Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 874 - 492: The King’s Eyes, A Radiant Glow in the Setting Sun

Chapter 874: Chapter 492: The King’s Eyes, A Radiant Glow in the Setting Sun

The sun set in the west, casting thousands of rays of twilight that dyed the military camp between the mountains red. The magnificent red color filtered through the side curtains of the main tent, adding a touch of grandeur and a few shimmering streaks to the simple tent.

"The twilight shines brilliantly..."

Xiulote sat cross-legged in the main tent, set down the brush he was holding, and gazed at the extraordinary scene in the sky. A smile appeared on his face as he recited half a verse, but he couldn’t find a satisfactory continuation.

"Hmm... How should it continue..."

"Your Highness, are you tired? Let Yingnu give you a massage to relax..."

Nashu, dressed in leather armor and looking like a samurai, was grinding ink beside him. Observing Xiulote’s actions, she gracefully stood up and came behind the king. The graceful female samurai then knelt on the ground, carefully supporting the prince’s neck and laying it on her soft lap. Her nimble hands soon began gently massaging the king’s face.

"Ah..."

Xiulote closed his eyes and took a long, comfortable breath, inhaling the familiar fragrance.

Since the expedition in December, his hands have been full of complicated military and civilian affairs. Reports from all corners of the army poured in, all needing his decisions, leaving hardly any time for rest. Behind these decisions was the significant authority of the Southern Army Corps, which could not be handed over lightly.

Xiulote had thought of having his father take the role of Deputy Marshal to handle the complex logistics as he did during the western expedition. However, his father had only smiled and declined, choosing to follow the king closely in the Northern Route Army’s conquest.

"I wonder how my father fared in the Northern Route Army. Have they broken through the Divine Pass, advanced into the heart of Weisoqinke? After the king subdued the Vastek people, did he divide his forces again to besiege Feathered Serpent City, one of the four cities in the northern part of Tlaxcala?"

Xiulote pondered with his eyes closed, and the entire eastern campaign’s situation unfolded in his mind. This eastern expedition saw the alliance mobilizing almost every city-state military, vowing to sweep away the archenemy Telascallans! The scale of the forces dispatched from the north and south was enough to shock the entire world!

The Northern Route Army, led personally by King Aweit, advanced from the northern mountains of the Mexican Valley, attacking the most rugged northern territories of the Telascallans.

The Northern Route Army’s frontline strength was a full eighty thousand troops. Among these were the main forces of five samurai corps and one elite militia corps, totaling forty-eight thousand, all from the king’s directly controlled Texcoco Lake District. To wage war against their old enemy, every samurai from the lake region was fully mobilized. Additionally, the alliance’s northern four states each fielded an eight-thousand-strong contingent, totaling thirty-two thousand troops, with about half being city-state warriors.

Behind the eighty thousand troops of the Northern Route Army were another roughly forty thousand conscripted militiamen, responsible for transporting food and supplies. The supply route for the army started from the lake capital city, going northeast to the Atotonielk State, then another hundred miles to the front. Although the route lacked convenient waterways and required crossing mountains, the total distance was relatively short, around two hundred miles.

In reality, the alliance’s and Telascallans’ territories were separated by the steep eastern mountains, almost within arm’s reach, essentially an internal battle within the Celestial Empire.

The Southern Army Corps’ frontline strength was fifty thousand troops. The Kingdom of the Lake contributed an eight-thousand-strong Guajili Legion, a seven-thousand-strong Imperial Guard Legion, and five thousand defectors from Tekos, totaling twenty thousand. The Texcoco Lake District contributed one Royal Legion with a solid six thousand samurai. The alliance’s Southern Three States each fielded an eight-thousand-strong contingent, with city-state warriors accounting for slightly less than half.

Clearly, the Kingdom Legion formed the main force of the Southern Army Corps, supported by the Royal Legion, while the various city-state legions only handled peripheral directions, assisting the main force’s offensive.

As for the Southern Army’s supply route, it also started from the lake capital city, passing through the southeastern Vats teppek State, then another two hundred miles to the frontline, totaling about four hundred miles. This supply line was longer, passing through the mountains and only reaching Tarsas River before encountering the Telascallans’ mountain pass fortress system. Approximately forty thousand conscripted militiamen were needed to maintain the Southern Army’s logistics.

And between the north and south routes lay the continuous barrier of mountains. Within these mountains, only a few narrow passes allowed transit into the Telascallans’ heartland. King Aweit did not overlook these strategic passageways and ordered trusted aides Iskali and Tepopolo to lead four thousand warriors to penetrate the middle route, raiding and harassing everywhere.

"To the north are mountains, to the south are mountains, and to the west are mountains... The Telascallans hide in the Tlaxcala Valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a river flowing through. The only relatively flat terrain is their border with the Tototanak people to the east, which is also undulating hills... To completely conquer the archenemy Telascallans, one must attack from the north and south, break through the four mountain states, clear out the mountain tribe settlements! Finally, they would besiege the mountain city and capture the four snake cities of the Tlaxcala territory, thoroughly seizing the enemy’s homeland!"

Xiulote’s expression was solemn as he silently pondered with his eyes closed. The great military campaign had been ongoing for over three months, and he had personally witnessed the treacherous terrain occupied by the Telascallans. A faint sense of worry crept into his heart.

"Besieging fortified mountain cities and clearing out mountain settlements... this is not an endeavor that could be accomplished in the short term! And if the campaign drags on, the reaction of various tribes under heaven..."

Nashu tenderly massaged, but the prince’s expression remained stern. Her beautiful eyes gazed at the young and handsome yet resolute face, and they became moist.

"No... I shouldn’t be like this. The prince is still at war; I need to help him conserve his energy..."

With this thought, Nashu bit her lip to suppress her inner desires. She then shifted her gaze to the book in front of the prince, noticing only a few vague characters.

"Migration... sentry post... food... ship?"

"Your Highness!"

The Head Warrior Bertade stood outside the tent, reporting in a low voice.

"An envoy from Black Wolf has arrived to report military intelligence to you!"

"Oh?!"

Hearing this, Xiulote’s spirits lifted. He opened his eyes abruptly, left Nashu’s service, and sat upright in the tent.

"Let him in!"

A red-haired hunter soon rushed in. He glanced at the tent’s situation, then directly knelt before the king, loudly reporting.

"Mighty God of Death, Great Chief! Just as you were conquering the female warrior, the Black Wolf Chief has captured Water Valley Great Tribe! Now, all women of the Great Tribe shall prostrate at your feet, awaiting your conquest!"

"..."

Upon hearing the envoy’s words, Xiulote was momentarily stunned, unable to react for a few seconds. Then, overjoyed, he leaped up.

"Good! Good! Black Wolf did not disappoint me! Water Valley City has finally fallen!!"

At this, a smile also appeared on the composed face of the Head Warrior.

"Your Highness, with Water Valley City fallen, the southern two states of the Telascallans are completely exposed to the Southern Army’s attack!"

"Indeed! The southern two states are now open to raids! We can even take the opportunity to merge with the Northern Route Army and jointly besiege the four snake cities!"

Xiulote felt joyous, nodding in satisfaction. He eagerly unfolded the map of Tlaxcala. In his eyes, a bright gleam appeared. He focused on a spot fifty miles behind Water Valley City and pressed it heavily, poking a hole.

"Next is... the Holy City, Cholula!"

At the end of March, Water Valley City, a strategic stronghold of the southern part of the Tlaxcala Alliance, fell. The various tribes were all shaken. The honorable nobility, Water Serpent Actotl, was slain in battle by Black Wolf and beheaded. The City Lord of Water Valley City, Black Serpent Teuctli, fled by boat to the north.

In Water Valley City, over six thousand Telascallan warriors mostly perished, and more than ten thousand tribal militiamen surrendered, while others fled to the northern heartland. The southern two states of Tlaxcala were thus laid open, and the holy city of the Nava religion, Cholula, now lay exposed before the Southern Army!