Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 751 - 408: King’s Western Tour: Defending the Southwest, the Third Honored Nobility!

Chapter 751: Chapter 408: King’s Western Tour: Defending the Southwest, the Third Honored Nobility!

The sun set in the west, scattering light and shadows. Everyone stood on the edge of the mountain region, being blown by the wind of February, which was neither cold nor hot. Marching on the tropical highlands was relatively easy, and there was little need for warmth, so the baggage was not overly burdensome.

Where Xiulote’s gaze reached, the sky bore faint traces of marching dust. Even though more than half a month had passed, the procession escorting the captured Tekos still stretched endlessly, winding out from the southwestern mountains. Upon closer inspection, those exiting the mountains had grown increasingly emaciated, clearly having marched for a long time.

The King pondered for a moment, then spoke softly.

"Ezpan," he once said, "if you can bring in a hundred thousand people, you would be the foremost contributor to the southern campaign! Now, how many have you gathered?"

"Your Majesty, in this past month, the army went deep into the mountain regions, cleaning up the aftermath of General Black Wolf’s sweep and capturing a bounty!"

Ezpan bowed respectfully and reported in detail.

"In the Serpent Basin, we captured nearly thirty thousand captives, who have all been fully escorted to Apa Plain by now. These include the entire Shield Great Tribe, the families of the Palm Family, and various mountain peoples. South of Wild Mountain Village, within the mountain corridors and valleys, we caught about twenty thousand people, who have just been transported out of the mountains. The large group of captives now passing through Kan River Village essentially constitutes this batch. Further south, General Keka has gathered thirty thousand displaced people along the two hundred li of coastline outside Palm Bay. Most of these people have already arrived at Serpent Basin. In a few days, they’ll be leaving the mountains!"

"Oh? By that count, that’s eighty thousand Tekos highlanders? That’s even slightly more than captured during the northern campaign!"

Xiulote smiled. The Tekos were agricultural tribes from the mountain valleys, familiar with the cultivation of fields, and thus far outnumbered the hunting-dwelling Guajili people. Of course, the combat capability of the Tekos warriors was much inferior to that of the Canine Descendants. He affectionately patted Ezpan on the shoulder, smilingly said.

"Not bad! Very good! It’s just a pity that it still falls short of the hundred thousand target. I was actually prepared to reward you handsomely..."

"Ah! Majesty, in the southwestern mountains and along the coastline, there are still many dispersed tribal people hidden. They lack food and do not have fields to farm, so they cannot remain in the mountains for long. Just wait a month or two more, and these people will either starve or come down from the mountains to surrender. And we have the grain tributed by the various parts of Colima, which can bring them all back!...by then, perhaps we can make it to ninety, a hundred thousand people..."

Upon hearing that the rich reward was nearly slipping away, Ezpan’s eyes reddened a bit, he urgently spoke out.

In the southwestern Coahuilcoman Tribes, there are altogether just over a hundred thousand people. After successive sweeps, to seize eighty thousand civilians was already near the limit. His initial plan was to raid the tribes on the fringes of the western Colima Mountain Region, capture another twenty thousand to meet the King’s "small target." But now, with Colima paying tribute to the Kingdom, sending noblewomen to attend the King and providing an abundance of grain, it was hard to initiate.

"Hmm, let’s say that makes ninety thousand then, it won’t reach a hundred thousand."

Xiulote smiled, contemplating the arrangements for the ninety thousand Tekos highlanders. He turned his body to watch the setting sun in the west, holding the destiny of tens of thousands in his hands.

"Before the southern campaign, the gaps for grants of land and slaves due to military merits originally had eighty thousand. Zicao City had twenty thousand rebels, Apa City ten thousand rebels, including ten thousand resisting nobles from the south, totaling forty thousand agricultural slaves. From there, pull another forty thousand agricultural slaves from the Tekos captives and completely fill the previous gap!"

Ezpan listened with bowed head, his heart quivering. Facing the King’s reduction and reform, out of the over two hundred thousand population of Zicao County, one-fifth had rebelled, and forty thousand were demoted to agricultural slaves. With this southern campaign, the old nobles of the south were thoroughly erased.

"Yes, forty thousand Tekos agricultural slaves. Serpent Basin has thirty thousand captives, mostly resisters from the core of the great tribes, twenty thousand of whom are demoted to agricultural slaves. One ten thousand agricultural slaves each from mountain corridors and seaside migrants. The remaining fifty thousand people, following the northern flag squad system, will form twelve flag squads of over four thousand each, tens of villages, concentrated on Apa Plain for settlement!"

"I will abide by your command, Your Majesty!"

"The Kingdom will soon send priests to manage these flag squad villages and spread the faith of the Chief Divine! Each flag squad will provide two hundred and fifty able-bodied men, forming a three thousand strong Tekos tribal militia, absorbing experienced tribal warriors. Ezpan, after the southern campaign, you will command the Second Spear Legion, settling on Apa Plain, holding the southwest for me! This Tekos tribal militia, I also temporarily entrust to your command!"

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!"

Ezpan was overjoyed. He would be the first in the entire Kingdom to command a legion with over ten thousand troops, holding the frontier for the Kingdom!

Xiulote nodded. He surveyed the wilderness, Apa Plain was full of lush vibrancy. The unexplored soil was extremely fertile, and the mountain rivers brought stable water sources — a land of abundance akin to Bashu. With proper management, it would serve as the Kingdom’s major logistical base for subjugating the realm.

"Ezpan, Apa Plain is surrounded by mountains on all sides, fertile lands stretching for miles. All the way from Apa City in the east of the plain to Tepalcatepec in the west, it spans a hundred and fifty li. From Los Tazumbos in the north of the plain to Grass Forest Village in the south, it’s a hundred and thirty li. Roughly calculated, that’s eight million mu of fertile land!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! Apa Plain indeed has fertile land suitable for cultivation. Here, the woods are lush, birds and beasts flock. Many rivers flow down from the mountains, interconnecting all sides, forming natural irrigation channels, easily watering the banks. Rio Grada has abundant water all year round, flowing down from the Great Lake across the entire plain, the largest river. Besides the Rio Grada, there are also Rio Ticuilucan, Rio Buenavista, Rio Tepalcatepec..."