Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"Praise the Supreme Main God, Huitzilopochtli! Sacrifice for the gods, fight for the gods!"

In the dim night, faced with an unexpected encirclement by the Wilderness Tribes, Zuwaro's limbs trembled, and fear arose in his heart. He reached out, clutching the Sun Hummingbird Talisman on his chest, trying to muster courage, loudly praying and shouting.

"Everyone, get ready! Follow me back to the ship!"

The camp was not far from the docked fleet. He was ready for a fierce battle, intending to lead the hundred Samurai and sailors ashore to break through the hundreds of enemies encircling them and return to the ship overnight.

"Hmm? Huitzilopochtli? Hummingbird, on the left? Located above, the Sage Leader?"

However, upon hearing Zuwaro's prayer and shouts, a resolute chieftain with a feather crown and facial tattoos stepped forward with a javelin from among the hundreds of tribal warriors. His sharp eyes stared at the Sun Hummingbird Talisman on Zuwaro's neck, scrutinizing his ritual robe embossed with Divine Runes, with a look of confusion and surprise. After a few moments, he finally spoke in the ancient Uto-Aztecan language.

"Huichol, Wixárika, Teopan Tribe. We, the Huichol people, Teopan Tribe, follow the guidance of blood and the eagle. Are you, the tribe on the ship, also a branch of the Huichol people, following the guidance of the Divine Hummingbird?"

Upon hearing the chieftain's words, the newly appointed Priest Zuwaro stood still. Although the language was peculiar, he could understand it, even closer to the Mexica language than Prepetcha from the Lake Region. Zuwaro's thoughts raced, recalling the lectures on common origins at Divine Power University, and he hesitated, lowering the copper spear in his hand, and asked in the Mexica language.

"Friends, we come from the Mexica Alliance. The alliance began with tribes from Aztlán... We follow the guidance of the Sun and the Hummingbird, worshiping the Supreme Main God who holds lightning and javelins... Are you the Huichol people? Where are you from?"

"Worship the Sun and Hummingbird, the War God wielding lightning and javelins? Taking the War God as the father god? That's strange... However, the War God of lightning is indeed among the gods!"

Hearing Zuwaro's description, the leader of the Teopan Tribe, Visaka, raised an eyebrow. He pondered for a moment, then carefully observed the Kingdom's Warriors in the camp, their fine weaponry, and equipment, and their determined expressions. After a moment, Visaka howled like a wolf, and the Teopan Warriors lowered their stone spears, abandoning the threat of attack, exhibiting hints of goodwill.

"The Huichol tribe on the ship, I do not know where you come from, but we must have common ancestors, and we are not enemies! The War God with lightning and javelins is among the mountain Huichol people's gods and is an ancient god. Sun Father Tayaupá, Rain Mother God Nacawé, Divine Eagle Star God, Water Serpent Cloud Divine, Red God of Death, Corn Goddess, and the War God wielding lightning are among the important deities..."

Visaka revealed his chest by pulling aside his war clothes, showing a tattoo of the Sun Father. The sun was vast like the ocean, emitting wave-like light. In the center of the sun was a red heart.

"The gods gaze upon the world, ruling over the red sky, earth, and sea together. And we Huichol people are the red hearts migrating on the rivers of the wilderness..."

The newly appointed Priest Zuwaro stared wide-eyed at the tattoo. This worship of the red sun and heart seemed present on the alliance's royal flag and on the Priest's Heritage Tablet. Thinking of something, his lips went dry momentarily, and after a long silence, he finally spoke, invitingly.

"Friends from the Teopan Tribe, we have never harbored enmity. I believe we can sit down by the campfire and have a good conversation for a while..."

The long night returned to tranquility, with low conversations arising now and then. The two leaders talked at length, from heritage, mythology, rituals, to divinities, increasingly sensing an ancient closeness but also recognizing present differences.

It's like a forked river, flowing through hundreds of years, reflecting the same old shadows. But the scenery on both banks of the river has changed completely. Looking back, you can vaguely see the upper reaches of the river. And downstream of the Long River, the powerful Mexica Alliance has unknowingly grown into a mighty sea!...

Zuwaro was silent for a long time before speaking under the morning sun's first light.

"Respected Chief Visaka, how many tribes of the Huichol people are there now in the mountainous wilderness?"

Visaka scratched his chin, the feather crown on his head swaying in the wind. His eyes flickered, observing Zuwaro's expression, and answered in a deep voice.

"The tribes migrate everywhere, chasing prey and grass for half a year and planting corn and beans for the other half. No one knows how many tribes inhabit this wilderness spanning hundreds or thousands of miles. But tribes like ours, the Teopan, numbering one or two thousand, there must be twenty or thirty. And larger tribes can't survive on this land and must fight southward to capture more fertile valleys."

"In the southeastern highlands, the Guajili people were once hostile to the tribes, clashing fiercely. But a few years ago, a cold snap moved south, causing heavy casualties for all tribes, many losing contact. The large tribes of the Guajili have gathered together and migrated south. I know that two large Huichol tribes have moved south into the Guajili's territory, living mixed with the local tribes..."

Upon hearing this, Zuwaro raised an eyebrow. Twenty or thirty tribes, each with a thousand or two people, amounts to forty to fifty thousand people, along with smaller scattered tribes and a few large tribes migrating south, likely totaling seventy to eighty thousand people. This scale, compared to other wilderness tribes, is neither large nor small. The land across the wilderness is still too barren.

As for the land of the Huichol hunters and farmers, it lies in the western and northern wilderness. In the southeast, it borders the silver-rich land of Sakascat with the Guajili people, and in the northwest, they have had contact with the mountain Totopehc. Such a migratory and warlike tribe has significant linguistic and religious similarities with the alliance.

"Behind these similarities might be a shared origin, dating back hundreds of years. If we can ally with them and gradually assimilate... the Kingdom in the northwest of the world can truly establish a solid stronghold on this northern route!"

With this thought, a sincere smile appeared on Zuwaro's face. He reached into his bosom, took out a golden Sun Hummingbird Talisman, and solemnly presented it to Visaka. On this northern expedition, he brought and distributed many such talismans.

"Praise the Supreme Main God, Huitzilopochtli! He grants us a journey like lightning, uniting us with ancient kin thousands of miles away! Come, brother Visaka, let us have a good chat... Perhaps, you may consider settling here at this Teopan Rivermouth."

"The land at this rivermouth is quite fertile. Once you master the farming techniques, you can harvest a stable supply of food. And at the rivermouth's coast, there is fishing. As for shipbuilding and fishing techniques, our tribe on the ship can teach you..."

Hearing Zuwaro's account, Chief Visaka furrowed his brows. Instead of joy, he showed caution. He looked into Zuwaro's eyes and asked each word clearly, in a deep voice.

"Zuwaro, my friend. In the wilderness, there is never free food without cost. Hunters only release bait while hunting... Since you exhibit so much goodwill to our Teopan Tribe, what kind of return do you seek from us?"

Hearing this, the new Priest Zuwaro lowered his eyes. After a while, he gazed at the leader of the Teopan Tribe and solemnly replied.

"The Supreme Main God shines upon the red world, from the southern highlands and lowlands to the northern deserts and mountains! We will not force distant kin but bring you the brilliance of the Main God, an untold prosperity and strength."

"The price we seek is to have the revered Main God enter your hearts to become the only Supreme Divinity! And from then on, by merging the blood of our brotherly tribes, you will gradually become one with us..."