Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"The King's directive..."

The noontime sun cast its rays straight down from the temple's zenith, illuminating the imposing idol of the Chief Divine without leaving any shadow. Hearing the sharp question from the Black Wolf Legion Commander, the royal envoy Yao Lin felt a sudden pang in his heart. He struggled to maintain his calm demeanor, while his thoughts surged like tidal waves, his gaze flickering.

"Envoy Yao Lin, what precisely is the King's decree?"

Black Wolf's eyes became piercing. He coldly asked again, placing his right hand silently on the bronze sword at his waist.

"The wise His Highness is stationed in Tree Snake City; any correspondence with the capital would take only several days... Should anyone dare forge the King's decree, regardless of their identity, His Highness will surely not spare them lightly!"

The cold intent sent shivers down the royal nobles' envoy Yao Lin, causing his eyelids to twitch.

Although he did not believe that the Black Wolf Torc would dare lay hands on the King's emissary, he was equally aware of His Highness's near-sovereign power within the alliance, second only to the King, and the weight he bore in the King's heart. As for King Aweit's subtly revealed true stance, it not only differed from the expansiveness of the Kingdom of the Lake but also markedly diverged from the traditional noble order...

"Hoo! ... The Chief Divine witnesses all, liars will fall into the Abyss! Before I departed from the capital city, the Supreme King had three clear directives regarding the Kingdom of the Lake's campaign in the Totonac Lands."

The royal envoy Yao Lin remained silent for a long time before stepping forward. He approached the Black Wolf, who stood tall and proud, slightly bowed, his voice lowered, and his demeanor suddenly softened.

"Firstly, mediate the conflict without losing dignity! The alliance's dignity stands high on the Divine Mountain, upheld by formidable strength. The Lake's army can only win, cannot suffer major defeats. And in the Totonac Lands, there must not be a full-scale rebellion against the alliance! Black Wolf Legion Commander, please remember, the royal family and armies of various city-states still need at least a year of recuperation and must not be disturbed by the eastern coastal situation..."

Upon hearing this, Black Wolf Torc raised his eyebrows and looked deeply at Envoy Yao Lin. It seems that King Aweit, who was intent on advancement, did not have a clear preference for maintaining the traditional vassal arrangement.

"Envoy Yao Lin, so what the King cannot tolerate are merely failure and rebellion... Chief Divine witness! The battle-wise Lake army will certainly not disappoint the King!"

"The valor of the Black Wolf Legion Commander is known throughout the capital city. However, in my view, some loyal Totonac tribes have been vassals for many years and are closely connected with the alliance's nobles. The alliance royal family collects tribute from the Totonac Lands, and the great nobility of Reed Marsh City have been intermarried with seaside tribes for years... They can be the commander's support, not adversaries. And you, as a friend of the alliance's great nobility, cannot be... an obstruction..."

Envoy Yao Lin kept his eyebrows lowered, quietly noting a few points before continuing calmly under Black Wolf's contemplating gaze.

"The King's second directive is to ensure tribute and maintain trade routes! The alliance has waged war year after year, consuming vast amounts of food and supplies. The wealthy Lake Texcoco is gradually drying under the scorching sun. The food, cloth, feathers, and gemstones contributed by the Totonac Lands are replenishing the eastern stream of Lake Texcoco!"

"The trade of the seaside tribes ties directly with the eastern Maya world. The divine smoke, cotton, dyes, cinnabar...from the Maya tribes are urgently needed by the alliance's great nobility. Likewise, the gemstones of the Kingdom of the Lake flow worldwide through this trade route... Esteemed Black Wolf Legion Commander, if the campaign persists and the trade route remains blocked, you may find it difficult to account to the alliance and the kingdom!"

Upon hearing this, Black Wolf Torc furrowed his sword-like brows, for the first time feeling the pressure on his shoulders.

The Black Wolf Army swept the seaside tribes, plundering a substantial wealth from the city-states. While these spoils of war could satisfy the army's consumption and a portion could be given as the alliance's tribute, the real challenge lay in maintaining the coastal trade routes!

"The Totonac tribes occupy hundreds of miles of coastline, controlling the waterways to the eastern Maya and southeastern Zapotecs. Even if the army captures Golden Bay City, it cannot open the pathways to all city-states..."

Black Wolf tugged his hair, hesitated into silence, looking somewhat grave.

Eastern trade routes being cut off will significantly undermine the kingdom's gemstone trade, greatly affecting the alliance's trading groups. As Yao Lin reminded, behind these trading groups stand traditional alliance great nobility, even royal family members. The disrupted coastal trade would also gradually dissatisfy great nobles unable to obtain sufficient luxury goods. If the Black Wolf Army continues without reviving trade routes, the Torc will gradually find itself standing against numerous traditional great families.

"Ha! Regardless, the His Highness of Divine Revelation will always support me! How can the hostility of those old nobles harm me?"

Meditating for a moment, Black Wolf's expression turned stern and resolute. He couldn't care less how the alliance's great nobility thought! The necessary battles must be fought, the sooner the better!

"...Ah!"

Seeing the change in Black Wolf's expression, Envoy Yao Lin's gaze shifted slightly, lips tightened. He sighed, spoke no more, and directly conveyed the King's final directive.

"The last directive comes from the King's and the High Priesthood's demands. In the Totonac Lands, enforce full conversion and vigorous preaching! For the directly conquered Totonac tribes, they must fully convert to the Chief Divine, severing belief in the Feathered Serpent Divine. Those tribes not yet conquered must be persuaded to accept the alliance-sent priests, elevating the War God to their Chief Divine!"

Saying this, Envoy Yao Lin's expression turned solemn, his voice hardened like Highland's volcanic rock.

"Praise the Chief Divine, who is exalted above all earthly things! In this matter, any leader daring to oppose, any priest daring to obstruct, any tribe daring to resist, must be severely punished... The Lake Army need not consult the capital city, it can directly carry out sacrifices!"

"Praise the Chief Divine, who resides on the supreme Divine Mountain, also watching the boundless sea!..."

Hearing this, all the generals in the hall lowered their heads, simultaneously praying aloud. Black Wolf Torc was solemn, his cold gaze swept through the main hall. The statue of the Chief Divine shone under the sunlight, while the Chieftains of Cempoala Tribes all knelt in the temple, daring not show the slightest disrespect.

"Esteemed royal envoy, I've heard the King's decrees you conveyed and shall carry them out."

The sun slightly westwards, casting long shadows in the main hall. Black Wolf raised his head, straightened his spine, gazing at the radiant idol for a long time, until engulfed by the statue's shadow. Regardless of where the shadow came from, he would always be the coldest sharp sword, much like the bronze sword at his waist. And as a sharp sword, what was there to hesitate about?

Black Wolf closed his eyes, understood the answer, and then opened them again. He flashed a brilliant smile toward the King's envoy Yao Lin.

"You've traveled a long way, your journey must have been taxing! The army shall present you with a sincere gift, representing the Kingdom of the Lake's earnestness... Rest assured, this earnestness will not disappoint you!"

Yao Lin, lips pursed, watched Black Wolf's smiling face. That smile was warm and dazzling, reminding him of the wild summer flowers he saw in the Trascal Land. The King's envoy quietly settled, slowly smiling, suddenly reciting an ancient sacrificial hymn.

"Summer flowers bloom, flourishing on eastern battlefields. They are so radiant, so alluring! They root in the underground corpses, nutrients of blood and flesh, bedding of white bones! ...Fearless warrior, please tell me, how long will their flowering season last?..."

"Flowers bloom in spring and summer, wither in deep autumn. This is a tribute to the Sun Supreme God and a return to the Earth Mother Goddess! We sacrifice blood to the sky, sacrifice vitality to the earth... We please the War God with battles, exchange Divine Descendants' spirits for tomorrow's rising sun!..."

With a radiant smile, Black Wolf also sang another sacrificial hymn in response to Yao Lin. The two exchanged smiles for a brief moment, then spoke again, voice devoid of emotion.

"Black Wolf Torc, take care of the wars with the Seaside Tribes yourself."

"Royal noble Yao Lin, I carry the burdens of the seaside lands' battles alone!"

"Since that's so, I can no longer stay here."

"Yes. Should the battles fail, it will not be your concern."

Upon saying this, Black Wolf's gaze turned calm. He pointed his fingers towards the kneeling nobility of Cempoala, smiled, and spoke.

"Praise the Chief Divine! Esteemed royal envoy, these tribe leaders who disrespect the Chief Divine and offend the alliance... Please escort them yourself to the alliance encampment under Tree Snake City, for judgment by the His Highness of Divine Revelation!"

"...Praise the Chief Divine! Very well!"