Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 1011 - 611: Second Kingdom Exploration, Black Oil and Herbs of Crow City

Chapter 1011: Chapter 611: Second Kingdom Exploration, Black Oil and Herbs of Crow City

Warm winds of January swept across the tropical shores of the Gulf of Mexico, bringing moisture and heat. The sea breeze blew westward, along the Cat Owl River, for seventy to eighty miles, reaching the southern ancestral land of the Vastek people, the prosperous riverside city-state, Crow City Papantla.

A few gray crows circled in the sky, overlooking familiar stockades, villages, and temples below, along with seven unfamiliar sleek large ships. Over a hundred Vastek craftsmen, bare-chested, were gathered at the edges of the longships, holding black earthen pots and busily engaged in some task.

Moments later, a curious crow lowered its height and perched atop the mast of a longship. Then, with its round eyes glancing about, it let out a satisfied caw aimed at the black Wolf Banner fluttering on the mast.

"Caw! Caw caw!"

"Huh?"

Hearing the call, the old militia Chiwaco looked up and saw the crow standing proudly on the mast. A broad smile spread across the old militia’s face.

"A crow landing, crisp caws! Good! This is a rare omen indeed!"

Ah, indeed, it was a good omen! In current-day Central America, crows often appear during sacrificial ceremonies. They are like envoys descending from the sky after prayers to the gods, carrying mysterious divine attributes. Similarly, they appear when an elder is about to die, as if they are the messengers of the God of Death, guiding the soul of the deceased. Therefore, among Central American tribes who revere death, crows are truly considered auspicious birds.

"Damn! ...This hot coastal lowland is much hotter than the highland upstream of the Cat Owl River!"

Puap, wearing a wooden Eagle Helmet, looked up at the scorching sun and complained aloud. Then, he glanced at the busy Vastek craftsmen on the shore, shaking his head repeatedly.

"These Vastek, great dancers and their women are quite soft, almost taking the life out of us Samurai... But for ship repairs, I wonder if they are reliable? It’s been over twenty days of repairs, and they always say it’s almost done..."

It was early January, over a month since the fleet set sail at the end of November last year. The Kingdom’s exploration fleet first set out from Herbal Lake, following an upstream tributary of the Cat Owl River into its main course. Then, they headed north, then turned east, bypassing dangerous waterfalls, taking gentler tributaries. When encountering unavoidable waterfalls, they had to disembark, and pull the ships downstream in reverse to avoid damage...

The Kingdom Fleet spent half a month traversing over 600 miles of waterways, finally reaching the eastern edge of Crow City. Upon reaching Crow City, lengthy repairs and waiting began.

This journey of over 600 miles involved a drop in elevation of over 2,000 meters! The surrounding temperature also increased significantly, from the warm tropical highland to the hot tropical lowland.

"Phew! Coming downstream was like urinating with the wind, fast and urgent. Without controlling the speed, one could travel a hundred miles a day! The cliffs on both sides were perilous, causing constant bumps and dents on the ship everywhere. Several times it almost broke apart!... I heard there are many fierce storms out in the Eastern Sea. If these seven longships are not properly repaired, how can they brave the sea again?"

Recalling the arduous journey, the old militia shook his head and sighed. Crossing that segment over the Eastern Madre Mountains was indeed precipitous and perilous. This was just the beginning; beyond the sea awaited a four thousand-plus mile journey!

Then, they had to return from the sea, travel another four to five thousand miles, ascend from the estuary against the current, scale those elevation differences, to return to the Tlaxcala State. From there, another trek by land for a thousand miles to return to the Kingdom of the Lake, to see the son-in-law, daughter, and grandchildren of unknown age...

Thinking of all this, the old militia was overwhelmed with sadness, eyes turning red. He turned towards the western sky, cursing angrily in his heart.

"That blind prince, deserves to be struck by lightning!..."

"Captain, the Vastek craftsmen say that the ships will be ready for sail in another day!"

Dark Snake approached cautiously, bowing his head, reporting to the old militia. The Tlaxcala Four States neighbored Vastek, and there was considerable trade exchange. Dark Snake himself knew some daily Vastek language. The old militia had arranged for him to assist in communication for the ship repairs.

The craftsmen and sailors of the exploration fleet were also arranged to partake in the ship repairs. The newly added sailor, Didi, worked more enthusiastically than anyone from morning till night, pushing everyone to accelerate the progress.

"Almost ready?"

Hearing this, the old militia felt a hint of surprise. Wearing a straw hat, he walked to the ship’s edge and saw Vastek craftsmen using a black, sticky liquid mixed with soft black crushed stone, applying it all over the longships. The broken wooden planks and holes were filled with this black oil and crushed stone, which solidified into hardness.

"Such a strange black oil, smells even stranger than marsh mud!... Hmm, but once repaired, it truly doesn’t leak."

The old militia sniffed, inhaling the pungent scent of the black oil. Then, he touched the patched gaps, feeling the adhesive texture, lost in thought.

The Vastek craftsmen had already informed him that this was "black oil" extracted from underground pits, the essence of the Earth Mother Goddess, capable of resisting the divine power of the Storm God over the Eastern Sea! For hundreds of years, coastal Vastek tribes have used this black oil mixed with soft crushed stone to repair damaged canoes.

And if Xiulote came here, seeing this black oil and crushed stone, he would undoubtedly be greatly astonished and shout out their two names in future times.

"Petroleum and Bitumen!"

Indeed, the Vastek’s Crow City was situated atop the oil fields along the Gulf of Mexico coast. Several hundred miles north lay the massive Tampico oilfield, and several hundred miles to the east, the Cantarell oilfield, one of the world’s largest oilfields!

In fact, the entire coastal region of Campeche Bay, from the Vastek lowland to the Tototanak rainforest, was rich in petroleum reserves. There was so much oil that it could seep directly from deep underground pits, practically bringing tears to the eyes of future Celestial Empires! Natural bitumen is also a common associated mineral of large oilfields.

The old militia bowed his head, carefully inspecting the blackened longships long and hard. He first tested the water resistance, then checked the patched gaps, feeling the sticky seams with his fingertips, deep in thought.

The Vastek craftsmen had long told him that this was "black oil" from underground pits, the essence of the Earth Mother Goddess, capable of warding off the divine power of the Storm God in the Eastern Sea! Throughout coastal Vastek history, they had used this black oil with soft crushed stones for ship repairs.

"Alright then, as long as they’re fixed! Dark Snake, take a run and inform the Tomato Priest in Crow City and that long-headed Mayan merchant. Tell them to return early and be ready to depart!"

"Yes, captain."

Without stopping, Dark Snake showed the fleet’s token and was led by a Vastek warrior to the large tent of the Silver Raven Leader. Due to frequent coastal storms, high wooden and stone buildings are not safe, whereas tents, grass shelters, and ground holes are most common here.

Inside the tent, the Silver Raven chief sat cross-legged, a gold Sun Amulet around his neck, contemplating the grass mat before him. Opposite him sat the middle-aged chief Priest Tomate with a solemn expression, explaining a drawing of the Chief Divine on the unfolded page of the Book of Ama Colley, tracing it as he spoke in a deep voice.

"...As seasons change, they bring prosperity to the faithful, but calamities to those who defy. Those who die in divine disasters will be plunged into the Abyss, never to be released!..."

"Honorable Chieftain Papata, only by fully converting to the Chief Divine and completely renouncing the faith of the Feathered Serpent can the Silver Raven Tribe receive the protection of the gods..."

"Yes, Captain."

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