly think, ’We believed the Nix people and abandoned our own tribes, and after joining, we had to give up our original land, homes, and possessions, and lose our freedom, being managed centrally like slaves...

They would feel regret, and after regretting, they would become slack in their work. Once slack, we would punish them, leading them to further resentment. Someday, if they suddenly explode, it might cause great trouble for the tribe!"