PREVIOUSLY.
["Does that mean there will also be a complete military reorganization, Young Chuta?" he asked, his raspy voice heavy with caution.
I paused before him. I remembered the threats of the empires that had yet to cross the sea: the Spanish steel, the gunpowder, the millions of Europeans who would come to devour this world.
I simply looked him in the eyes, letting him see the cold, absolute resolve in mine, and nodded slowly.
"The previous military divisions were only the beginning, Michuá," I replied, raising my voice so that every man in the room could hear me loud and clear. "To defend the new world we have just forged, the fist of the Suaza Kingdom must be reforged in fire. The militias die. Today, a unified army is born. Take your seats, generals... We have a war to plan."]
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Year 13 of the SuaChie Calendar, Fourth Month (June 1495).
Dawn City (Cuba), Federal Region of Floating Islands (FRFI).
Meeting Hall, Explorer Division Headquarters.
The air in the hall was dense, heavy with the scent of saltpeter filtering through the wooden blinds and the metallic tang of my generals' bronze gear. Unlike the meeting with the governors, where politics and the aesthetics of Nyia's painting had dominated the atmosphere, a cold pragmatism breathed here.
Before me, the five men who bore the military weight of the Suaza Kingdom waited in silence. Upqua, my brother, watched me with his usual loyalty, though his brow was furrowed from the fatigue of his campaigns in the southeast.
Michuá, the veteran general of the Special Zone—the tense front against the Mexica—kept his hand resting on the pommel of his steel 'sword,' his weathered eyes fixed upon me. Alongside them, Sagua, Nygua, and Umzye—the latter fresh from the waters of the Sunset Ocean, his skin tanned by the Philippine sun—completed the circle of command.
I signaled to two guards of the Explorer Division. With a rhythmic and precise movement, they brought forward a wooden frame; smaller than the one used in the governors' meeting, it held a new map.
This was not my wife's artistic masterpiece, but a military chart drawn in black and blue ink on reinforced amate paper. The lines were stark and efficient.
"The governors already know the new face of the kingdom," I began, letting my voice project the authority necessary for such gatherings. "But you must understand the skeleton that sustains it. We have shifted from ten scattered regions to eight macro-regions delineated by the will of the earth."
I pointed to the thick blue lines snaking across the map. Michuá leaned forward, his shadow casting over the paper. His eyes traced the riverbeds that now served as immovable borders between Eyadobida, Suamox-iki, and Achagua-Nirua.
"Do you seek to protect the veins of the earth, Young Chuta?" Michuá asked in his characteristic raspy voice, pointing to the spots where the rivers met the mountains. "These divisions... they align with the main access routes to the interior."
I smiled, satisfied by his sharp insight. Michuá was not just a warrior; he understood geography as a fortress wall.
"Exactly," I replied, feeling a spark of enthusiasm as they grasped the logic of the future applied to our era. "If an enemy manages to cross the Dawn Ocean or infiltrate from the lands of the Triple Alliance, the rivers will be our first and last defenses... Centering the regions on natural barriers not only prevents disputes among governors, but also provides us with tactical chokepoints. Furthermore, we will optimize river trade, protected by our 1st Armada Division (Flow Division), and on land, the roads connecting these macro-regions will be patrolled by our newly formed cavalry."
Upqua crossed his massive arms. His gaze drifted for a moment to the vastness of the Roraimá region, that green giant to the east he himself had helped to guard.
"It will be a logistical nightmare, Leader Chuta," he commented with brutal honesty. "Controlling such vast territories with the current system is like trying to catch the wind with your hands. Is this why you have summoned us today? Because the current command falls short for this map?"
The silence that followed was absolute. I could hear the rhythmic crashing of the waves against the docks of Dawn City in the distance.
"That is correct," I nodded, looking each of them in the eye. "The system of two commanding generals has run its course; it is obsolete for a kingdom of twenty-one million souls facing an unknown, sprawling world upon the horizons. My proposal is a structure of total command: eight regional generals, one for each macro-region, all subordinate to a single General of the Kingdom for the land army."
I shifted my gaze to Nygua and Umzye, the men of the sea.
"For the Armada, the shift is just as drastic. The six regions with access to the sea—the Chibcha Federal Region (CFR), the Federal Region of Floating Islands (FRFI), the Western Region (WR), the Eastern Region (ER), the Northern Region (NR), and the Lake Region (LR)—will each have a Vice Admiral. Above them, an Admiral of the Kingdom will coordinate the defense of both oceans."
I saw no surprise on their faces, only solemn acceptance. Umzye, who had witnessed the discipline of the sailors under his command during the storm in the Sunset Ocean (Pacific), nodded slightly. It was the logical evolution for a kingdom that was no longer merely exploring, but rather paving its way for what was to come in the future.
The silence that followed my declaration about the admirals was thick. I stood beside the map, where the simple colors seemed to chart the destiny of the future.
"My intention," I continued, my gaze sweeping over the weathered faces of my men, "is that the command of these eight new macro-regions be born from what we already know. The current governors, present here, who have seen their positions dissolved by the reform, have not been cast aside. They, alongside those of you who already lead key sectors, will become the generals and admirals of the realm."
Upqua, my brother, stepped forward, his boots creaking against the wooden floorboards. His brow was furrowed—not out of disloyalty, but from that military practicality that always characterized him.
"Brother, the math does not add up," he said, pointing a thick finger at the map's divisions spanning from the Eyadobida Region (WR) to the immense Roraimá (ER). "Even if we count all the former governors, we are too few to fill the command posts of eight macro-regions, not to mention the two supreme positions... We cannot be in two places at once."
Umzye, whose tunic still clung to the damp trace of his voyage from the FRFI capital, nodded gravely.
"Within the Armada, the void is even deeper, Leader Chuta," he added, his voice laden with the fatigue of one who has crossed the Sunset Ocean. "Having six regions with sea access demands six Vice Admirals possessing a wealth of experience that, as of today, simply does not exist in abundance... I do not mean they lack sea experience—there are capable men for that—but rather, they lack the capacity for command."
I remained silent, processing their words. In my mind, the professional military structures of the future were a given, but here, in this era, I realized a glaring error in my planning. We had grown so fast that I had focused entirely on supreme command and regional administration, yet I had failed to create a true system of promotion within any branch of the military—a flaw similarly mirrored in the kingdom's civil administration.
I have been operating with hand-picked generals, I thought with a trace of bitterness.
In truth, our rank distinctions—colonels, majors, captains—were more a means of managing regiments than a true command career built on seniority and merit.
If we were opting for merit-based political advancement in the civil administration, why hadn't we done the same in war?
"You are right," I admitted, feeling my resolve harden my tone. "It is time to standardize not only the ships and the cannons, but also the men who wield them."
I took a deliberate pause, allowing the tension to build.
"You know capable men within your ranks, men who have proven their valor on the borders or at sea. From this day forward," I declared, raising my voice to resonate through the hall's rafters, "any ordinary soldier, regardless of his cultural origins, may rise to your positions. If he possesses the drive, the capabilities, and a distinguished performance, the Suaza Kingdom will place the insignias of a General upon his shoulders."
The proposal shocked them.
I saw Michuá clench his jaw; the notion that a young warrior could ascend to the peak of the military pyramid based solely on his talent was a complete rupture from the traditional hierarchies of the chiefdoms.
Yet almost immediately, that surprise morphed into contained elation. They understood, with the superior acumen of those who had witnessed the efficiency of my reforms, that this would forge an unbreakable loyalty. The army would no longer be a militia gathered by tribal allegiance, but a living, professional, and fiercely competitive organism.
Suddenly, Sagua, who was usually the quietest in the room, cleared his throat. The General of the Northwest Zone approached the wooden frame, analyzing the map with calculating eyes.
"If we are to standardize promotions, Leader Chuta," Sagua began in a measured voice, "we must also standardize specialization. We cannot fight the same way in the jungles of Roraimá (ER) as we do in the western mountains of Suamox-iki (SR). The recent effectiveness of our cavalry against the Mexica has taught us a lesson. We should forge specialized corps: riders for the plains, light jungle infantry, mountain engineers... military branches designed to confront diverse enemies in diverse environments."
His suggestion lingered in the air, opening a spectrum of tactical possibilities that made me look at the map once more, envisioning not just borders, but armies that would blend with the landscape to protect it.
I watched Upqua as he leaned over the mahogany table, his shadow cast long across the documents spread before him. His fingers, calloused from the constant use of bow and spear, sifted through the administrative reports from the last meeting with the governors.
"Sagua is right," Upqua murmured, stepping closer to the map and pointing to the area detailing the new Eastern Region (ER), or Roraimá. He paused, his eyes scrutinizing the name of the new leader assigned to that immense sea of leaves. "Kamui. This man... with specialized forces, could handle the 'minor' troubles of the jungle far more nimbly than I ever did when that zone was under my command."
Upqua looked up, and for a moment, I saw in his eyes not just the loyal brother, but the warrior who had evolved under the constant bombardment of my 'avant-garde' ideas. He had developed a tactical instinct that sometimes frightened me; he was the bridge between my theories of the future and the bloody reality of the present.
"If we create Combat Engineering Corps," Upqua continued, a seriousness in his voice that chilled the room, "we won't merely defend the borders. We can sow the earth with rapid fortresses and traps that would halt even the Europeans before they ever catch sight of our faces. We already saw what the trenches and engineered minefields achieved at the Southern Fort in the active combat zone against the Mexica. We must turn the terrain into our most lethal ally."
A deathly silence descended upon the room. Sagua and Michuá, the two veterans who had witnessed the birth of the Suaza Kingdom since the Muisca unification, exchanged a look of heavy acknowledgment. They were processing Upqua's vision—one that seamlessly married brute force with logistical sophistication.
The conversation began to flow with renewed energy, leaping from infantry specialization to the necessity of purely military vessels that Guhua had suggested weeks prior: artillery platforms designed for thunder, not transport.
One week later.
The air no longer smelled of gunpowder and war plans, but rather of an intoxicating blend of incense, beeswax, and the crispness of freshly carved limestone. I found myself in the prayer hall of the Dawn City Cathedral.
Sunlight filtered through the high windows, creating pillars of golden dust that danced over the polished cement floor—a technological application that still left the few European visitors utterly astounded.
By my side stood Bishop Tachiua, his hands clasped within his heavy sleeves. His face, lined with the wrinkles of a life dedicated to the Tairona gods and now to the doctrine of unification, reflected a contagious peace.
"Welcome to the house of the gods," I said, my voice resonating with a softness that starkly contrasted with the commanding tone I used with the kingdom's generals. "It is an honor to receive you in this spiritual heart of the Floating Islands."
Before us, a group of Cardinals—the pillars of religious power in the regional capitals—greeted us with a bow that bordered on devotion. Their fine cotton robes, dyed in the colors of their respective lands, fluttered slightly.
"Son of the Heaven," one of them replied, his voice laden with genuine respect. "We thank you for your hospitality."
"How was your journey to the city?" I asked, observing the trace of noble fatigue in their eyes.
"It has been... a revelatory adventure, Leader," replied another Cardinal, gazing up at the high vaults of the cathedral. "To cross so many leagues along the cobbled mountain trails and then sail the Sea of the Floating Islands aboard your Tequendamas is an experience that alters the soul. Even our most sacred processions seem small before the immensity of this kingdom you have united. To feel the scale of your creation, from the solitary peaks down to these shores, is like walking upon the dreams of our ancestors."
Tachiua smiled faintly, catching my eye. We both knew this gathering was not merely a matter of courtesy. Just as we had reforged the military fist of the kingdom, we now had to restructure the kingdom's soul, ensuring that faith became the shield that politics could never break.
I remained silent for a moment, letting the Cardinal's words echo through the high vaults of the Dawn City Cathedral. Through the stained glass, the Caribbean light fractured into pools of color upon the polished floor, illuminating the fine cotton robes of the men who represented the faith of millions of souls.
"It is true, Leader," remarked another Cardinal, a man whose weathered skin betrayed his origins in the lands of the Lake Region (LR). "The journey has opened my eyes. Upon witnessing the sheer vastness of this world, from the mountain peaks to these islands that seem to float upon glass, one cannot help but feel the weight and power of the gods capable of creating such grandeur."
I nodded in silent understanding. I knew that for many of them, this was the first time they had ever left their native valleys or shores. They had lived sheltered by geography, viewing the world only through the borders of their own chiefdoms, until the Suaza Kingdom shattered those walls.
"I would have liked for Simte, our High Priest, to be here to share this vision with you," I said, allowing myself a moment of wistful longing for the old Muisca priest who had been my anchor since the early days. "But as the pillar of our faith, his presence is vital in Central City. At his age, the swaying of the Tequendamas over the sea is hardly kind to his bones, but I assure you, he accompanies us in will and prayer."
The Cardinals nodded with a mixture of respect and patience. I signaled to two deacons waiting by the wall. With choreographed movements, they unrolled a large-format map across a cedar table.
It was a faithful replica of the painting Nyia had created: an explosion of jungle greens, electric blues for the rivers that now served as borders, and neutral tones for the mountain ranges that held up the sky.
"Just as I have done with the generals and the governors, it is imperative that you familiarize yourselves with the new division into eight macro-regions," I began, tracing the lines that defined everything from the vast Roraimá (ER) in the east to the narrow Eyadobida (WR) in the west. "But for you, these will not be the most profound changes. The time has come for religion to cease being a mere observer and step fully into the kingdom's health and education agenda."
A Cardinal with serene features looked up from the map.
"Leader Chuta, what will be the true shift in this direction?" he asked, his voice soft yet firm. "Our priests already teach the children and care for the sick in the villages. Is that not the duty we have fulfilled under your rule?"
I closed my eyes for a moment.
My mind traveled backward, recalling the early years of my rebirth. I remembered how, since Year 1, the priests had been my most loyal allies in establishing the primary and middle schools, and how they had been the first to staff the Houses of Healing to combat infant mortality.
"You have fulfilled that duty with an altruism that honors the gods," I replied, opening my eyes to fix my gaze upon them. "But you have done so as voluntary support. What I am proposing now is a level of official integration and standardization. I want every soul in this kingdom to know that when they step foot into a hospital or a school, the hand of the kingdom and the will of the gods are one and the same. There will be no more isolated methods; there will be a single, unified system that every citizen can recognize, from the jungles to the mountains."
Those present exchanged glances, visibly moved by the recognition of their work. However, the Cardinal from the former southeastern region—he whose territory had once bordered the endless Amazon forest—stepped forward.
"Forgive me for changing the subject, Son of the Heaven," he said, using the religious title that only they dared utter. "But if we seek to standardize our influence, why not go further? Under your guidance and that of Tachiua, we have studied the Christian religion of the Europeans. They do not wait for people to come to their temples; they employ mobile religious corps to spread their beliefs. I propose we do the same: establish missions that carry the word of our unified pantheon to every corner, even to the tribes that do not yet know your light."
"It is a necessary idea," interjected another Cardinal from the northern zone. "We will not cease studying other religions, for knowledge is our best defense, but it is time for our own gods to see our loyalty reflected in the expansion of their worship. We cannot allow foreign faith to be the only one walking the trails."
I remained silent, observing their faces illuminated by a newfound fervor. The idea of 'Suaza missionaries' had not been in my original plans, but it fit perfectly with my need for cultural cohesion in the face of imminent European pressure. Faith, it seemed, was ready to march in step with the armies of the realm.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
Thank you all for your support. Let's get straight to the chapter comments.
CHAPTER COMMENTS
First, while it may seem like there isn't a truly specialized army, this change generally applies to the regular army. The Explorers Division is already an elite and specialized force, but its numbers are small, and command is held by people close to Chuta.
Furthermore, there was upward mobility within the Explorers, for example, the case of Upqua, Chuta's brother, and also Goca, who fought Chuta in the arena recently.
Regarding the navy, I didn't want to go into too much detail because the kingdom is going to learn the hard way (Spoiler). However, with the introduction of military vessels, they won't be completely unprepared.
The lack of mention of arquebuses and cannons is also due to the fact that their use was limited to the Explorers, both on land and at sea.
Regarding religion, the idea of religious missions took Chuta by surprise; we'll see that in the next chapter.
AUTHOR'S COMMENTS
First, thank you all again for your support, and I hope you've read the novels I recommended.
On another note, I hope you liked the maps. They were made using real maps as a reference, with geographical corrections and historical verifications.
Believe me when I say that many maps on the internet are poorly scaled, and when these boundaries are brought into more 'realistic' representations, the maps change a lot.
Finally, more maps today.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future (Chapter 91) (ON HOLD)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis (Chapter 34) (ON HOLD)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 14) (ON HOLD)
You can find them on my profile.]