Chapter 14: City of Agriculture
Chapter 14: City of Agriculture
POV: Mayor Hla Than
The golden morning sun cast its light over the vast fields of Thazin, the lifeline of the Pagan Empire's agricultural wealth. Standing atop the City Hall's grand balcony, Mayor Hla Than surveyed the expanse of endless rice paddies, wheat fields, and bustling irrigation canals, all maintained meticulously under his supervision.
Thazin was a city of abundance. Its streets were lively with merchants, farmers, and knights—a city teeming with 800,000 citizens and an elite force of 8,000 knights. It was a city whose bounty had never faltered, a testament to his governance and the blessing of the Goddess of Agriculture that he carried unknowingly.
Hla Than was not a man of ambition, nor was he easily swayed by the tides of court politics. He had served the empire for decades, his loyalty unwavering. His loyalty belonged to the King, not the Crown Prince nor the Court. Though he disliked the Crown Prince, Min Ye Kyaw Htin, he held no personal grudges. He was a practical man. If the prince ascended to the throne, Hla Than would support him unconditionally for the sake of the empire's stability. A nation could not function with internal strife, and his role as the lifeline of the empire's agriculture gave him immense responsibility. The people needed to eat, regardless of who sat on the throne.
The king was his friend , despite their difference in status. Despite rarely seeing the ailing king in recent years, Hla Than made his pilgrimage to the royal capital once a year, bringing with him detailed reports of Thazin's agricultural output and tax contributions. Each visit was accompanied by a private audience with the king, an opportunity to witness firsthand his friend's deteriorating condition. It pained him to see the once-great ruler reduced to a frail shadow of his former self, but duty demanded he continue his service. Even now, with the king bedridden, Hla Than remained steadfast, visiting the capital once a year to deliver his reports and personally checking on the king's health. Though he despised the Crown Prince, Min Ye Kyaw Htin, for his cold ambition, he would not hesitate to serve him once he took the throne—for the sake of stability and prosperity of the empire.
Now, however, something unusual had occurred. Mayor Hla Than, a middle-aged man with sharp, observant eyes and an air of quiet authority, stood in front of the City Hall, waiting for the arrival of Prince Aung and his expedition. He adjusted his ceremonial robe, his face calm but his mind sharp with calculations.
A prince on a mission to slay a divine-level dragon? He found the idea questionable, even foolish.
Hla Than had heard the rumors about Prince Aung, the so-called "unwanted prince," a child of a commoner who had no real place in the royal court. Many considered him weak, inexperienced, and insignificant. The mayor, however,had never paid much heed to court gossip. He had seen too many men underestimated, only for them to prove their worth when the moment came.
Still, his loyalty was, first and foremost, to the King—not the Crown Prince, not the Court, and certainly not to any personal ambitions.
For now, however, his duty was clear—support this expedition as best as he could. Even if the mission was a suicide attempt, ensuring that the soldiers were properly supplied was still his responsibility.
Prince Aung had arrived.
A prince Hla Than had rarely seen, only knowing of him through court rumors—many of them unflattering. It was said the second prince was a weak, unwanted child, an outcast with no real standing in the empire. But Hla Than had never been a man who believed in rumors.
He would judge the prince with his own eyes.
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POV: Prince Aung (Jason)
The stone walls of Thazin loomed before them as Jason and his 5,000-strong battalion approached the city gates. Unlike the royal capital, which was adorned with grand palaces and temples, Thazin was built for function—strong walls, deep irrigation systems, and a market bustling with trade from across the empire.
Jason's appraisal skill activated instinctively.
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[Appraisal: Thazin - Agricultural Capital of the Empire]Population: 800,000 (Largest among cities ruled by mayors, rivaling even provinces under dukes.)
Main Exports: Rice, Wheat, Millet, Livestock, Herbal Medicines.
Infrastructure:
Large granaries holding reserves for the royal capital.
Irrigation systems fed by underground springs.
Advanced plow techniques and enchanted farming tools, thanks to Goddess of Agriculture's Blessing.
A flourishing market district with merchants from all over the empire.
Military Strength:
8,000 Elite Knights directly under Mayor Hla Than's command.
2,000 Auxiliary Guards for city patrols.
Civilian Militia well-trained due to frequent bandit raids.
Corruption Rating: High
Newly appointed Royal Auditor, U Thar Maung, has been pocketing funds meant for public welfare.
80% of the poor population is suffering due to misallocation of food supplies.
Hla Than is unaware of the corruption, trusting the Crown's appointed auditors.
Unique Factor:
Mayor Hla Than is blessed by the Goddess of Agriculture.
Possesses the One-in-a-Million Skill: "Bounty of the Harvest" – Enhances crop yield, prevents famine, and purifies soil from corruption.
His skill alone ensures the empire never suffers a food shortage.
---
Jason's eyes narrowed.
A massive city, with rich agriculture that can feed the whole empire, and militarily strong—Thazin was the backbone of the empire. If Thazin fell, the empire would starve.
Yet, despite the city's wealth, the poor were suffering, all because of a **corrupt royal auditor** installed by the Crown Prince.
Jason quietly smismirked..
This was an oppopportunity.
---
The army passed through the gates of Thazin, greeted by a formal welcoming party. Mayor Hla Than, dressed in royal blue robes, stood at the center, his composed, intelligent gaze studying Jason.
"Your highness,welcome to Thazin. It is an honor to host you and your forces," Hla Than said with a respectful bow.
Jason dismounted, returning a measured nod. "Mayor Hla Than, the honor is mine. Your city is grander than I imagined. It is no wonder Thazin is the empire's heart of agriculture."
The mayor smiled slightly, acknowledging the compliment. "You flatter me, Your Highness. Please, allow me to host you in my mansion while you are here. It would be improper for a prince to lodge elsewhere.**"
Jason expected the invitation—a formality. But he had already made his decision.
"I appreciate the offer, Mayor Hla Than, but I will stay with my soldiers in the knight's training hall. **"
Silence.
The generals and nobles accompanying Jason exchanged shocked glances. Even Hla Than paused, blinking in genuine surprise.
"Your Highness," the mayor began, his surprise. careful, "Are you certain? My estate h—**"
"My place is with my men." Jason said firmly. "We march together, we eat together, we fight together. If I ask them to risk their lives, I must be willing to do the same.It would not be right for me to rest in luxury while they sleep on the floor."
A moment of silence passed. Even the generals and vice generals accompanying Jason exchanged looks of astonishment. A prince choosing to live among the soldiers? Sharing their food? Sleeping in the same quarters?
Jason's expression remained calm. "A leader should stand with his people. If I ask them to risk their lives, I must be willing to do the same."
Then, General Thmain Zeya spoke first, his voice filled with admiration. "Then I shall stay there as well, Your Highness."
"As will I," Hla Mao Htet added, nodding.
Ba Oo sighed and shrugged. "Seems I have no choice."
Hla Than studied Jason carefully.
This was not the behavior of a spoiled noble.
His neutral stance toward the prince shifted slightly.
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POV: Jason (Appraisal of Hla Than & the Corrupt Auditor)
That evening, after settling into the training hall, Jason activated Appraisal once more.
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[Appraisal: Mayor Hla Than]
- Level: 20
- HP: 450/450
- Anja: 600/600
- Strength: 22
- Agility: 20
- Intelligence: 40
- Charisma: 38
- Abilities:
- Bounty of the Harvest (Rare): Enhances crop yields and prevents famine. (Blessed by the Goddess of Agriculture unknowingly to the host. One in a million skill attributes)
- Command Authority: Enhances leadership over civilians and military.
- Economic Mastery: Increases trade and financial prosperity.
- **Loyalty:** 100% to the King. 0% to the Court. Dislike Crown Prince. Neutral to Prince Aung.
Jason's lips curled.
A one-in-a-million skill attribute? Blessed by the Goddess of Agriculture? Jason narrowed his eyes.
So that's why Thazin has never suffered a famine…
The Goddess of Agriculture's Blessing had allowed the city to flourish, but that blessing was being wasted. Corruption was bleeding the city dry, and Hla Than, despite his intelligence, was unaware of the suffering of his people.
Jason's gaze flickered toward the Royal Auditor, U Thar Maung, a man appointed by the Court after the King fell ill—meaning he was likely a pawn of the Crown Prince.
A perfect opportunity.
Hla Than was even more valuable than he thought.
If Jason could sway him, he would secure the entire empire's food supply—a move that could cripple the Crown Prince's control over the Court.
But it wouldn't be easy.
Two days.
That was all the time he had to sway Hla Than's loyalty. With his blessing from the Goddess, the mayor held the fate of the empire's food supply in his hands. If Jason could gain his trust, it would alter the balance of power in the future.
And fate had just handed him the perfect opportunity.
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[Appraisal: Royal Auditor U Thar Maung]
Level: 12
Corruption Rating: 97% (Severe)
Anja Control: Manipulative Spells (Used for deception and false reports)
Bribes Collected: Over 200,000 gold stolen from food subsidies.
Hidden Accounts: Personal funds stored in secret vaults outside the city.
Direct Connection: Answering only to the Crown Prince.
Jason smirked.
A corrupt official controlling Thazin's finances?
80% of the lower-class population suffering due to food misallocation?
And Hla Than was completely unaware?
Perfect.
Jason had two days in Thazin.
Two days to expose the corruption.
Two sway Mayor Hla Than into his ally.
A plan was already forming in Jason's mind.
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POV: Hla Than (His Thoughts on the Prince)
As Hla Than returned to his office, he couldn't stop thinking about Prince Aung.
He had expected an arrogant, spoiled prince.
Instead, he saw a leader willing to stand with his soldiers.
A prince with a clear mind and steady strength.
Something was different about him.
For the first time, Hla Than felt a flicker of intrigue.
---
Jason now had his opening.
The game had begun.
(continue)