Another season of the floods had come to an end.
The Nile, no longer roaring after the inundation, had brought Memphis an abundant harvest this year.
Under the leadership of Queen Nitocris, the farmlands around Memphis had been redesigned, and many new-style canals had been constructed.
These canals fully channeled the waters of the Nile into vast stretches of land.
Compared to the simple irrigation systems of the past, the new canals directed water to far more areas, allowing farmers around Memphis to reclaim more farmland.
At the same time, the farmers had also learned new agricultural methods, drip irrigation.
Traditional Egyptian farming relied on flood irrigation. Water from the Nile would be guided to soak entire fields.
Although this ensured that crops were well watered, in reality it required far too much water and caused tremendous waste.
Drip irrigation, however, was different. Thick vine-like tubes were laid across the fields. These vines were similar to bamboo.
Once dried, the inner material was removed, and small holes were opened along them to serve as pipes.
Water dripped out through these openings, irrigating the crops gradually.
This method greatly conserved water, allowing the same amount of water to irrigate more land.
Even during the dry season, crops could be grown in some fields near the Nile.
Many modern agricultural methods introduced by Alaric were applied in this ancient kingdom, allowing it to recover from a long period of chaos and gradually flourish.
In the blink of an eye, four years had passed since the Great Judgment.
During these four years, Nitocris had gradually grown into an outstanding Pharaoh. With the help of magic, her officials had also become competent administrators.
The entire nation, at least Memphis, had begun to operate smoothly.
Afterward, Nitocris focused on water conservancy and agriculture. In recent years, Memphis had continuously opened new farmland and achieved bumper harvests.
With these yearly harvests, Nitocris accumulated vast supplies of grain and provisions, gradually gaining the capital needed to wage war.
At the same time, thanks to her new policies and abundant food, Memphis had become a paradise within the chaotic land of Egypt.
Many Egyptians from other nomes, unable to survive in their own regions, brought their families and migrated to Memphis, strengthening her forces.
Now, taking advantage of another harvest, she had finally gathered her army and prepared to begin her campaign to reunify Egypt.
At this moment, outside the gates of Memphis, tens of thousands of Egyptian soldiers formed neat and orderly battle formations, awaiting inspection by their Pharaoh.
Soon, the sound of hooves and chariot wheels approached the city gates.
In the eyes of the soldiers, a golden chariot pulled by eight magnificent horses emerged from the gate, escorted by guards.
Standing atop the chariot was a valiant woman clad in golden armor and holding a golden staff. She was their great Pharaoh, Nitocris.
The soldiers gazed upon her with reverence.
Though she was a woman, they believed this female Pharaoh surpassed all who had come before her.
Four years ago, on the Day of the Great Judgment, this great ruler had publicly read out the crimes of nearly eighty percent of the officials before the entire population of Memphis, and at the risk of leaving the country without governance, imprisoned them all in one stroke.
Since then, Nitocris had been praised as the "Pharaoh of the People."
Though such a title would provoke noble resentment in any era, Nitocris had uprooted Memphis's aristocracy entirely.
With no resistance, she rebuilt the dynasty single-handedly, restoring peace to the once-chaotic city.
Her agricultural reforms enriched the lives of the people, and none failed to praise her greatness.
And now, this great Pharaoh would lead them to reconquer the still-chaotic land and restore the glory of the divine kingdom.
Beside the Pharaoh stood a strikingly handsome man.
Though riding the chariot, he wore no armor, only a luxurious white ceremonial robe.
It was said that this garment held powerful mysteries and could not be perceived even by gods.
He was the great sage from a foreign land, Lord Thoth, who was also rumored to be the Pharaoh's beloved.
It was said that this lord possessed wisdom rivaling the gods and wielded a powerful force known as magic.
Through wisdom and strength, he had aided the Pharaoh in creating Memphis's present glory.
Many said that when the Pharaoh rose again from beneath the control of corrupt officials, besides the judgment of Horus, it was largely due to this sage's assistance.
Many of the new policies and technologies were said to come from his suggestions, and many officials had become outstanding under his guidance.
Even now, many in the court addressed him as their teacher.
In the soldiers' eyes, Lord Thoth was naturally second only to Pharaoh Nitocris in greatness.
Seeing the two appear, the soldiers spontaneously raised their weapons and cheered loudly.
Oh, and the weapons in their hands were also thanks to Lord Thoth.
Although Egyptian civilization had been advanced, its metallurgy and weapon technology had long lagged behind other civilizations.
For a long time, Egypt had relied on bronze weapons, with only a few types such as duckbill axes, war hammers, daggers, and spears.
Armor was mostly simple leather.
Some soldiers wore leather garments and carried leather shields, but most fought wearing only leather skirts, or nearly naked.
Egyptian archers used simple self-bows. Their arrows had reed shafts and bronze heads, effective only at short range and with limited accuracy.
But Alaric's arrival had transformed the army.
New metallurgy created sharper and sturdier weapons and introduced metal armor.
The Pharaoh's elite guard at the front now wore full metal armor.
Other troops also had complete leather armor, no longer fighting half-naked.
More advanced bows resembling composite and recurve bows were also introduced.
An army equipped with such new weapons would be a slaughter against the forces of other nomes.
Moreover, within Memphis's army existed an even more powerful force.