Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

The clouds and rain from the East rise from the Caribbean Sea, sweeping over the jungle of the coastal lowlands, gradually advancing towards the central highlands. The moist sea-borne east wind has already arrived in the Tlaxcala Valley ahead of the clouds.

The mighty warm breeze blows across, lifting the hair on the young king's forehead and swaying his high feather crown. The feather crown lightly flutters, the wind passes silently, and Xiulote looks up, gazing into the vast night sky. The night sky over the Central American highlands is adorned with endless star rivers swirling, with brilliant stars shining brightly! There is also a clear and profound heavenly curtain, like the ancient and silent face of the Divine, deeply watching the mortals who gaze at the heavens.

"In the beginning of ancient times, who transmitted the way? When form above and below was not yet defined, how could it be examined?"...

The familiar Chu Ci stirs in the king's heart. However, when the verses reach his lips, they transform into ancient and bloody Nava myths.

"The Sun God descended to the world, killed his eldest sister and four hundred brothers. The eldest sister's head rose to the sky and transformed into the bright moon. The four hundred brothers sacrificed to blood, transforming into the stars scattered across the sky... Among the Divine Sons, only the Sun God solely resides on Snake Mountain, situated at the highest point!"

Upon hearing the king's words, an elderly samurai in armor and crown prostrates in salute. After the grand ceremony, he raises his head and sincerely praises.

"Your Highness! You should reside on Snake Mountain, situated at the highest point, becoming the sole Sun in the world!"

"Hmm."

In the presence of his closest ministers, Xiulote no longer needs to hide his internal desires and ambitions. He gently nods with a warm smile, looking at the Head Warrior whom he hasn't seen for half a year.

"Bertade, I've summoned you here this time not for any urgent matters, mainly to chat with you... How is the agricultural deployment and transportation in Water Valley City going?"

"Your Highness, the agricultural camp outside Water Valley City already has a scale of 150,000 people, two-thirds of whom come from various Totonac tribes, transferred here along the way... The milpa farmlands reclaimed this year cover 500,000 acres, while the mountain fields planted with sweet potatoes and potatoes are about 300,000 acres. When the autumn harvest arrives in October, the grains harvested from the agricultural camp will be sufficient to supply the Tree Snake City's camp!"

Bertade, full of confidence, meticulously reports back. All matters regarding the agricultural deployment are handled by him personally, and he is thoroughly clear on the specifics.

"As for the large-scale transfer of able-bodied men... hmm, we must wait until after the autumn harvest. The two southern counties of the kingdom are busy reclaiming new fields, grain is temporarily insufficient, and purchases are needed from the southern Alliance states."

"Very good! Bertade, you've done well, truly a laborious effort! I'm only reassured to entrust the agricultural deployment in Water Valley City to you. After all, when the armies are campaigning outside, the most crucial thing is food!"...

Xiulote nods with satisfaction. He extends his hand, affectionately patting Bertade's shoulder, before continuing in a deep voice.

"Yesterday I received a letter from Black Wolf, he's progressing quickly in the eastern Totonac lands! The Black Wolf Army has already moved three hundred miles east of Five Mountains City, reaching around Golden Bay City, and has uprooted several camps of stationed troops. Along the way, he's also enlisted tens of thousands of Totonac tribal defectors as his vanguard..."

As he says this, Xiulote rubs his brow, pausing for a moment. In his heart, he is genuinely pleased with Black Wolf's progress, yet he also harbors many concerns.

To be honest, the scale of the Totonac war, now that it has reached this point, has exceeded his previous expectations. The king's envoys have been rejected and remain at Tree Snake City, not moving away. Moreover, the usually scattered Totonac tribes have surprisingly formed an army of tens of thousands, confronting Black Wolf's troops.

The current situation is akin to standing at the edge of a cliff. If defeated, stepping back would lead to utter destruction. As for the vast number of defectors, if they cannot be absorbed through external plundering and consumption, they will explode internally. And the external pressure from the armies of the Golden Bay tribes won't hold back either.

But if victorious, taking another step forward to capture Golden Bay City, defeating the allied forces of the tribes... it would mean defeating multiple Totonac city-states in one fell swoop, thoroughly establishing the reputation of the Lake Army. After that, conquering the vast seaside lands would become much easier...

"Black Wolf tells me he doesn't lack warriors for battle, but he lacks food, arrows, bronze weapons, leather armor, paper armor, and gunpowder... Among these, the most crucial is the food!"

Xiulote adopts a serious demeanor, gazing at the loyal Head Warrior, asking.

"Can the agricultural camp still squeeze out food for twenty thousand warriors for a half-year campaign?"

"Ah? Food for twenty thousand warriors for a half-year campaign? All at once?"

Upon hearing this, Bertade opens his mouth, wanting to respond affirmatively, yet cannot bring himself to say so.

"Your Highness, this... I... the camp..."

The agricultural camp must supply 150,000 people, and indeed there is enough food in storage. However, most of the stored food consists of high-yield mixed grains like pumpkins and sweet potatoes. The peasants only consume two meals of mixed grains a day except for the busy seasons of spring plowing and autumn harvesting, so the actual consumption isn't much. Yet, the standard for warriors on a campaign requires two to three meals a day, and each meal must be nourishing maize as the main food. However, the main food produced by the agricultural camp is primarily used to supply several troops around Tree Snake City...

"Is there a problem?"

Xiulote rubs his chin, ponders for a moment, and then lowers his demands.

"Hmm. Then switch to food for ten thousand warriors and ten thousand militia for a half-year campaign. No less than that! Black Wolf is skilled in killing, but not in organizing production. By autumn, he might still be lacking food..."

"Yes! Your Highness, following your command, I will definitely meet the demand!"

Bertade lowers his head, loudly agreeing. Militia on a campaign only have three meals of mixed grains per day. By this standard, he can still gather it, but it means the garrison troops in Water Valley City will have to endure hardship.

"Very good!"

Xiulote nods thoughtfully, then smiles and says.

"Bertade, if the camp's food is insufficient, don't force it, exchange goods with the surrounding states instead. Whether it's the southern city-states of the Alliance, or the Tepanec states in the southwest, or even the Mistec states in the south, there is surplus food!"

"As for what to exchange with them, gems would be best, of course. But in recent years, there's been too much gem trading, and the demand from the tribes has become quite limited... then bronze weapons can be accepted, paper armor can be swapped, and they can even be given dozens of copper armor sets!... Remember, the price should be doubled!"

"Ah? The Mistec tribes? Trading copper weapons and copper armor?"

Bertade was stunned, asking in surprise.

"Your Highness! But the Mistec tribes were still at war with us last year! And moreover, the High Priesthood of the Alliance explicitly forbids the outflow of military supplies..."

"No problem! A few hundred or thousand copper weapons, dozens of copper armor sets, don't significantly impact the overall situation. The foundation of the kingdom lies in its population and food. As long as enough food is exchanged to feed enough people, expanding military production isn't difficult. Such trading clearly benefits the kingdom more!"

Xiulote remains composed, smiling and waving his hand. Throughout history, the arms trade has been one of the most profitable occupations. In such trade, the kingdom party occupying the advantageous position can reap several times the profit. The substantial profit will translate to abundant nourishment, supplying the kingdom's Divine Tree with rapid growth. And as long as the kingdom's development speed is fast enough, it can suppress the four directions without being constrained, worrying too much.

"Alright, food is the first priority, I can only entrust it to you! Don't hold back, don't be timid. Even if something happens, I can cover you within the Alliance. Previously, the king's envoy Yao Lin sent to the seaside lands is still here, waiting for me to cover him, to cover Black Wolf... haha!"

Xiulote chuckles twice bitterly, his expression becoming serious again. He deliberates for a while, then slowly speaks solemnly.

"Bertade, the second priority, I am preparing to petition the king: request to designate the newly conquered Totonac land as Xiuluo's fief... what do you think? King Aweit, the kingdom's generals, what would their attitude be?"