Hearing this, Xiulote smiled and nodded, only answering the first question.
"The Spear Legion has been tempered by war, achieving countless combat achievements on this journey, even crushing the central army of the Tarasco Royal Army and capturing the Divine Eagle’s Royal Banner! Their combat power is there for all to see. In group battles, they are no less inferior to the Samurai Legion, and their resilience is even stronger. They rightfully deserve to be rewarded!...
To grant them 20 acres of land, deducting fallow land, there would only be 8 acres to cultivate each season, thus needing one agricultural slave. According to the standard of 4 acres per adult, this is sufficient to support two people."
"As for the samurai’s food consumption in training, one person can equate to three adults. Therefore, a samurai of this rank needs to often stay in the warrior camp, where the fief provides centralized support and military training. If they return to their own fields, they cannot fully dedicate themselves."
The young king pondered for a moment and added an explanation. A samurai of this rank is actually similar to the elite Ashigaru of the Japanese Warring States period. They are the backbone of the legion, as well as the most numerous force.
"Third-Level samurai are granted advanced War Clothes. They are bestowed 100 acres of land and 5 agricultural slaves/servants. Capturing alive or decapitating 12 Militia or 2 elite warriors, they are then promoted to Fourth-Level senior samurai. Altogether, 4,000 warriors have accumulated rewards, granted 40,000 acres of land, with 20,000 slaves."
This rank of samurai can be considered the lowest tier of military nobility, akin to the rank of common officer in the Qin and Han dynastic military hierarchy. By granting 100 acres, of which 40 are actually cultivated, requiring 5 people and producing enough food to support 10 adults. In theory, the agricultural slaves distributed come from the captives taken when the samurai are promoted. The non-productive consumption of a samurai is around 3 adults, and around 5 during times of war.
In other words, a Third-Level samurai is a fully professional soldier who can also be self-sufficient in food to a certain extent. They can also be considered the lowest rank of military landlords, and this is exactly the class that Xiulote hopes to foster.
Bertade took a deep breath. This military land-grant document, nominally following the Alliance’s promotion system, has an inherently different substance and could even be described as a revolutionary reform. The Head Warrior shook his head and continued to look at the distribution of land for the Fourth-Level senior samurai.
"Fourth-Level samurai are granted exquisite Leather Armor, allowed to don feathers of various colors symbolizing honor. They are granted 240 acres of land, 12 servants. Comparable to a squad leader who leads 20-80 people in the army during war. They provide two samurai or one samurai plus one Auxiliary Troop. If they achieve a major accomplishment, they will be promoted to First-Level military nobility. In all, 1,600 people have been granted fiefs, 40,000 acres of land, and 20,000 servants."
Upon reaching the level of Fourth-Level senior samurai, one can establish their own family, becoming an independent samurai clan. Their status is similar to that of an intermediate officer in the Qin and Han military hierarchy, enjoying exemptions from labor. With 240 acres to grant, about 100 are actually cultivated, requiring 12 people and able to support 24 adults. Converted to military population, a Fourth-Level senior samurai can support two professional samurai and one semi-non-productive Auxiliary Troop. These individuals are usually family members.
The Head Warrior and the monkey exchanged glances, their minds filled with myriad thoughts, all converging into silence in the grand hall. After a long pause, they continued to read about the nobility land grants below.
"First-Level military nobility, endowed with Jaguar or Eagle Battle Garments, Exquisite Beast Helmets, equipped with Bronze Axes... granted 800 acres of land and 40 servants. Comparable to an army leader of 200 people or a Camp Commander. During war, they provide two to three samurai, plus one to two Auxiliary Troops. A total of 500 people have been promoted, along with 400 from the Jaguar Warrior Brigade being transferred to fiefs, totaling 900 people. They are granted 72,000 acres of land and 36,000 servants."
A First-Level military noble can be compared to the officer class within the twenty-rank nobility system, or viewed as a Noble Knight of Medieval Europe. With 800 acres granted and over 300 actually cultivated, they can sustain 80 adults. A First-Level military noble can thus support at least five full-time samurai and two to three Auxiliary Troops on their land. They already form the lower tier of the political members with a voice within the fief’s military group.
Bertade nodded. Such rewards were superior to the Alliance’s military nobility but were largely within an acceptable level. He continued reading, his brow furrowing unconsciously.
"Second-Level hereditary nobility, participate in the fief’s council, with the fief being passed down through generations... granted 2,000 acres of land and 120 servants. Comparable to a Camp Commander of a thousand and a Legion Commander. In times of war, they provide eight samurai and four Auxiliary Troops. This time, 20 are promoted, granted 48,000 acres of land and 2,400 servants.
The specific list includes: Veteran Etalik, Monkey Kuluka, Black Wolf Toltec, Naval Commander Annatri, Eagle Warrior Balda, Tarasco Group Commander Ezpan, Huitu Puap, Crocodile Marshal Osta, and Head of the Sky Family Oorta..."
"My King! Thank you for your grace! The monkey swears to serve you unto death!"
Kuluka whispered emotionally upon reading this. Overwhelmed, he knelt to the ground, tears shining in his eyes.
As a Second-Level hereditary noble, as the name suggests hereditary land and titles, they represent the peak that most of the Alliance’s families aspire to, the class of the Great Nobility... For an ordinary samurai, this was also the pinnacle of life he once longed for. He never imagined that merely following His Highness for a few years would allow him to achieve it today!
Xiulote smiled and nodded, reaching out to lift Kuluka. A hereditary noble granted 2,400 acres, of which 1,000 are actually cultivated, with 120 servants, can support 240 adults. Solely relying on the land’s output, a noble family can maintain an affluent lifestyle, supporting at least 15 full-time warriors and half as many Auxiliary Troops. They will participate in the decisions on major affairs of the fief and lead the army when going to war.