Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 720 - 385: Jingji Legion, Huitu and the Sky

Chapter 720: Chapter 385: Jingji Legion, Huitu and the Sky

The sunlight spilled over, and the outskirts of Aotuo City bustled with noise. Seven thousand of the Imperial Guard Legion broke camp and marched southward, their white-gold cloth armor gleaming in the fields. Heavy copper cannons were mounted on gun carriages, dragged forward by accompanying Militia.

The flag of the Black Wolf fluttered high, with five hundred trusted aides closely guarding it. Accompanied by the Head Warrior, Xiulote climbed a small hill. The hill was dotted with tall broken cloth trees and some blooming large dahlias. Among the tall trees and flourishing flowers stood a solitary grave. It was marked by an unlettered stele, with an abstract rose carved at the center.

The King stood still, silently gazing at the solitary grave. He didn’t approach, nor did he speak. He just watched a hummingbird, gracefully dancing between the flowers and the lone grave. Not until the sun slanted, and the tree shadows covered the tomb, did the hummingbird gently peck at the abstract rose, as if delivering a final kiss, before it shook its wings and hurriedly flew into the distant sky.

The King smiled tenderly, turned around, and buried everything deep in his heart. His heart grew even harder, filling the last gap and letting go of the final tenderness. Only after the ritual of life could one truly become a King.

"Let’s go!"

"As you command, Your Highness."

The two walked down the hill in silence. Armored trusted aides clanked in their copper armor, surrounding them. It was only when they reached the foot of the hill that the King spoke indifferently.

"When did the Envoy sent to the Jingji Legion set off?"

"Your Majesty, he left last night; he should have arrived by now."

Bertade lifted his head and looked at the sun, which had passed its zenith. Envoys in the army were all fast runners, with their legs tightly wrapped in linen. They could run more than two hundred miles in a day and a night. Of course, they would need to rest or be replaced the next day.

"Hmm."

The King nodded and looked south, his expression turning solemn.

"The army marches south, forty miles a day! Within five days, I want us to reach Kulamo City!"

"We shall fulfill your will, Your Highness."

A strong wind blew south a hundred miles, reaching the camp of the Jingji Legion.

Inside the tent, a line of copper-armored trusted aides held bronze axes, their faces stern. Jaguar Olosh sat cross-legged in the main seat, frowning as he listened to the Scout’s report. He had just finished reading the Royal Decree from the King, ordering the army to set out, when the Scout encountered a civilian Samurai from nearby, reporting the Crow Family’s intent to rebel.

"Has the Crow Family shown any unusual movements?"

"Commander, since dawn, the warriors of the Crow Family have been assembling, and the Militia in their territory are being conscripted."

"Fools, the lot of them!"

Jaguar Olosh’s eyes bulged with rage as he bellowed furiously.

"These damned southern Nobility dare to attempt to assassinate His Highness! The legions, to arms, surround the Crow Manor entirely! I want to exterminate them all, a sacrifice to the Chief Divine!"

Upon hearing this, Huitu Puap and the sky Family Head Oorta exchanged glances. Puap made a mouth gesture, and with no response from Oorta, he stepped forward alone.

"Respected Commander Olosh!"

"Camp Commander Puap, what do you wish to say?"

Jaguar Olosh gave Huitu a fierce glance, speaking with a cold voice.

"I’ve heard you’ve received quite a few benefits from the Crow Family. Are you trying to plead for the Crow Family?"

Huitu’s back broke out in "swoosh" with sweat. He forced a smile and said.

"Commander, those were just trivial knick-knacks, I will send them all to you later. The Crow Family has always been compliant and surely would not fail to see the bigger picture... The critical thing now is the Royal Decree. The damned Zicao Clan Leader actually dared to attempt to assassinate His Highness! Each and every one of our Lepecha warriors is outraged, Your Majesty is our sun!... The Zicao Family has been guarding the south for generations and operating in Kulamo City for a long time. Although General Etalik is brave, he only has a thousand men..."

"Puap, what exactly are you trying to say?!"

Jaguar Olosh stood up and watched Huitu intently, his robust body creating an oppressive aura.

"... Commander, the Qinchongcan warrior camp requests permission to immediately march south to subdue the Zicao Family!"

"Exactly! Commander, please grant us half a day’s respite! Clan Leader Xiteli of the Crow Family went to attend Your Majesty’s banquet and is on his way back. Though aged, he can still move swiftly; he should arrive by tonight at the latest. Even if someone from the Crow Family is being foolish, the old Clan Leader would not be so foolish as to resist the King’s army... Also, the Sky warrior camp requests permission to immediately march south to subdue the Zicao Family!"

It was then that Sky Family Head Oorta stepped forward and respectfully made his request. Born into a prestigious Nobility, although young, he led the loyal Sky Family warriors. Having surrendered to the Kingdom earlier and married a Mexica noblewoman, his words carried more weight within the Jingji Legion than those of Huitu.

"Oorta, since you’ve asked, I’ll wait half a day!"

After a moment of contemplation, Jaguar Olosh nodded. Although he was furious with the southern Nobility’s assassination attempt, he wouldn’t let it cause a massacre, delaying more critical matters. The key to the eastern road army lay in Kulamo City. Jaguar Olosh made a decision, looking at the two men.

"Since the two of you want this opportunity to distinguish yourselves, I’ll give it to you! Puap, take two thousand of your own troops and attack the Zicao Manor! Oorta, you go and reinforce Kulamo City! Remember, the Zicao Family’s crime is unforgivable; do not go the way of Guramo!"

"As you command, Commander!"

They both kneeled to pay their respects and then turned and departed. Jaguar Olosh watched their departing figures intently until they disappeared outside the tent. The assassination attempt on His Highness made him suspicious of the two camp commanders from Lepecha. However, since His Highness was safe and sound, and the Kingdom as solid as ever, no legion would dare rise in rebellion and court self-destruction.

With these thoughts, Jaguar returned to his seat inside the grand tent. He glanced at the armored warriors inside and then felt the sturdy armor beneath his battle robe, muttering to himself in a low voice.

"Then let’s wait longer! Let’s see how they perform!"

Outside the grand tent, Puap trudged forward, head down, as Oorta hurried behind. After more than a hundred steps, Oorta finally let out a deep sigh.

"Huitu, how could this be! How dare Guramo attempt to assassinate His Majesty! And he didn’t even succeed!"

"Hmph, Oorta, he’s always been a viper. Only you were blinded by the women he sent! And dragged me into this mess!"

"I’ve already sent my trusted aide back to the Capital Region to kill them all."

Oorta offered a weak counterargument, his heart still felt a tinge of reluctance. The high-born women of Mexica were haughty and overbearing, nowhere as charming and accommodating or as understanding as the beauties from the Zicao Family.

"Huitu, the biggest problem now is the secret letter we wrote to him! We agreed to support each other, but who would have thought he’d dare to start a rebellion and assassinate His Majesty!"

"Damn it! I can barely read, I only drew some pictographic symbols, how could that be interpreted as an alliance with him!"

Puap suppressed the raging anger in his heart, looked around, and growled in a low voice.

"His Majesty was campaigning thousands of miles to the north, with no certainty of when he would return. Blinded by folly, I let you drag me into enjoying his beauties and writing a letter of mutual contact! Without you, I would never have had dealings with such high nobility. You have truly dragged me into trouble!"

"Huitu, you didn’t say that at the time! When you were drunk, didn’t you also say that because the Clan Leader showed you great favor, if His Majesty did not return from the northern campaign, we would together support Prince Shatini..."

"Shush!!"

Huitu Puap quickly covered Oorta’s mouth with his hand.

"Do you want to die! You dare speak such words in the military camp!"

"Aren’t we already at your camp’s edge?"

"My camp’s edge is still under His Majesty’s samurai! Qinchongcan warriors have surrendered for many years, worship the Chief Divine, accept military fiefs, with families in the Capital City... If they report to the War Priest..."

Hearing this, Oorta fell silent. Although his own Sky Samurai camp was comparatively better off, it had also accepted divisions of land from His Majesty, was instructed by priests, and had been deeply infiltrated by the Kingdom, no longer serving as private military strength. After a while, he muttered under his breath.

"Huitu, we were just making idle conversation. We’ll just be more careful in the future."

"Haha, that’s if there is a future to speak of."

Huitu Puap’s face darkened.

"Because the Prince was attacked, the Camp Commander already harbored a killing intent towards us in the grand tent today."

"What? Huitu, could you have seen it wrong?"

Oorta was suddenly agitated. He had not noticed any such intent.

Huitu Puap swept a cold glance at Oorta. To be precise, the Camp Commander’s killing intent today was aimed at him. Because Oorta did not really pose any threat, he was easy to deal with.

"Oorta, words spoken, deeds done, always leave traces."

After pondering for a moment, Huitu’s expression turned fierce.

"Our request to head south this time is to buy time! We must clean up loose ends before His Majesty heads south!"

"Yes, indeed so."

Oorta nodded, his gaze also filled with killing intent.

"Huitu, considering the journey, Guramo is probably around this area. Should we send samurai to search..."

"No. Guramo has surely already headed south by now, he might even be back in his fief."

Huitu shook his head and looked toward the south, his voice grave.

"If he dared attempt such a major act as assassinating His Majesty, then he must be prepared for a desperate struggle. We’ll set off immediately, bypassing the Crow Family’s manor, and head straight for Kulamo City to make the kill!"

"Good! I will send an envoy to the Crow Family, and the army will depart south immediately! We must kill Guramo!"

The two Prepetcha generals looked at each other and clasped arms together. Their faces were filled with unrestrainable killing intent, not for the sake of the Kingdom, but for themselves.

"Caw! Caw!"

As the sun dipped in the west, a crow flew over the sky, emitting a deathly cry. It curiously glanced down at the manor, where it saw members of its kind, while the watchful eyes of the Crow Family observed four thousand Prepetcha warriors quickly marching south past the edge of the manor, kicking up plumes of dust and obscuring the sky.