Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 715 - 380: The Redistribution of Fiefs, The Dance of the Maiden, and The King’s Command

Chapter 715: Chapter 380: The Redistribution of Fiefs, The Dance of the Maiden, and The King’s Command

The night breeze fluttered, and the bonfire flickered. Guramo took out a bamboo flute from his bosom and began to play, and the cheerful melody soared through the gathering.

Medina gently removed her black robe, revealing a slender waist and legs as pale as jade. Then, bending down, she slowly slipped off her cloth shoes, and the crisp sound of bells chimed in response.

Xiulote looked over upon hearing the sound. On the delicate ankles of the girl, there were exquisitely crafted silver bracelets, from which small silver bells hung. Near the silver bracelets, the skin bore faint red marks, signs of repeated friction. The King’s gaze continued downward, pausing momentarily on the blush-painted toenails, before swiftly turning away.

Before everyone, Medina’s face blushed, betraying a hint of shy coquettishness. Then, swaying her waist gently to the rhythm of the bamboo flute, her arms naturally reached out like blossoming crabapple flowers. This prelude to the dance showcased the girl’s perfect figure to the King’s eyes.

The prelude then gave way to the main dance. Soon, the girl’s steps became more urgent. She rose up on her tiptoes, barely touching the ground, light as a feather between the fires, just like a forest deer. Innocence played across the deer’s face—she looked around curiously, then shyly turned her head away upon locking eyes with the King. Her hair fell lightly, concealing her youthful profile, yet failing to hide her striking beauty.

Next, Medina beamed radiantly, singing alone. Her voice was like spring rain falling to earth, filled with lingering affection.

"I am a deer of the forest, the messenger of the Goddess of Spring.

I leap lightly through the woods, drinking sweetly from the flowers’ nectar.

I graze on the fresh, green grass, letting my body also grow tender.

Then, the thumping of drums suddenly resounds!"

At this point, Medina’s face was suddenly marred by panic. With moist eyes, she gave the King a fearful glance, and then fled into the distance.

"The strong Hunter is chasing me! He intends to capture me.

I run into the vine-dense jungle, but he persists in pursuit.

I run into the shallow streams, but he still pursues relentlessly.

I run into the beautiful gardens, but he never ceases to chase!"

Medina tensed her feet, leaping and landing. Her legs, as long and as white as those of a deer, caught the King’s gaze, stirring within him an inexplicable restlessness, as if lighting a flame. Then, the girl’s hurried singing fanned that flame even larger.

"The thumping of drums resound! I fall in the garden.

His heart draws near to mine. His body is so strong.

He stretches out his mighty hands, gripping my waist tightly.

I am finally captured by him, turned into his prey!

Struggling in pain, with my tender body,

I satisfy his bloodthirsty desire, bringing him soft pleasure...

Ah!"

Somehow, Medina found herself back in front of the King. The dance on tiptoes was too exhausting, and the pain from the ankle bracelet was unbearable. Finally unable to endure, she stumbled and fell into the King’s arms.

"Clang!"

Bertade’s expression was steely as he suddenly drew his bronze sword.

"It’s alright."

Xiulote spoke softly, and the Head Warrior bowed his head and stepped back. Following that, a soft body nestled into the King’s embrace, still carrying the heat and sweat from the vigorous dance.

Medina’s complexion was flushed, and she gasped for breath, exhaling a fragrance like that of orchids. Her teeth were white and even, clearly the result of long-term chewing on chewing gum from the maninka tree. Her lips were as red as roses, brimming with the allure of blooming flowers. Her eyes misted over, like a plaintive cry, looking up at the King’s handsome face, singing the last verse.

"From now on, I leave the Goddess’s embrace, bound by a strong warrior.

Blood flows, he bites my throat, claiming all of me!

I am born in his arms, I die in his arms.

And then I understand, fate has handed me over to you.

I am yours... my warrior, my King~"

Somehow, the venue had become completely silent. The nobles uniformly lowered their heads, avoiding the gaze of the King at the head seat. A smile crossed Guramo’s face as he too waited in silence. Bertade lowered his bronze sword, looking at the King, hesitating to speak.

Xiulote took a deep breath as he gazed at the soft beauty in his arms, inhaling the fragrance of the girl which truly resembled that of a deer. From birth, this was an experience he had never had before, and a challenge he had never faced. In that moment, flames ignited within his body, carrying with them a violent force, shaking his rationality. It wasn’t until several breaths later that the image of a girl in a white dress appeared in his mind.

The King bit his lip fiercely and struggled to his feet, placing Medina down where she was. Then, he stepped back twice, turned around, and avoided looking at the girl lying askew. The nobles were surprised by the King’s resolve, and the smile on Guramo’s lips disappeared in an instant.

"That should be enough. Bertade, distribute the land reform documents to them!"

"Your will be done, Your Highness!"

The Head Warrior bowed respectfully. He cast a serene glance at Medina and then ordered his Personal Guard Warriors to hand out the documents.

Medina hugged her legs while sitting on the ground, dumbly staring at the back of the King. Then, she adjusted her disheveled hair, stood up, and coyly smiled softly before turning and walking towards Guramo.

Xiulote then turned back, looking at the girl’s retreating figure. A breeze blew by, the air still scented with traces of the girl’s fragrance. The King had an expressionless face, the campfire casting flickering shadows upon it, as if burning within his heart as well.

Guramo did not watch his returning daughter. He gripped the document in his hand, his whole body trembling slightly. The text was written in Mexica script, supplemented with the traditional pictographic writing of the Kingdom, leaving no room for ambiguity.

"Land Redistribution Decree: Guramo, clan leader of the noble Zicao family... A review of your current fief, Kulamo, shows 31,000 people and 500,000 acres of land. According to the laws of the Kingdom, a noble of your honor is granted a base allotment of 8,000 acres of land and 400 servants... Therefore, you are ordered to relinquish your fief in Kulamo and the Zicao noble family is to be reassigned to the north coast of the Lerma River, Guamare State. The Kingdom will re-allot 24,000 acres of land; apart from your direct descendants, you are permitted to take up to 1,200 servants. This must be completed within one month!"

From 500,000 acres of fertile southern soil to 24,000 acres of poor wilderness mountain land. From overseeing a population of over 30,000 to barely more than 1,000. Not to mention, the Zicao family would lose the manors built over several generations and their foreign trade routes via Lake Atoyac. They were to go to the wild Northern Wilderness, to live alongside the fierce Canine Descendants...

Guramo pressed his hand to his forehead, feeling a wave of dizziness. His footing unstable, he staggered and fell to the side. Medina promptly stepped forward to help, but he shoved her away angrily.

"Get away!"

The girl pursed her lips, obediently let go, and sat down in a corner. She draped a black robe over herself, veiled her face again, and the flush on her cheeks gradually faded as her eyes took on a submissive look. Then, she subconsciously glanced at the head seat, catching the King’s gaze which had just been withdrawn, and smiled shyly.

"Your Majesty, this, this, this cannot be! I beg you, show mercy, spare us!"

The old Crow Xiteli knelt to the ground, pleading desperately to the King at the head seat. Clutched in his hands was a document, the King’s merciless judgment.

"Land Redistribution Decree: Xiteli, clan leader of the noble Crow Family... A review of your current fief north of Lake Atoyac shows 12,000 people and 200,000 acres of land. According to the laws of the Kingdom, a noble of your honor is granted a base allotment of 8,000 acres of land and 400 servants... Therefore, you are ordered to relinquish your lands north of the lake and the Crow noble family is to be reassigned to the north coast of the Lerma River, Otapan State. The Kingdom will re-allot 10,000 acres of land; apart from your direct descendants, you are permitted to take up to 500 servants. This must be completed within one month!"

For Xiteli, following the Royal Decree would completely destroy the Crow family’s two hundred years of expansion and accumulation. 500 servants weren’t even enough to serve the nearly one hundred direct descendants of the family, let alone till the land! Were even the descendants of the noble families to labor like lowly farmers, holding farming tools and toiling in the fields all day, their skin darkened by the sun?

The rest of the southern Great Nobility also finished reading the "Land Redistribution Decree." The hereditary nobility had generally been reduced by ninety percent, and the noble families of honor had been almost reduced by ninety-five percent! If this were the Tarasco Kingdom’s standards, everyone would have been demoted by one level of nobility. Moreover, everyone was to migrate north of the Lerma River, to develop and defend the wild lands.

With this realization, the Great Nobility moved forward en masse, kneeling and begging. They grasped the King’s robe, weeping inconsolably.

"Your Majesty, we implore you, spare us! I am willing to offer a large Tribute!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I am your loyal servant! I will give up thirty percent of my lands, and guard the south for generations for you!"

"Chief Divine be my witness! I will give up fifty percent of my fief! I will offer my daughter to you! Please lessen the punishment on my family, Your Majesty!"

"That’s right, that’s right! Not just offering daughters, but concubines and wives too! Your Majesty, we..."

"Silence!!"

Xiulote bellowed. The Personal Guard Warriors swiftly drew their War Clubs and raised their Long Spears, aiming at the fearful nobles, forcing them to back off. The King swept his gaze over everyone coldly, resolute in his judgment.

"This is a Royal Decree! A Royal Decree, once issued, cannot be defied or altered!"

Next, the King drew his Bronze Sword from his waist with a "clang," pointing it at the kneeling crowd.

"You are nobles from the old Tarasco regime, having done nothing to merit the Kingdom’s favor! You will be reassigned to guard the Northern Land beyond the Lerma River in order to retain your titles and it is your sole opportunity! Now, you have two choices: either comply or be sacrificed!"

The venue fell silent once again. The nobles’ complexions turned deathly pale as if lifeless. The old Crow Xiteli’s eyes were filled with tears as he faced the inescapable fate. Guramo clenched his fingers tightly, lowering his head, contemplating his next move.

The King gave one final look around the crowd and laughed coldly.

"Once you have your documents, you may leave! Return to your fiefs and prepare for relocation. Of course, you also have the alternative of a third option, to resist to the end, resulting in the annihilation of your entire clan!"

Having said that, Xiulote glanced at the girl in the black robe one last time, then turned and walked towards the great tent without looking back.