Spukala stood up with a puzzled look.
"And Doctor Minujus, please stand up as well."
Minujus, equally puzzled, stood up and exchanged glances with Spukala.
Maximus looked at the crowd: "Everyone, do you know what the most important difference is between our Nix Tribe and the other tribes in these mountains?"
Quintus felt a spark in his heart: "It should be that we are more civilized than the other tribes."
Maximus solemnly said: "Exactly. We are more civilized, and civilization is primarily reflected in knowledge and technology! Minujus is a doctor, and he has used his medical skills to save many wounded soldiers; Spukala is an engineer who often designs our camps. In the future, he will design bridges, build water hammers, water mills, and much more for us. These two are the greatest treasures of our tribe and the reason why we are fundamentally different from other tribes!
Therefore, individuals like Spukala and Minujus, even if they do not hold any official positions in the tribe, should earn everyone’s respect, and we should create better conditions for them to fully utilize their talents! I also intend to give them special rewards to express my gratitude for their past contributions. I will discuss this in more detail later."
After the two sat down, both were quite emotional, especially Minujus.
One must understand that Minujus had not willingly joined the group initially. It was only because his whole family had been captured that he was forced to join. After more than a year of living together, he reluctantly accepted his fate. But today, Maximus’s high regard for him was something he had never experienced as a doctor before.
Now, both he and Spukala eagerly awaited Maximus’s rewards because this young leader often had surprising ideas.
Maximus then solemnly instructed: "Capito, the strength of our Nix Tribe largely depends on the Public Works Department! Pottery and wooden bowls make our daily lives more convenient; stone bricks and tiles allow us to construct better houses; roads and bridges aid our movement; charcoal, iron plows, and wagons enhance agricultural and commercial development; weapons and armor benefit our battles... The Public Works Department is connected to every aspect of our tribe, so you must take this work seriously!"
Capito merely nodded firmly. He wasn’t fond of boasting and enjoyed a life filled with challenges. He was quite pleased with the task Maximus had assigned to him.
"The fourth department is the Legal Department, which is responsible for proposing additions or deletions to the legal code to the leader and key officials, and for judging criminals who violate tribal laws. The head of this department is the Legal Officer, supported by two Deputy Officers and four subordinates." Maximus said, "Sidonius, you have always served as the Military Judge in our group and have been steadfast in enforcing the law. Would you take on the role of Legal Officer?"
"Alright." Sidonius responded succinctly.
"Once you take on the role of Legal Officer, your first task will be to draft a comprehensive legal code suited to our tribe. Previously, we had implemented some decrees, but they were far too simplistic.
This new Nix Tribe legal code must encompass all aspects of our tribe’s life, such as marriage, divorce, inheritance rights, property ownership, debt, contracts, service obligations, as well as military law. Most importantly, this legal code must first clarify the type of political system our tribe adheres to and the specific responsibilities of officials at every level..."
For the first time, Sidonius’s stern face cracked as he exclaimed bitterly: "Leader, I was just an ordinary Roman before. I have never served as a Legal Officer, let alone taken on a responsibility as significant as drafting the tribe’s legal code. This is... challenging for me."
"All of us were ordinary civilians before. We had never been officials nor managed people, yet haven’t we all done quite well now? A person will never know their full potential unless they make an effort to try," Maximus said patiently. "Weren’t you a Roman citizen before? Are you familiar with Roman law?"
"I know a bit," Sidonius answered honestly.
"You can start by referencing Roman law, then adapt it to suit our tribe’s actual situation. Begin with a draft, and then I, along with the other department officials, can review it together, revising and refining it as necessary until we reach a final version.
Afterward, you’ll need to have your subordinates publicly read the legal code to the tribespeople, so they understand its content. If there are strong objections from the people about certain aspects, those sections will need to be revised again.
Even after this legal code is implemented, as our tribe develops further, it will need constant modification. As the primary drafter of these laws, your understanding of them will naturally deepen, making it easier to enforce them. Do you understand?"
"I’ll give it a try," Sidonius was finally persuaded.
"As our Legal Officer, I have only one demand of you—" Maximus said in a serious tone, "and that is justice! Whether it is me or anyone else in this tent, as long as someone breaks the law, you must punish them according to the provisions of the code!"
"Rest assured," Sidonius replied without hesitation this time.
"And now, the fifth department is the Finance Department, responsible for collecting taxes for the tribe, managing the treasury’s expenditures, and storing and distributing the public resources of the tribe. Additionally, the Finance Department will handle the registration of tribespeople’s household records. The head of this department is the Financial Officer, supported by two Deputy Officers, with an initial five subordinates." Maximus glanced at the crowd and sighed quietly before saying, "Gaius, how about you take on the role of Financial Officer?"