Marching from afar are men with sharp tools and bows for war. People are panicking and soldiers are getting ready for the assault. The clash was unexpected and many were injured and some men died during the battle. This is not a huge-scale war since both villages have few people but it destroyed some of their houses and livestock. Dodong helped during the war by using a bow since he is not used to fighting in melee. He doesn't want to show his magic yet. They won the war but it was devastating. Who would have thought that some people would die from it?
The enemy retreated because they had heavy casualties.
As the young master of the village, he felt sadness for his people. They have to proceed with their burial rituals. Corpses were embalmed with herbs, oils, and perfume and placed them in coffins. Since they were brutally killed in the war, to appease the sorrow of the villagers they will get their revenge. Some families refrained from eating meat and drinking wine to show their deep sorrow and they started chanting the good deeds of the dead.
Because of this, Dodong thought that their village is not safe although they have houses made of clay. They need to have walls to secure their lives from their enemies and their enemies will have difficulties invading. They will also gain an upper hand against the invaders.
After the mourning, Dodong talked to his father to build walls encircling their barangay. With this wall, they will make a gate that is hard to destroy. He presented his plan on building this wall and his father agreed to it and presented it to the council of elders. He called this project The Great Wall of China. It sounds familiar again. << --- chuckles --- >>
The villagers began building walls and the soldiers are guarding them in case of invasion. Dodong supervises them and designs the wall trying to build a good fortress where soldiers can walk at the top of the walls to oversee the situation outside their village.
Many months passed and the walls were built. It feels like a castle from the West. The wall is high and thick and has a watch tower in case of invasion. The villagers were dazed at the outcome and felt safe with it.
Aside from this, Dodong wants to improve the facilities of the Tambalan. The healers are important in the village especially when war is happening. He built a huge building for the Tambalan. It is a double-story building. On the ground floor is the reception where the sick and injured are laid. On the second floor are the rooms for the herbs and oils, medicine that are necessary; rooms for the Tambalan to rest. He called this building a hospital. Although the Tambalans have magic power, they can only do basic treatment such as healing wounds or colds. The healing magic of the Tambalan comes from the gods.
After finishing everything, their village now has a proper hospital where Tambalan can properly do the healing. They also have a school where the Paratabgaw teaches.
He is thinking about putting a market in the village so that they will no longer go out to hunt food since some have livestock. However, he cannot do this since he doesn't know the system of barter and what is the value of their currency.
With this in mind, he asked his father to let him go with the traders to experience trading himself. The Datu was hesitating because of the danger they may face however, his uncle assured his safety. They brought their pots, jars, plates, and other livestock for the trade; they also brought gold since gold is their currency for trading.
They arrived at the seaport for the trade. He saw many faces of traders and it was an exciting experience. He roamed around to understand the way of trading. Some use barter to exchange things of the same value. Some are using currency such as MALUBAI which is worth 2 pesetas (silver coin), BIELU which is worth 3 pesetas, LINGUINGI which is worth 4 pesetas and OREGERAS which is worth 5 pesetas and is the highest value. He exchanged his gold for this currency and bought some silver wares such as spoons and bowls from Korean traders, and silk and linen cloth which are very smooth from Chinese traders; he also bought some weapons and metals for smelting. He also secretly bought a scroll or parchment and pen.
With this, he believes that he can make the market system in their village and begins with the standard currency to buy products. He rendezvoused with his uncle and returned to their village.
A day has passed; Dodong is presenting his idea of market and currency in front of his father and the council of elders. "We need to have our own market. Let us raise our own livestock such as pigs, cows, carabaos, chickens, and horses, and sell them on our market. Let us use the silver coin as our currency. For example, a pig's leg is worth one MALUBAI. A jar is worth one peseta and so on. We need to put prices on certain products. Of course, our businessmen who trade from other traders will also follow our market system." The council of elders was hesitant about the new concept but they want to try it. Hence Datu announced the new market system to the village.
People begin raising their own livestock and growing crops inside the village. The village is wide because when Dodong was planning to build a wall, he also considered the idea of growing the population and there should be residential areas as well as farmlands.
As time passed by, their village became lively and people got used to the money. People working are paid the standard salary. Even the alipins are paid. If they save enough money, they can buy their freedom and become Timawa or ordinary people. As the population is growing, Datu has built public toilets so that people will not go to their homes if they need to when they are in the market.
Secretly, the Datu trained his soldiers according to the training plan of his son. They practiced archery and the use of crossbows. These crossbows will be put at the walls as their weapon against their enemies. Soldiers also learned formation for war. They prepared themselves for the invasion of the other village which is called the DUGO village. They are called Dugo village because they are ruthless and they take pride when they kill their enemies. The number of lines in their tattoos represents the number of people they killed. They don't care if it is a woman, child, or elderly as long as they are part of the enemies, they will kill them.
"Datu, we heard that the village of Lakatuna (the village of Dodong is named after his father) has many new products they traded months ago. Shall we raid them?" a soldier from the Dugo village stated with excitement. After hearing this, the datu got excited and ordered his men to prepare.
As they reached the Lakatuna village, they were dumbfounded as they saw the wall. They asked themselves if they arrived at the right village. The soldiers of Lakatuna village sounded the alarm (shouts) as they saw the enemies. They took out their crossbows and aimed at the people. When Lakatuna arrived at the top of the gate, he shouted at the datu that this would be their last day to see their faces. Lakatuna raised his hand and as he put his hands down, arrows were raining from the sky and killed all the Dugo soldiers. All that's left is the injured datu and his son; an arrow landed on the datu's knee making him incapable to escape. His son who shot Dodong was also wounded as the arrow pierced his stomach. Lakatuna and Dodong went out with other soldiers. The soldiers were in V-formation with shields on and Lakatuna and Dodong were inside the formation. As they reach the father and son, Dodong told them to be happy in hell and also said "may your death appease the souls of our dead soldiers and villagers." Then Dodong slashes the throat of the father and son.
Now that the Dugo clan is annihilated, there are no more threats from other barangays. The people of the Dugo village who were left became alipin of the Lakatuna village and some are sold to the nobles.
The population of Lakatuna village has now risen with the coming of the slaves. Approximately, there are 500 people living in the village. "People are growing and we need to change our lifestyle." He was talking to himself. "I should change the clothes as well as promote some new food and delicacies and cutleries."
Wow! He is thrilled about his new project.
"Look at him... making development in their village. He is such an innovator. I hope he can also develop his magic soon. He only has that ball of clay. A child's trick. HAHAHA! Will he be able to defend his village when that creature descends?" the god watches him somewhere in the Upper Realm. "**** we need to go now; we can't delay things anymore." a lower-ranked god stated.
"Alright, let's go. Just do what you want Robert. Make sure to enjoy the life you have. But let me try to give you some surprises, you'll truly love my gift." The god vanished.