Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"Oh people of the hot land, wandering on the earth like leaves in the wind, falling into unknown destinations. Oh Feathered Serpent, illuminate the bright path, on the long road of migration, filled with stones and thorns..."

The Papu Priest spoke of the horror in the north, Chieftain Chuchut made a decision, and the Snake Lake Tribe promptly began their migration. It was so hurried, without much hesitation, just like their ancestors. In the epic of tradition, the ancestors of the tribe came from the far distant north, traveling all the way from the desolate desert. And now, it was once again a migration towards the hot land in the south.

In fact, "Totonac" means "hot land." So "Tototanak people" are "the people of the hot land."

Time is pressing, calls and haste are everywhere. The young and strong men wore loincloths, bare-chested, carrying baskets of food on their backs. The women wore concealing robes, heads down, carrying cloth and pottery. Chieftain Chuchut personally directed a few robust men to carry the wooden carvings that symbolized the tribe's heritage.

As for the elderly left by the tribe, they remained in the soon-to-be-empty village, looking at the lush farmlands, awaiting a brief and unknown fate. They sat cross-legged on the earthen altar outside the village, beating ancient-leather drums, singing songs to send off those who would never return.

"Oh high Sun God, guide the way southward, towards His blazing light, seeking fertile land to plant corn. Old God of Thunder, ruler of the endless Eastern Sea, remember to walk along the coast, there is food and water. New Rain God, who whirls up terrible hurricanes, do not travel in His season of great rage, and avoid the sweeping floods..."

The old song echoed across the fields, reaching the ears of the Papu Priest, stopping him to look back.

In the traditional polytheistic beliefs of the Totonac, apart from the prosperous Feathered Serpent, there was also the Sun God who ruled the sun-grown crops, the old God of Thunder who commanded the endless waters, and the New Rain God who governed hurricanes and storms. Their Nava Faith, like the Mexica people of the highlands, shared many similarities but also had more unique deities.

"Chieftain Chuchut, bringing so many things, migrating so slowly..."

The Papu Priest frowned, looking past low huts made of palm leaves and branches towards the silent green jungle in the north, full of worry.

"How can we possibly outrun the Aztec army advancing south?"

"Without food, we won't last until the autumn harvest. Without cotton and pottery, we cannot gain assistance from other tribes. And without the wooden carvings of heritage, how can I, in the name of our ancestors, lead the tribe?"

Upon hearing the words of the Papu Priest, Chieftain Chuchut shook his head, not fully convinced. While he had heeded the advice of the Papu Priest and decided on a mass migration, he remained somewhat optimistic, not believing that the Aztec army would arrive so soon.

"What's more, there is the powerful Cempoalla, with more than 20,000 people in the Nianshui City division, blocking our northern path!"

"The powerful Cempoalla, with its Nianshui City division having two to three thousand warriors..."

Upon hearing this, the Papu Priest's face froze, and he began to feel a bit of doubt. In the Navajo language, "Cempoal" means "twenty." "Cempoalli" is the "land of twenty waters," a prosperous city-state with many canals and lakes, Nianshui City.

Nianshui City was located sixty or seventy miles south of the Feathered Serpent Ancient City, a truly ancient city-state. It was established at the end of the Olmec Era and the early Teotihuacan Period, inheriting over 1,500 years of history. It is said that during the Teotihuacan kings' eastern campaigns against the Maya, they left recorded tablets in Nianshui City, blood-sacrificed six hundred captives to the old Gods.

This ancient city was located inland on a coastal plain, closely adjacent to the Actopan River, with the coastline a dozen miles away. The Papu Priest, when fleeing south, rowed a small boat in haste and did not see the state of Nianshui City.

"When guarding the Feathered Serpent Ancient City, the Nianshui City division sent out over seven hundred samurai, who were later completely defeated by the Aztecs, suffering significant casualties. Like many coastal city-states, Nianshui City has no walls..."

The Papu Priest was worried, looking at Chieftain Chuchut.

"Chuchut, you have not seen the might of the Aztec legion... Before the copper beasts of thunder and the burning fire arrows, I'm afraid the Nianshui City division won't hold out for several days!"

"Papu Priest, the Nianshui City division is a great tribe of 20,000 people! Even if hundreds of warriors have fallen, they can still muster three or four thousand militia. Though this city-state lacks walls, it has many small fortress-like temples. All those temples are situated atop pyramids over ten meters high, built with bricks and stones, using lime made from snail and shell, extremely strong! Even if fully exerted, a stone spear cannot damage the stone temples in the slightest. The stone temples are also fireproof, and besides, it's still raining..."

Chuchut's lips curled up, recalling the sights he personally witnessed, deeply believing in the solidity of Nianshui City. Such a powerful city-state, at worse, could hold out for several days.

"We follow the river, through the jungle, towards Golden Bay City, which takes only two or three days. Counting the days you've traveled south, the Nianshui City division surely must be able to hold out for three or four more days?"

"Hmm... indeed! If it's three or four days, Nianshui City division ought to be able to hold on."

The Papu Priest thought for a moment, reluctantly nodded. He no longer urged, just quietly watched the migration of the Snake Lake Tribe. An indistinct worry tangled in his heart but was unclear.

"Cempoalla... Nianshui City division... one of the earliest Totonac tribes to submit to the Mexica Alliance and pay tribute. It is the 'accounting land' of the Mexica Alliance, stationed with the Alliance's envoys, collecting taxes and tributes from the Totonac vassals... there are Mexica envoys there... surely no strange events will occur?"

The Papu Priest pressed his lips tight, contemplating for a long time, then anger surged within his chest.

"The western Totonac tribes have been paying tribute to the Mexica Alliance for over a decade! As a result, perhaps due to some alleged crime, the legion in the lake was ordered to subjugate and massacre the Divine Descendants and priests! From now on, the tiger and wolf ambitions of the Aztecs will be known to all tribes under the heavens! The noble ones of the Totonac, only by uniting, can resist to the death... The Mistec, Zapotecs, and others further south must also form alliances..."

The Feathered Serpent Priest's thoughts were scattered in the incessant drizzle, yet they fell upon the moist soil, unable to see the clear stream. He sighed, extending his hand to assist Chieftain Chuchut in directing the tribe's migration.

Night enveloped the land, torches lit up outside the village. After a long day's toil, the tribe finally settled their affairs. The tribespeople rested in the village for one last day, their cries and whispers never ceasing. In the early morning of the following day, the tribe, numbering over two thousand, embarked on the forest dirt road for migration. From dawn till dusk, they managed only a dozen miles. By evening, the tribe found a flat area by the river and lit a bonfire.

Soon, the desolate Totonac songs resonated by the river. This unique language, while beginning to merge with Navajo, still retained the undulations and pauses of the distant highlands.

"...The Sun God sits atop the tall trees, watching the people of the hot land wander the barren earth... He gazes at the Totonac for a long time before generously commanding, 'You, people of the hot land, may rest under the shade of the trees to evade my most majestic light. But you must close your eyes and dance a prayer ritual around the tree for me...'"

"'Oh, mighty Sun God! Thank you!' The ancestors bowed, saluting the Sun God. They dared not step forward, not knowing how to close their eyes and dance around the tree. They dared not retreat either, fearing to defy the Divine's command. They pondered, how could they meet both ends?..."

"'I will!' The wise heroic chieftain stepped forward. With his head lowered, he tied a long rope around his waist, leaped, and attached it to the tree. The Sun God's scorching gaze fell upon him, but the chieftain closed his eyes, descending inverted from the tree. With eyes shut, he danced in the air, circling the tree with the rope, like a brave and nimble eagle!..."

In the melancholy yet generous song, imbued with inevitable sorrow, it sang beneath the moonlight and outside the woods. The tribespeople listened to the song, ate softened dried pumpkin, their expressions dull and subdued.

The Papu Priest gnawed on a precious cornbread, his brow jumping. This ancient song, too, narrates the story of the Totonac ancestors' migration. Alongside the spreading of the story, a Totonac sacrificial custom ensued, passed down through generations. It was akin to an eagle hunting, the "Flying Man Dance."

"Chuchut! This song chills me to the bone! The epic chieftain's migration was beset by trials from various deities, dying along the way... Quickly, have the singers stop, it's too demoralizing!"

Chieftain Chuchut raised his brow, pondered for a moment, and softly instructed his trusted aide. The aide hurriedly left, and soon, the singing ceased, leaving the camp in dead silence.

The Papu Priest furrowed his brows, surveying the resting Snake Lake Tribe, and sighed. Sitting before the bonfire, his mouth full of ulcers from anxiety, he spoke softly.

"Chuchut Clan Leader, our pace is too slow! With all these baskets and bags, can't we leave some behind?"

"Papu Priest, the tribe hasn't migrated in many years... Despite today's rush, the pace isn't slow."

Chieftain Chuchut shook his head, helplessly refusing.

"The items taken are essential for the tribe's reconstruction. The Aztecs haven't appeared yet, but I've forced the tribe to abandon farms and villages to migrate, exhausting my prestige. If I further demand leaving behind their possessions, the warriors will stand against it!"

"If we wait until the Aztecs show up, it'll be too late!"

At these words, the Papu Priest ground his teeth, anger rising on his face.

"Chuchut! By then, both you as chieftain and I as priest will be doomed!"

"...Papup, I believe you. I, too, wish to speed up the pace to escape the brutal Aztecs..."

Chuchut remained silent for a moment before replying softly.

"But the warriors don't think the same. They feel...compared to the terrifying long migration, facing the Aztecs might not be so awful... If pressured further..."

"Hiss!"

Papu inhaled sharply, his expression changing unpredictably. After a while, he slowly lowered his head.

"Hmm. What you say makes sense. Tomorrow I'll hold a brief prayer ceremony to reveal the Feathered Serpent's oracle... I'll speak on the Aztecs' collusion with the demon..."

As night deepened, the fire flickered, casting shifting shadows until dawn approached. A short prayer ceremony was held on the riverbank mudflat.

The Papu Priest donned a Feather Crown and danced to communicate with the Divine under the reverent gaze of all. Yet, before announcing the new oracle, a few scouts, drenched in sweat, arrived hurriedly. They brought a bedraggled Divine Descendant Nobility and two alarming pieces of news.

"Yesterday, the Nianshui City tribe of over twenty thousand has surrendered to the terrifying Aztecs... No, the formidable Mexica legion!"

"This morning, the Red-Haired Barbarian scout squad appeared in the northern woods a few miles away. They stared across the river at the rear scout hunters for a long time! Our tribe's migration route has surely been discovered by them!"