Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

April reached its end, the sea breeze became more humid, and the weather turned scorching hot. Zuwaro, tanned and dark, stood at the bow of the ship, gazing into the distance. The vast sea stretched endless and boundless, the long journey coming and going, familiar sights also unfolded before his eyes. Not far away, three long rivers flowed from the East, converging and dispersing as they all streamed into the boundless Western Sea. And a low yet prosperous City-State appeared on the fertile land where the rivers entwined.

"Ah! Praise the Chief Divine! Northbound for four thousand miles, then returned three thousand miles. Sailing back and forth seven thousand miles, taking more than three months, the fleet has finally returned to the land of the Tekos, arriving at Three Rivers City! And from here, heading southeast for another thousand miles, leads back to the kingdom's seaside, at the mouth of Tarsas River. This awe-inspiring and long journey is finally nearing completion!..."

Reflecting on this, Zuwaro felt a wave of emotion. As a Priest from Apa County on the Prepetcha, in the past twenty years, the largest lake he knew was Lake Ato, measuring over a hundred miles long. The longest journey he had ever made was merely the three hundred-plus miles from Apa County to Qinchongcan Capital, to attend Divine Power University.

However, when he graduated with excellent grades from the Divine Power University at the Capital City, an order came from the Chief Minister, the Sage Jatili. And this order itself originated from the will of Your Majesty. In kingdom affairs, young priests graduating from the Divine Power University are always given priority consideration.

"Chief Divine bears witness! Northbound for four thousand miles, scouting intelligence along the way, stationing personnel in familiar tribes, trading coal rock, and extracting guano rock..."

The newly appointed Priest Zuwaro, full of reverence, embarked on leading the merchant fleet, perfecting the northern trade route through the long journey. A wide world never imagined before, swiftly emerged, facing him head-on. And at this very moment, after traversing no less than seven thousand miles of waves, he had slimmed down, tanned into a piece of black charcoal, with only a pair of bright eyes constantly gazing into the distance.

"Supreme Main God, thank you for your protection over me!...What a vast sea, what an endless Northern Land, what turbulent waves!"

Zuwaro prayed quietly, observing the twenty-plus catamarans nearby, looking at the cargo on board, and gazing at the wind-worn Samurai and sailors. Scenes of navigation memories flashed through his mind.

"More than three months ago, I led a fleet of thirty-four catamarans, over four hundred Samurai sailors, carrying gemstones, weapons, and spices, departing from the Talsas River Mouth. We first arrived at the land of the Southern Ticos, trading along the coast of Fire River Plains. In recent years, various Colima tribes subjugated to the Kingdom of the Lake, trade between both sides became frequent, and a trading town has emerged along the coast. Cuyutlán, known as "the land of palm tree fruits", Palm Town. Around Palm Town, many have already been infiltrated by long-distance merchants from the southern kingdom. According to the traditions of the kingdom, long-distance merchants must shoulder the mission of gathering intelligence..."

Zuwaro squinted towards the distant southeast. Palm Town was six or seven hundred miles away by the sea, the first critical town on the northbound trade route. The second critical town is where the fleet is currently, Three Rivers City.

"At Three Rivers City, the Telali merchants who submitted to the kingdom, Telali, took six or seven ships and seventy to eighty people, separating from the main fleet. His mission was to give gifts, to forge alliances with the great chiefs of Three Rivers City, and to scout detailed intelligence on the Northern Tekos tribes. This merchant, although lacking in faith towards the Chief Divine, has many years of connections with Northern Tekos tribes, also greatly intimidated by the kingdom and Your Majesty, should not cause any trouble..."

Zuwaro pondered slightly, thinking. Some great chiefs in Three Rivers City had once planned to attack the kingdom's exploratory fleet. One of merchant Telali's tasks was to investigate the tribes and chieftains who participated in the attack and seek protection from other great chiefs. Before reliable news arrived, the main merchant fleet he led would bypass Three Rivers City to resupply at a Tekos village dozens of miles away, where the chieftain was more reliable.

"Chief Divine bears witness! When the kingdom's great army arrives, they will send each of these daring tribes and chieftains to heaven to meet the Chief Divine!"

Zuwaro clasped the Sun Amulet, prayed silently, and secretly vowed. He dispatched a small boat, carrying a few sailors to notify merchant Telali in the area around Three Rivers City. Afterwards, the kingdom's merchant fleet set sail again, passing by Three Rivers City without entering.

"The northern trade route is indeed desolate. Three Rivers City, of Northern Tekos, is the last City-State along the route. After passing through Northern Teotihuacan Lands, along the coast, and then northwest for six hundred miles, a great river merges into the Western Sea. This strategically located rivermouth is the third important node on the route. The fleet can set up an encampment here, replenish freshwater, fish, and hunt birds and beasts that come to drink water..."

"However, when we landed at the rivermouth, and set up the encampment by the riverbank abundant with prey, we unexpectedly encountered a fierce group of Huichol people (Huichol), from the Torpan Tribe (Teopan)."

Zuwaro looked towards the North, his expression fluctuating. Ten days ago, they returned from Fish Mountain Village of the Totome people, rowed continuously for over four hundred miles, before they tiredly docked at the Big River Mouth to seek rest. Yet no one had anticipated that the Torpan Tribe had just migrated to the area near the rivermouth, during the sacred and ancient ritual of Mitote.

This inherited ritual bore conspicuous wilderness atmosphere. More than a thousand Torpan tribespeople first migrate for several dozen days, then hunt massive bison or packs of coyotes. After obtaining these beasts' entrails and skulls, the tribes would follow the guidance of the wilderness Priest to find a vast or towering site of divinity.

Then, the wilderness Priest would make offerings to the Heavenly Divine and the Earth Mother at the divinity site, praying for Their Divine Power to descend. Meanwhile, the wilderness warrior tribesmen would pick special cacti and sit relying on nearby trees or rocky hills, consuming hallucinogenic pine cones. These tribal warriors would close their eyes, murmur to themselves, attempting to communicate with the spirits in the dream, gaining enlightenment from heaven and earth. As for the Leader of the tribe, together with the wilderness Priest, they would use beasts' skulls and blood for divination, to decide on settling here.

To the migratory Huichol people, such a ritual was extremely important, lasting several days to decide migration, settlement, war, even survival, and must not be disturbed by outsiders. Around the ritual site, many Scouts were sent by the Torpan Tribe, lurking in the mountain forest, ensuring the ritual continued.

The kingdom's merchant fleet, heading north, had once supplemented freshwater here and scouted the surrounding conditions. So when they returned south, barely making any precautions, they landed on the riverbank and camped to rest. Yet, as dusk fell and night descended, danger followed. The people camped on the riverbank were directly surrounded by hundreds of fierce Torpan tribal warriors.

"Ah! It's truly the protection of the Chief Divine! During that dangerous moment, both sides aimed Long Spears at each other's foreheads, just a tiny bit away, I would have gone to the Divine Kingdom!..."

Recalling that evening looming with peril, sweat seeped from Zuwaro's forehead, and his heartbeat slightly quickened. He shook his head firmly, pondering the reaction of the Huichol people, unable to resist dwelling on the puzzle.

"How strange! Why would this tribe say..."