Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

In Nianshui City, shouts shook the heavens. The summer's heat was blazing as if setting everything ablaze. Surrounded by nearly ten thousand warriors, a heart-stirring blood-red ceremony ended slowly amidst fervent prayers. The banner of the Black Wolf, after staying in Nianshui City for half a month, finally set off again!

The army marched southward with great momentum, expanding once again. Three thousand defectors from the Nianshui City warriors, and two thousand able-bodied Cimpoali men, were all conscripted into the army. The surging marching troops moved southward like a swarm of ants, swallowing every village in their path.

Those tribes who hadn't fled were all swallowed by the "ant swarm" one by one. Able-bodied men were conscripted, food was entirely requisitioned, and those tribes daring to resist bled out, while villages refusing to be conscripted were burned to ashes... In the howls of wolves, the heartland where the Totonac people gathered turned completely into a battlefield of blood and fire!

Two days later, Black Wolf arrived at the desolate Snake Lake Village, resting in the village's longhouse. The two to three thousand-strong Snake Lake Tribe had already migrated far away. The entire large village only had a few dozen dying elders left hiding in the edge's pit houses, witnessing the arrival of the Mexica people.

"Tupa, set up camp here, build waterproof warehouses, and stockpile food and materials."

Black Wolf surveyed the surrounding area and saw Snake Lake stretching along the village. The lake water was clear, reflecting the red setting sun, with a sense of solemnity and depth.

"This long Snake Lake is precisely where the army gathers; it's the most important water source! Assign the militia to cut down trees, prepare firewood, dig toilets in dry places, and then dig several filtered shallow wells... Let the War Priests emphasize that southern warriors must drink boiled hot water! Inform the two defector camps to drink well water, use sand to filter water sources, and prohibit drinking raw river and lake water!"

"Yes, as you command, Legion Commander!"

Tupa nodded respectfully and was about to make arrangements. In the prince's army, the requirements for logistics and hygiene were always extremely stringent, with standards far exceeding those of the various factions in the land. Tupa had received the prince's teachings and knew that there were disease-causing plagues in the lake water, especially prevalent during this summer season.

These tiny, invisible plagues could only be eradicated by the fiery divine force of boiling or the purifying divine force of the earth. Prioritizing hygiene and logistics was the foundation that allowed the lake army to undertake long expeditions without being struck down by diseases.

"Wait!... Tupa, after these rains, how much gunpowder remains with the army?"

Upon hearing this, Tupa pursed his lips, lowered his head, and answered with a touch of embarrassment in his voice.

"Black Wolf Leader, the artillery camp arrived at the seaside lowland for the first time, not expecting the climate to be so humid and the rain so unpredictable... the gunpowder with the army is only enough for ten Eagle Cannons, each to fire a dozen times..."

"Hm? Only enough for ten Eagle Cannons, each to fire a dozen times?"

"Yes! It's best to use them up before the next rain arrives."

"I see. You may go."

Black Wolf furrowed his brows, gesturing dismissively. He then closed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and when he reopened them, his expression was calm.

"Send two personal guards! Call for the Totonac elders in the village; I wish to hear the local epics! Also, find two literate priests to document these epics well, so they can be presented to His Highness later..."

A moment later, the desolate Totonac singing rose by the toppled Feathered Serpent Divine's altar, along the long Snake Lake's edge.

"...The Sun God sits high above a tree, watching the people on the hot land, wandering on the barren earth..."

The red-haired hunter Chabo, with bow and arrow on his back, stood on the periphery of the personal guards. He quietly listened to the Totonac elders' singing, registering the raspy and halting tones, and for some reason, he was reminded of his homeland on the Sakascat Wilderness.

"Hmm? I can actually understand this song; its tone resembles the wind on the wilderness... Many years ago, were they also a tribe that came here from the wilderness?..."

The red sun set obliquely, bonfires blazed, and the Totonac people's epic ended at dusk. Black Wolf listened for a long time and pondered deeply. Then he rewarded them with some food and let the village elders retreat, resting alone in the longhouse.

The next morning, as the morning sun veiled the stars, the pack of wolves awakened from their slumber. A new message was brought by the red-haired scout.

"Great Chief! The Mistec vanguard camp led by Woodpecker Leader has bypassed Golden Bay City from the south and, after traveling about twenty Li, reached a Great River. That river is long, wide, and meandering! Downstream on the west side, where a small river joins the Great River near the sea, there is a large camp! At the moment, many Totonac people's canoes are shuttling back and forth across the river, transporting food and warriors to the camp!"

"Hmm? The Great River behind Golden Bay City should be Adobe River, 'a Long River of much clay.' Downstream of Adobe River, there's a riverside camp, with supplies and troops crossing?"

Upon hearing this, Black Wolf Torc's spirits were lifted. His eyes flashed brightly, without hesitation, he turned and commanded within the personal guard.

"Chabo, you take a dozen seasoned scouts and thoroughly scout this out for me! Find out the number of defending troops in the camp!"

"Yes, Great Chief!"

The day turned in the blink of an eye. As dusk descended once more, Black Wolf's command flag had already arrived under Golden Bay City. Black Wolf Torc personally led over a hundred personal guards to scout closely, about a hundred steps from the city.

Golden Bay City's walls were low, roughly four to five meters high. Outside the city walls were two circles of wooden fences, evidently recently built. Inside the city were over a dozen temples, each more than ten meters tall, like solid fortresses.

"The city walls and defenses are rather intact and solid, making a frontal assault a challenge..."

Black Wolf patiently observed for a while and made his judgment. Then he stood still, pondering without speaking. Finally, he turned his head to the personal guards.

"Send two trusted aides of mine! Summon the Totonac elders from the village; I want to listen to the local epic poetry! Also, call two literate priests to record these epics well for later presentation to the prince..."

A moment later, the poignant singing of the Totonac resounded by the toppled Feathered Serpent Divine's altar, stretching long along the edge of Snake Lake.

"...The Sun God sits upon the high tree, watching the people wander on the desolate land..."

The red-haired Hunter Chabo stood on the periphery of the personal guards, listening in silence to the Totonac elder's singing, hearing those hoarse and broken tones, he inexplicably thought of his homeland on the Sakascat Wilderness.

"Hmm? I can actually understand this song; its tone resembles the wind on the wilderness... Many years ago, were they also a tribe that came here from the wilderness?..."

The red sunset slanted down as the campfire burned fiercely. The Totonac singing sounded incessantly by the long Snake Lake's side. After listening for some time, Black Wolf rewarded the village elders with some food and let them retreat, resting alone in the longhouse.

Early the next morning, under the clear sky, the red-haired hunter Cimpo brought a report to the throne.

"Great Chief! The Mistec vanguard camp led by Woodpecker Leader has bypassed Golden Bay City from the south. There's a large camp where a small river converges with the Great River at the seaside, and it currently houses a substantial number of troops!"

"Huh? The Great River behind Golden Bay City should be Adobe River, 'a Long River of much clay,' with a great many clay branches. There is a large camp there by the sea! At this moment, many Totonac warriors are holding long spears, pressing out from the city in dark, dense numbers! They are flooding out!"

"The Great Chief's blessing! Revenge for our fallen chieftain!"