Ever since receiving help with state affairs from Alaric this time, Nitocris seemed to have started treating him like some blue robotic cat's all-purpose treasure box, coming to him on her own initiative almost three times a day.
Either she had run into some new administrative problem, or she came to compile books together with him, the books naturally being the classics that officials needed to study for examinations.
This time, as Nitocris complained about the various factional struggles among nobles from all over Egypt gathered in Memphis, conflicts that had even escalated into outright brawls, Alaric once again offered her guidance with a helpless sigh.
"You need to balance them, divide them, win them over, set them against each other, make them compete.
Let civilian officials clash with noble officials, local nobles clash with outsiders, military nobles clash with those from former enemy factions…
But at the same time, you must make it clear that private fighting is absolutely forbidden.
As Pharaoh, you must become their arbiter, the judge who settles disputes among these high officials and nobles.
And you must make them believe that you are the best person to resolve their problems."
"So that's how it is! When you explain it like that, I understand everything, Thoth, you're amazing!"
Hearing the Pharaoh's syrupy praise, Alaric could only smile wryly.
In his view, even if he hadn't given advice, someone as intelligent as Nitocris would have figured it out sooner or later.
Coming to ask him now was probably just an excuse to talk to him.
Right after that, the girl asked her next question.
"Thoth, Thoth, I want to expand the Pharaoh's Royal Guard. Some nobles have proposed letting their descendants join the army.
What should I do? The previous Royal Guard was controlled by them exactly because of this."
Naturally, Nitocris was referring to the Royal Guard before the Great Judgment.
At that time, officers at every level, even grassroots officers, were in the hands of those officials and nobles. They were either their descendants or had been bribed by them.
As a result, after the Great Judgment, Nitocris had to spend tremendous effort practically rebuilding the Royal Guard from scratch.
No wonder she was worried.
"That's simple," Alaric said lightly.
"Expanding the Royal Guard is indeed urgent. Compared to Egypt's vast territory, the number of guards established in recent years is far too small.
If not for your overwhelming authority, where all rebels surrendered at the mere sight of you, even just stationing troops across the land during reunification would have been a huge problem."
At this, the two exchanged smiles, recalling the events on the battlefield.
"However, regarding the nobles' request, we don't need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The Royal Guard can still accept noble children.
But it must never be like before, where all officers are composed entirely of noble offspring, "
"In fact, the composition of the Royal Guard should be far more diverse.
We can regularly transfer elites from regional garrisons into it. Beyond that, we should recruit soldiers from Egyptian citizens, farmers, merchants, and commoners.
We can even rehire veteran soldiers, and recruit those from foreign tribes or barbarian groups.
Oh, and slaves too, if the Pharaoh declares that slaves who join the Royal Guard can earn their freedom through military merit, they will undoubtedly become exceptionally loyal to you."
"With this, the different divisions within the Royal Guard will check and balance one another. If one force becomes unreliable, there are others.
Only the Pharaoh alone can command the entire army. And if anyone tries to rebel, to be absolutely safe, they would need to bribe the entire Royal Guard."
"And in that process, once too many people are involved, the operation becomes too large.
And when it becomes large, flaws are easier to expose, easier to detect, and can be eliminated while still in its infancy."
Alaric casually laid out an entire strategy, prompting a genuine smile from Nitocris.
"As expected of Thoth, you're incredible! You can even come up with a plan like this!" As she spoke, Nitocris rubbed against Alaric's chest, expressing her gratitude.
Her admiration for his wisdom was absolute.
Although such "benefits" made Alaric feel quite pleased, he still felt somewhat concerned about how she constantly came to him for help.
"Are you sure this is really okay?" Alaric said meaningfully. "You come to me for everything without even thinking for yourself.
What if your little brain gets spoiled by me? How is a fool supposed to be a Pharaoh?"
"Ehehe~ It's fine, as long as Thoth is here."
Even after being mocked like that, Nitocris didn't mind at all. Instead, she clung to him even more, her sweet breath brushing against his ear.
"If I get spoiled by Thoth, then it's all Thoth's fault. Thoth has to take responsibility and keep taking care of me forever, okay?"
Hearing the coquettish whining of the Pharaoh by his ear, Alaric didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
She was clearly such a domineering Pharaoh outside, he had personally seen how the nobles trembled under her overwhelming presence in court.
So why did she turn into such a whining little creature when she was around him?
But then again, how could he resist this kind of contrast?
"Alright, alright," Alaric said, scratching under the girl's chin as if teasing a large pet.
"If you want it this way, then so be it… Feels like appearing before you back then was a mistake."
"Hehe..." Being touched like that, the girl not only didn't resist, she even enjoyed it, giving him an adorable smile.
"Who told you to suddenly appear in such a private place back then and see everything without explanation?
I am the one and only Pharaoh in this world, destined to rule all. No one gets to take advantage of me and escape so easily...."
Well, that line did carry some Pharaoh-like authority, but could she not say it while lying on his lap like a puppy?
In any case, with Alaric's full support, Egypt's system continued to improve.
One could say that Egypt had now begun transitioning from a feudal slave kingdom toward a centralized imperial state.
If not for the barrier of divine domains, Alaric believed that at this rate of development, during Nitocris's reign, the empire's territory might even expand several times over.
However, even with the separation of divine domains, as long as the Heliopolis pantheon did not intend to wage divine war with its neighbors, Egypt's territory would still expand significantly.
The surrounding nations and barbarian tribes were about to have a hard time.
Yes, even though divine domains had been divided, neighboring countries and barbarian tribes still existed around Egypt.
The so-called divine domains were boundaries drawn between powerful pantheons.
At present, near the Greek pantheon, only the Norse pantheon, the Egyptian pantheon, and the Zoroastrian pantheon led by the sun god Mithra in Persia had the ability to establish such domains.
The rest of the minor native deities were simply beneath their notice.
In short, after the great turmoil, Egypt had finally begun to return to order, and signs of prosperity were already emerging.