The 'Sun of the Sky' warriors were moving busily, avoiding the herd of buffalo, preparing to greet me and the Royal Guard warriors.
I was leading the guardsmen riding buffaloes from the rear, and I shouted loudly to the 'Brave Wolf' and 'Heavy Snowstorm' who were positioned on my left and right.
"We must drive them to the gate. Keep pressuring them so that they do not escape the herd!"
"Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor!"
"Understood, Your Majesty the Emperor!"
As soon as their powerful answer was heard, the guardsmen on the left and right sides simultaneously began to scream.
Adadadadadadadada! Adadadadadadadada!
"Don't shoot the buffalo! Just fire warning shots!"
"Don't get too close, just scare them with your spear from a distance."
As I and the Royal Guard warriors skillfully herded the herd of buffalo, 'Clear Soul', who was holding the waist of 'Fast Deer' with one hand, shouted with an excited expression.
"Wow! Riding a buffalo and hunting a buffalo! Your Majesty the Emperor! I will never forget this sight."
The 'fast-footed deer', who had been holding the buffalo's reins tightly, looked back and cautioned her once more.
"What are you going to do when you fall to the floor? Don't let go of my hand and hold on to my waist tightly."
"Oh? Yes."
Although he couldn't fully understand what the 'fast-footed deer' was saying, the 'clear soul', who had understood, grabbed his waist with both hands again.
And then she shouted at me with her excitement still evident on her face.
"Your Majesty! Can you please give me one of those buffaloes? I will try to tame them."
Phew!
Anyway, I plan to appoint her as a bodyguard warrior. However, like all warriors, she must enter training camp and learn basic combat doctrine.
Also, to be selected as a warrior in the Royal Guard, you must have your skills recognized in front of everyone. I further stimulated the 'clear soul's' desire to have a buffalo on purpose.
"If you become a warrior in the Royal Guard, I will give you a buffalo."
"Is it true?"
As expected, 'Clear Soul' asked with eyes full of anticipation.
"okay."
"Your Majesty the Emperor! I must keep that promise. In a few months, I will be a warrior in His Majesty the Emperor's personal guard."
"Don't wait."
After a brief conversation with her, the guardsmen now drove the buffalo herd into the gates without my instructions.
"Your Majesty the Emperor! A herd of buffalo is entering the city gates. I will drive the herd to the pasture."
The herd of buffalo consisted of thirty-five animals, including calves. As soon as the report of the 'Brave Wolf' was finished, the buffalo cavalry that had widely surrounded the buffalo herd quickly narrowed down into a single line and broke through the gate.
* * *
"A herd of buffalo!"
Guided by the warriors of the Sharp Knife and the Sun in the Sky, the Cherokee visiting party stood far from the gates and watched the buffalo herd with expressions of fear and dread.
The ground shook as a herd of buffalo passed through the gates and soon they were running fiercely along the well-trodden road.
Just then, another herd of buffalo appeared at the gate.
Boom boom!
"A man rides a buffalo!"
"How can that be?"
"oh my god!"
The Cherokee delegation looked on in awe at the bison-riding 'Sun of the Sky' warriors. The chieftain, "Last Breath," and the Cherokee warriors also watched the scene with bated breath.
Adadadadadadadada!
Warriors of the 'Sun of the Sky' armed with splendid weapons and armor. Moreover, the sight of all the warriors riding buffalos and quickly chasing a herd of buffalos was beyond admiration and elicited exclamations.
No, the warriors of the 'Sun of the Sky' who charged as one with the buffalo were so scary that it gave me goosebumps.
"...."
It was truly shocking. Suddenly, the warriors of the 'Sun of the Sky' riding on buffalo spread out wide on both sides, surrounded the buffalo herd on the left and right, and began to drive the buffalo herd in the direction they wanted.
* * *
Knock knock! Knock knock! Knock knock!
Cheers erupted from all directions as the last remaining buffalo finally entered the corral, a cloud of dust rising.
"It's a success!"
"As expected of His Majesty the Emperor and his personal guard warriors!"
Fortunately, not a single person was injured until the herd of buffalo was driven into the pasture.
"It's over."
After a while, the guard warriors who had handed over the buffaloes they were riding to other warriors all looked at me.
"Thank you for your hard work in touring the entire territory with me."
"No, Your Majesty the Emperor!"
"Rather, it was an honor."
He turned his head and spoke to the 'brave wolf'.
"I would like you to leave my escort duties to the other warriors and give the guard warriors a few days of rest."
When the order to take leave was given, the 'brave wolf' also responded with a cheerful tone.
"All right."
While the 'Brave Wolf' was giving instructions to the guard warriors, his senior aide, 'Splendid Sunset', and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 'Wide Earth', approached.
"Are you here? Your Majesty the Emperor!"
"Although we have exchanged letters frequently, I am so happy to see Your Majesty the Emperor after almost half a year."
"I feel at ease, as if I'm at home, perhaps because this is the city where my family lives."
The 'splendid sunset' greeted me with a bright smile.
"Anyway, you've had a hard time in many ways. I have a lot to report, but since you must be tired, I'll just report a few important things."
I walked towards the inner castle where my residence was and received a brief report from them.
"A Cherokee delegation has just arrived. Have you seen them?"
"I saw a herd of buffalo briefly in the outskirts."
'Splendid Sunset' smiled faintly and asked with a meaningful look in her eyes.
"Your Majesty! Did you deliberately bring the buffalo herd just in time for the arrival of the Cherokee delegation?"
It's true that it was done on purpose. I nodded, once again amazed at her insight that saw through my plan in an instant.
"The most important thing before negotiation is to take the initiative."
"I see. Seizing the initiative… I get the chance to learn from His Majesty the Emperor again."
I spoke to 'The Vast Earth', who was blinking her eyes with a momentary bewilderment at my conversation with her.
"Minister of Foreign Affairs! Are the negotiation preparations going well?"
"Oh! Yes. This is a map of the Cherokee territory. And this is a separate report on the Cherokee delegation."
'The vast land' handed me reports one by one. After skimming through the report, I nodded with a satisfied expression and gave instructions.
"I will read it carefully later this evening. And Mr. Minister of Foreign Affairs! I know you must be tired from traveling such a long distance, but I hope you will arrange for the Cherokee delegation to meet you tomorrow morning."
"Yes. We are planning to guide the Cherokee tribe delegation to our newly built lodgings."
"Well done. Well then, let's see each other tomorrow."
"Okay, then I'll see you tomorrow."
The 'splendid sunset' also greeted me as if it was looking forward to tomorrow.
"Your Majesty the Emperor! Rest in peace."
* * *
I passed the inner wall and arrived in front of the house. I opened the door and went inside the house, deliberately making noise.
"It's dad!"
The voice of 'The Moon Rises' that I wanted to see was heard first. Then, the 'star in the sky' that I would not mind putting in my eyes ran to me and hugged me.
"dad!"
"Oh my! Our beautiful daughter!"
It hasn't even been half a year, but it's grown quite a bit in that time.
"Dad! Where the hell have you been? Didn't you miss me?"
"I missed you so much."
He showered his daughter with kisses on the cheek.
"You said you'd only come back after a few nights, but I was really worried because you didn't come."
Just hearing that a little girl was worried about me made me feel like all my fatigue had disappeared and my spirits were lifted.
And just then, 'The Moon Rises' came with 'Rain from the Sky'.
"Papa! Papa!"
'Rain from the Sky', whose front teeth had grown out before I knew it, recognized me and smiled brightly.
"Yes, Dad!"
He carefully held 'Rain from the Sky' in his arms and spoke to 'The Moon Rises'.
"Now you're talking."
"Yeah. It's been a while since I said that."
Finally, I hugged 'The Moon Rises' deep in my heart.
"You must have had a hard time raising the children while I was away."
"What kind of hardship is this? Just looking at the children makes me happy."
I could feel her sincerity in her sparkling eyes.
"You haven't had lunch yet?"
"huh."
"Watch the kids. I'll be done in a minute."
I never forgot my father's advice to my family.
"I can't tell you how much I've missed the food you made. I want to eat it soon!"
"Okay. Just wait a minute."
She turned around with a bright smile. And while 'The Moon Rises' was cooking, I played and joked with my son and daughter for the first time in a long while.
"It's a monster!"
"Where are the stars in the sky?"
"peekaboo!"
At some point, the house was filled with children's laughter.
* * *
Night fell on the lodge where the Cherokee delegation was staying. The Cherokee people who toured the 'very big' city during the day were shocked.
"The villages of the 'Sun of the Sky' I've seen so far were nothing."
"I find everything fascinating."
The Cherokee people talked late into the night about the "very big" city. And 'Last Breath' and the elders, who were assigned different rooms in the same building, were once again checking how to proceed with the negotiations before meeting the Emperor 'Sun of the Sky' tomorrow.
"Our captured people will be exchanged for slaves as originally planned."
"Of course it should be like that."
And they discussed what to trade with the 'Sun of the Sky'. After a while, 'Last Breath' strongly convinced the elders.
"I must obtain the weapons and the buffalo of the 'Sun of the Sky' at any cost. Please help me, elders here."
"I don't think you have to worry about that. I think the same as you, Chief."
"I understand. Anyway, I think we need to continue to be friendly with the 'Sun of the Sky' side for the sake of our tribe's future."
When the elders said they would actively support him, only then did the frozen face of 'Last Breath' open up.
'it's okay.'
Even for a moment, 'Last Breath' frowned as he recalled the 'giant fist'.
'I don't think he'd particularly object. But you never know.'
* * *
Late at night, the 'Giant Fist' and the warriors were meeting separately and talking.
"I wonder if we can tame the buffalo."
"Wouldn't that be difficult if you don't know how to tame a buffalo?"
The 'giant fist' nodded as if agreeing with their opinion.
"I don't know how they tamed the buffalo, but I bet they'll never teach you how in 'The Sun in the Sky.'"
For some time after that, the Cherokee warriors conversed about various topics. After a while, the 'Giant Fist' and the warriors came to a consensus.
"What if I ride a buffalo and conquer the surrounding tribes?"
"I get excited just thinking about it."
"I don't know about anything else, but I need to somehow make a deal and secure at least ten buffalo."
* * *
The next day. After receiving a brief report from 'Splendid Sunset' in the morning, I headed straight to the reception room of the government office.
As we entered the reception room, the Cherokee chief and other important figures stood up from their seats, looking very nervous.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting so long. Nice to meet you. I am the great Lee Cheon-il, the son of God and warrior."
"The Cherokee chief's last breath."
After a brief greeting between him and other key Cherokee figures and our personnel, negotiations began.
"I want to exchange our people for slaves from barbarian tribes."
I took on an arrogant attitude and laughed loudly.
"A savage tribesman? You're saying such funny things in front of me. Hahahaha!"
He quickly corrected himself to the word slave, perhaps because he felt sorry for the 'last breath'.
"I'm sorry. I would like to trade with the savage tribesmen."
Phew!
I sat back deeply in my chair, straightened my body, and folded my arms.
"Since it's a trade, I don't think that's enough. Let's hear more."
"...."
At my remarks, 'Last Breath' and the Cherokee elders looked at each other with very puzzled expressions.