The Great Empire of a Distant Land (2)

Along the border between the great grasslands and the Huanggu Empire, several sturdy forts stood to prevent incursions by tribes bent on plunder.

They apparently served both as defensive installations and as watchtowers.

Because the grassland people relied on almost nothing but cavalry, their armies advanced at astonishing speed; if they were not spotted immediately, they could enter the empire's territory.

Therefore, the Huanggu Empire's strategy for dealing with the grassland people was to detect them as early as possible, then launch coordinated pincer attacks from multiple forts.

However, not every grassland tribe sought to plunder; some engaged in legitimate trade.

I heard that such tribes deliberately approached the forts instead of avoiding them, then paid an entry fee to receive permission to pass.

So I followed suit, approaching the fort openly, paying the entry fee, and slipping them a little something extra. I safely made it to White River Province in the Huanggu Empire.

To be honest, I was a little taken aback when they so blatantly gestured for a bribe, but it was better than having them single out Sire, the horse who had carried me this far.

But setting that aside, White River Province, where I had just set foot, was a place with a unique atmosphere unlike anywhere I had visited before.

Even the houses in the villages were built in an architectural style completely different from anything I knew.

Ah, no... Kaeha's house and dojo were somewhat similar to the buildings in this country, though.

The plants growing along the roads were also quite different from those in the central region and the great grasslands, making them enjoyable just to look at.

Sire seemed a little confused when the grass-covered road changed into one mostly made of dirt, but after I patted his back to soothe him, he quickly cheered up and began munching on the grass by the roadside.

This mild-tempered travel companion of mine probably trusted me completely by now.

Horses even have preferences in the grass they eat, and simply watching his meals and snacks taught me all sorts of things.

After three leisurely days of traveling while asking villagers for directions, White Tail, one of the five major cities of White River Province, came into view ahead of us.

Apparently, White Tail, White Claw, White Fang, and White Eye, together with White Heart, the provincial capital, were called the five major cities.

Their names certainly seemed to be based on animal parts, but I wondered whether there was some story behind them.

White Tail had been built around the point where a broad river called Tail River split into two branches, One-Tail River and Two-Tail River, with the town on either side of the river.

A large bridge connected the two sides of Tail River to the sandbar formed where it split, linking the two banks.

The large sandbar served as a transportation hub, effectively bringing the two sides of the river closer together and allowing them to develop into a single town.

It was quite a magnificent and fascinating sight.

To enter the town, I had to show the travel permit I had received at the border fortress and pay a certain amount of money as an entrance fee.

Proof of identity and an entrance fee.

The system was not much different from that of the nations in the central region.

However, I did not possess any currency in circulation in the Huanggu Empire, and the entrance fee had to be paid with money used by the nations of the central region.

They had probably taken full advantage of that situation.

They refused my copper coins and demanded several silver ones instead.

That was despite the fact that the other travelers were clearly paying in copper coins.

...Well, I was a little annoyed, but I suppose it could not be helped.

For now, I would exchange the gems I had for this country's currency in White Tail.

The currency in circulation in the Huanggu Empire consisted of gold ingots, silver ingots, and large and small copper coins.

Gold and silver ingots were heavy lumps of their respective metals, far too large to be called coins.

Naturally, each ingot was also worth considerably more than a gold or silver coin, and they were apparently used mainly for large commercial transactions.

Thus, ordinary people used copper coins almost exclusively for purchases, and there were two types of them.

The larger ones were called large coins, and the smaller ones small coins; both were coins with a hole in the center.

Apparently, people threaded strings through those holes and carried the coins around in bundles.

So, after reaching a major city, obtaining some Huanggu currency, and... incidentally securing an inn, leaving Sire at a stable, and unloading my baggage, I let out a huge sigh.

The fatigue from the journey had undoubtedly built up.

After all, I had crossed the great grasslands from west to east.

Even with the detours I had taken along the way, I was bound to be tired.

Three days... no, I would spend a week taking it easy in this town.

And during that time, I would think.

Yes—about what I should do from here on.

No, of course, I already knew what I had to do.

My goal had not changed at all since I decided to travel east.

But to make the journey itself even a little more enjoyable and fruitful, I needed to learn much more about these eastern lands.

The eastern country where the Yosogi school was said to have originated—the source of its tradition—was even farther east than the Huanggu Empire, an island nation across the sea.

I needed to know in advance how to reach it and what awaited me there.

But I did not necessarily have to investigate those things in White River Province.

If something in another province caught my interest, I could head there first.

To make that decision, I needed to use my time in this town to learn what I could about the Huanggu Empire.