Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"...When will the fighting stop, and where will it end?"

Hearing the King's inquiry, Black Wolf Torc was startled and pondered for a long time.

If he followed His Highness's orders, he would have accomplished his goal by capturing the Feathered Serpent Ancient City and securing a coastal outlet for the kingdom along the Eastern Sea. But in his heart, he naturally wanted to continue attacking the Totonac tribes until he could fight no more!

This campaign eastward, although unexpected at the start, progressed smoothly, with impressive achievements. The morale, weaponry, organization, training, and familiarity with large-scale warfare of the Kingdom Legion far surpassed the Totonac tribes, who had enjoyed years of peace. The Totonac tribes were completely unprepared and were taken by surprise by an attack from the Lake Central Army, which was also a vassal state under the same suzerain alliance. The coastal states reacted very slowly, and their forces, unable to mobilize and unite, were defeated one by one, with a third succumbing and surrendering.

In this situation, from a strategic external perspective, as the highest commander of the legion, he must capitalize on the surprise attack on the seaside tribes and continue advancing swiftly eastward! This is like a wolf pack chasing a herd of deer, giving the opponent no respite, thus capturing the most prey.

Similarly, from an internal strategic perspective, the eastward push of the Black Wolf Army had only the Guajili Legion, comprising eight thousand core troops, with an additional few thousand surrendered Mistec soldiers. At this moment, with the army expanding rapidly, and considering the newly surrendered three thousand warriors of the Nianshui tribe, there were more than eight thousand surrendered troops from the Totonac tribes!

So many battle-hardened defectors could not be supported with the territories currently controlled by the Black Wolf Army. The defectors only feared the Kingdom's military might and had no loyalty until land and agricultural slaves were distributed. Currently, under the supervision of the Kingdom's warriors and promised rewards from looting, they could be controlled as warriors, inspired to fierce bravery, their hands stained with blood, attacking the other unrelated seaside tribes.

If the ruthless war of conquest continued, the number of defectors would gradually dwindle, and the legion could obtain enough land, population, and wealth to settle the surrendered warriors. But if there was a sudden cessation of hostilities, without continued plunder, and if external enemies gathered again, it wouldn't be long before the legion would implode!

"If Yao Lin hadn't persuaded the Nianshui City tribe to surrender, if the whole area had been conquered, and the surrendered army had lost one or two thousand men, thoroughly looting Cempoala might have sufficed to satisfy the warriors. But now, with thousands of additional defectors and limited spoils, the war must continue!... "

"The number of wolves is increasing, their ferocity growing, and their hunger for prey intensifying! If there isn't enough flesh and blood to satiate them, they might turn against the Wolf King..."

Realizing this, Black Wolf Torc frowned, feeling the pressure. He silently gripped the bronze sword at his waist, contemplating the specific circumstances of the battle. The military momentum was like a sea, waves pushing waves, surging eastward, with no room for retreat. Tactically speaking, at least the attack on Golden Bay City, sweeping through the Golden Bay tribes, and looting extensively were necessary to barely satisfy the warriors and defectors under his command!

"Honored King's envoy, judging by the current situation, the Totonac rebels are quickly gathering around Golden Bay City to the southeast!....We must at least approach the city's gates, completely sweep the Jamapa river, known as the Adobe River's west side, to break the Totonac people's backbone, severing east and west, so they completely lose the western tribes!"

"What? Attack Golden Bay City, sweep the Jamapa river?"

Upon hearing this, King's envoy Yao Lin pursed his lips, swallowing hard. The Jamapa River, 20 li east of Golden Bay City, could be considered the dividing line between the east and west Totonac regions. Completely sweeping the area west of the Jamapa River was equivalent to taking the entire western Totonac region! And the seaside tribes subjugated by conqueror Montezuma I were limited only to the western Totonac region...

In other words, this was about completely overturning the thirty-year-old vassal system established by the alliance on the Totonac coast! This was dismantling the stable old order, comparable to Tlaxcala's eastward national divine war!

"Oh Chief Divine! How can such actions be justified to the vassals under heaven? How do I report back to the King in the Capital City, account to the Great Nobility of the Alliance?"

Thinking of this, Yao Lin's expression changed repeatedly, anxiety flashing in his eyes. Although he was the King's envoy, a scion of the royal subordinate nobles, his stance was aligned with the most traditional great nobility of the alliance, inclining toward the conservative old order, naturally opposing such a fundamental change in the order!

Yao Lin's cousin, Vite Yao Ke, a branch of the War God lineage, managed the royal prison in the capital city, embodying the most conservative royal power. Over the past thirty years, his grandfather, his father, and he had successively served as the royal envoys of the alliance in the Totonac region, dealing extensively with Nianshui City, responsible for collecting and transporting local tribute. This generational familiarity with the vassals was precisely why King Aweit sent him eastward to mediate seaside conflicts, forming the trust foundation to persuade local noble chiefs to surrender to the alliance.

Since coming to power, King Aweit has been ambitiously pursuing religious reform, consolidating power through westward and eastward campaigns, with the goal of unification! However, across the entire alliance, there are very few Great Nobility who can have a global vision and keep pace with the King, moving forward. Even among the royal noble families, the conservative forces, like Yao Lin, who maintain the traditional order and follow alliance customs, still constitute the majority!

In this world, there has never been an example of complete unification, nor has there existed a system of central authority. As part of the Royal Family, they bow their heads and support the King's conquests. But from their inner views and personal interests, they don't necessarily agree with these drastic changes and expansions.

"The western expedition against Tarasco is the elders' directive, and a measure to eliminate hidden dangers for the eastern expedition. The eastern campaign against Tlaxcala aims to thoroughly defeat the enemies of the Alliance and eliminate the imminent threat. Now the threats in both east and west of the Mexican Valley have been removed! Whether Mistec, Zapotecs, or the current Totonac people, all are willing to submit and pay tribute, daring not to provoke the Alliance. Meanwhile, the King's extensive centralization contradicts tradition, causing unrest among the Great Nobility of various states, even unsettling the Alliance…"

"Chief Divine's protection! The Alliance's hegemony has been established in the world; no external worries remain. Since that's the case, why must the army continue to wage campaigns all around? By maintaining a tradition-bound stable order, why fear it cannot last hundreds of years?... Nianshui City is over seven hundred miles from the Capital City, yet even Predecessor Monarch Montezuma I, with all his military brilliance, never directly incorporated it, only established a vassal here to collect tribute! Just like now, although the Lake Army could destroy the Totonac lands, it's so distant that direct governance is impossible. In the end, new nobles have to be enfeoffed, vassals established, and in a few decades, it repeats…"

A whirlwind of thoughts surfaced in Yao Lin's mind, only to disappear one by one in reality. After a while, he took a deep breath and asked with a serious face.

"Chief Divine witnessed! Esteemed Black Wolf Legion Commander, I represent the King to ask you: Are you certain that after attacking Golden Bay City and sweeping Jamapa River, the Lake Army's expeditions will end here? After that, the tributary obligations of the Cempoala vassal status must be fully maintained and timely met!... I need a clear assurance to account to the Supreme King!"

"Chief Divine witnessed! I, the Black Wolf Army's campaign... will come to…"

Black Wolf Torc appeared solemn, hesitating as he opened his mouth, his voice struggling. He realized that his reply, should it reach King Aweit's ears, would be a serious political promise. Such a promise would indeed bind the Lake Army hand and foot. Once bound, to untangle would mean considering the King's majesty and paying a considerable price…

"Ahem! Praise the Chief Divine! The Guajili Legion is loyal to His Highness's revelation, fighting for the Supreme King! The Legion's campaign against the rebellious Totonac, ultimately, must be decided by the wisdom of His Highness in the Tree Snake City camp!"

At this critical moment, the Artillery Camp Commander Tupa gritted his teeth, decisively stepping forward to interrupt. He deeply glanced at the Black Wolf Commander, shaking his head imperceptibly.

Black Wolf was momentarily stunned but soon realized. His expression quickly shifted before fixing on self-reflective shame. His arrogance had him serving as commander of the Black Wolf Army for too long, accustomed to having ultimate authority. Subconsciously, he saw the Black Wolf Army as his own, poised to make commitments on behalf of His Highness.

Tupa's youthful face wore a respectful smile as he humbly bowed, and solemnly queried the King's envoy.

"Commander witnessed! Esteemed Envoy Yao Lin, did you meet His Highness on your journey east? What were His Highness's directives?"

"Uh... indeed, I did meet His Highness Xiulote on my way here."

At these words, Yao Lin pursed his lips, furrowing his brow deeply. Just as the Black Wolf Legion Commander was about to be trapped, giving himself a clear answer, another problem emerged.

Regarding His Highness's directives, it couldn't be countered with empty words. Yao Lin remained silent for a moment before honestly responding.

"His Highness Xiulote warmly hosted me for several days before informing me: 'A general out in the field might disobey commands, responding to changing situations with specific judgments. Like setting out to hunt, nobody can guarantee what prey will be caught in advance'... And he trusts the Black Wolf Legion Commander; the campaigns in Totonac land should be decided by Black Wolf General!"

Hearing His Highness's trusting words, Black Wolf lowered his eyes, feeling deeply moved. He closed his eyes, sorting through his jumbled thoughts, considering the flow in Yao Lin's words to find the critical pulse. After several moments, he suddenly opened his eyes, gazing sharply, like a wolf, into Envoy Yao Lin's eyes.

"Envoy Yao Lin, I have a question I want to sincerely ask you. Given that you represent the Supreme King, handling affairs in Totonac lands, issuing these inquiries toward me, what exactly were the King's instructions?"

Upon hearing this, the King's envoy, royal noble Yao Lin, suddenly changed his countenance.