Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 709 - 374: The Sage Meets the King, Offering Advice and Reporting_2

Chapter 709: Chapter 374: The Sage Meets the King, Offering Advice and Reporting_2

Hearing this, Xiulote remained silent. After a while, he finally spoke.

"Sage, the kingdom has just begun to prosper, there should not be such haste. Yet, the arrow is on the bow, and I must shoot. The promise of feudal appointments upon the Western conquest is unfulfilled to this day. Southern Nnobility secretly ally with each other, impeding the spread of faith and occupying the water routes southward..."

"Sage, do you know? In Zicao County, which has a population of two hundred thousand, the Zicao and Palm families alone account for sixty thousand! The rest of the dozen or so Great Nobility control at least a few thousand each, some even tens of thousands. Over eighty percent of the land and population are in the hands of these Great Nobility. And they neither pay tribute nor taxes, each commanding their samurai, making me feel like there’s a fishbone in my throat that must be removed!"

This time, it was Jatili’s turn to fall silent. He cast his eyes down for a long while before he advised again.

"Your Majesty, you once said that governing a great country is like cooking a small fish in a lake, after controlling the heat, what follows is a slow wait. I deeply agree and have always kept it in my heart! I am but a rotten wood, mostly buried in the ground, and even I am not rushed. Your Highness is just a new sprout, like the sun at dawn, why the rush?..."

Xiulote shook his head, did not reply, but his expression was resolute.

Jatili sighed, his voice full of deep concern, his face showing fatigue.

"Your Majesty, governing the kingdom is like the growth of the Divine Tree. The Divine Tree roots in the soil, it is only when it is deeply rooted and lush that it becomes stable and enduring. If it is top-heavy, with shallow roots but flourishing branches and leaves, the more it grows, the more dangerous it becomes. I spend day and night trying to consolidate the hearts of the people, to promote education and integrate culture, to solidify the foundation... yet I cannot keep up with the pace at which the branches flourish, and I often feel anxious."

"Your Majesty, why not wait just a little longer? Look, as the Divine Tree grows, within a hundred meters all small trees naturally wither. Because the Divine Tree receives sunlight from the sky, absorbs the vitality from the earth, coming with great momentum, showing no flaws. It always works silently, eliminating everything, ultimately remaining unshakable!"

Xiulote nodded, yet did not respond. Accumulating silently and exploiting sparingly is the righteous path. Given a choice, he too wished for "building high walls, storing abundant food, claiming kingship slowly". Yet... the King smiled calmly and said.

"Sage, there are many paths in the world. This time during my northern campaign, I saw a forest fire. The fire roared fiercely, devouring everything, turning vast stretches of forest into ashes! Then, on my return, I saw new sprouts emerging everywhere above the ashes, growing vigorously day and night. And the sunlight from the sky, the vitality from the soil, all belonged to the new sprouts."

Hearing the underlying meaning in the King’s words, Jatili was startled. He immediately said.

"Your Majesty, how can a mere mortal harness a forest fire? I have also seen wildfires, their ferocity devours everything, leaving no way out. One careless moment, and it may consume oneself and others together... Additionally, among the trees in the mountains, there are also good woods, which are also your citizens!"

Xiulote shook his head again.

"Sage, among the mountain trees, many are rotten, covered with parasitic vines and mushrooms. They are fundamentally crooked. If they are not completely knocked down, there will be no space for new sprouts to receive sunlight and dew! I only wish to personally plant new sprouts and watch them thrive!"

Jatili pondered for a long time, then finally advised.

"Your Majesty, the Zicao family has approached me, intending to offer their daughter as your concubine. The Palm family has done the same. If Your Majesty promises, they are willing to hand over half of their population and land, in exchange for peace with the kingdom."

Xiulote lowered his eyes, thought for a while, and shook his head.

"No. These people have established no merit, how can they rest as equals with the kingdom? I have made up my mind. A King’s resolve is unshakable!"

Jatili looked complex, remained silent for a long time. He finally sighed.

"Since Your Majesty has made up your mind, I shall follow. The southern nobility once gave gifts of several chests of wealth, which I have not touched at all, all handed over to the Preaching Priesthood... I only worry that the fierce heat may last too long, destroying old trees completely, and the new sprouts failing to emerge!"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote smiled confidently.

"Sage, you need not worry! To me, the southern Nnobility are like bones in the soil. Once the army arrives, they will undoubtedly submit! Those who dare to resist have no stronghold, all face a dead end!"

"Your Majesty, what if the Tekos Barbarians in the southwestern mountains get involved?"

"It does not matter. Before the northern campaign, I still had some worries, but now, with the establishment of the Guajili Legion and the Artillery Camp, the tribal encampments in the mountains no longer pose an obstacle!"

After finishing, Xiulote reached out and grabbed the Sage’s arm.

"This time, in order to reassure the hearts of the people in the south, I must ask for the Sage’s assistance again!"

Jatili nodded, with a mix of regret and relief.

"Your Majesty’s resolve is unshakable, as high as the Divine Eagle and as broad as the sun. As an old servant, I naturally support Your Highness. I have sent students to contact the priests and chieftains in villages everywhere. Now, even if they are reluctant to respond to Your Majesty, they will not oppose you. And when Your Majesty establishes dominance, they will naturally know how to choose."

"Good, very good!"

Xiulote was quite satisfied. Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit. Being able to divide the enemy before taking action is certainly the best choice.

"Your Majesty, your old servant has a request."

Jatili knelt in deference.

Xiulote calmly accepted it and smiled.

"Whatever the Sage requests, as long as it doesn’t contravene the major strategies of the kingdom, I can agree to it!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Jatili said profoundly.

"I also ask Your Majesty to leave a way out for the people in the south."

"Rest assured, Sage. I am not a man keen on slaughter; I have already left them a way out."

Xiulote smiled and took out a scroll from his robe, handing it to Jatili.

"Please have a look, Sage."

Jatili opened the scroll, and at the very top were five big characters: "Decree of Reduction and Reform". He was already fluent in the language, quickly finished reading it, and nodded gently.

"Your Majesty is merciful!"

The two exchanged a few more words of small talk, and then the Sage stood up, bowed, and took his leave. This important and sudden audience had finally concluded. A consensus was finally reached in all quarters of the kingdom.

At the end of October, after the spring plowing was completed, the autumn tributes from various places were successively submitted. The autumn tribute from Zicao County was still very meager. The King finally ordered the Jingji Legion, the Guajili Legion, and the Second Spear Legion to head south simultaneously, entering into Zicao County!

The nobles in the south were greatly alarmed. The various clan leaders mobilized their private soldiers, gathered their able-bodied men, and were on guard day and night. The nobles in the southwest even fled into the mountains and built fortified villages to defend themselves.

At the beginning of November, Xiulote personally led the Imperial Guard Legion south from the capital to the small town of Aotuo. Kulamo City and the Qinchongcan Capital were 320 miles apart, this place being the midpoint between them. The Imperial Guard Legion immediately set up camp and raised the Royal Banner.

Then, the King issued an order, summoning the nobles, clan leaders, and chieftains from the south: they were to come to the site of the Royal Banner within ten days to have an audience with the King!