Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 875 - 493: The Old Foxes of the Holy City

Chapter 875: Chapter 493: The Old Foxes of the Holy City

The boat gently drifted, heading north against the Tarsas River, and within just over half a day, it could travel fifty li. Meanwhile, messengers hurried across the flat basin, covering an equivalent distance in about the same time. As for the army’s mobilization, they would march across the pre-spring tilling fields, taking at most two days to reach the same destination.

Fifty li, the distance from Water Valley City to Cholula City! From a desolate, scorched land with burning flames, fallen corpses, and dispersing smoke, one would arrive at the flourishing holy city bursting with flowers, vibrant streets, and thriving temples!

The morning sun rose, its brilliant rays falling on the Great Pyramid of Cholula, as if descending on a sacred mountain built by mortals. Divine smoke curled, and the delightful aroma spread through the sanctuaries of all gods, bringing the breath of divine blessings. At this very moment, atop the towering sacred mountain, within the open sanctuary, over ten esteemed elder priests sat cross-legged, facing each other in silence, their eyes lowered without uttering a word.

"Oo oo!"

In the sky, the white egret called, stretching its long neck, curiously observing these feathered bipeds as it hovered, gazing around.

"Ooo, oo?"

"Yesterday afternoon, the Mexica Southern Army captured Water Valley City."

After a long silence, Petl, the leader priest of the holy city, was the first to speak. He was draped in official ceremonial dress, holding a jade prayer dish, and wore an obsidian pendant around his neck. His once kindly smile was now withdrawn, his expression turning gloomy, even somewhat stern.

"Actotl, the Water Serpent Clan Leader, was killed by the Mexica. His head was hung at the gates of Water Valley City. The Black Serpent Clan Leader fled by boat, without even informing us. Of the three thousand samurai and over a hundred priests sent by the holy city to reinforce Water Valley City, only two-thirds escaped back. Now, the fifty thousand-strong Mexica Southern Army is merely fifty li away."

Upon hearing Petl’s chilly declaration, the atmosphere in the sanctuary grew even more silent, as if a pin drop could be heard. The elder priests remained seated, their eyes cast down, motionless, lost in their thoughts.

"Everyone, discuss now, what should be done!"

"What should be done?"

Quyo, the vice leader of the holy city and elder priest, snorted coldly, replying in a deep tone.

"The fortified Water Valley City, with walls six or seven meters high and over twenty thousand defending troops, held out for just one month in total!"

Petl lowered his eyes, as if falling into deep thought. Hearing this, he knew what this damned old man was suggesting.

"Twenty thousand defenders, yet lasted only a month!!"

Quyo stood up, his graying eyebrows twitching. He asked sternly.

"How exactly did Water Valley City fall?!"

"The Mexica employed catapults to hurl fireballs into the city. They followed up with copper cannons, launching stone bullets at the ramparts. Then, with longbowmen in armor providing cover, they set up long wooden ladders and threw explosive clay balls. Finally, their heavily armored ax-wielding samurai assaulted directly, capturing the South City."

Wezil, the elder of war, opened his eyes and replied calmly and accurately. As the elder of war, his understanding of military affairs was the deepest among the elders. As a high priest, he wasn’t intimidated by illusory evil god powers, nor was he fooled by superficial divine forces. He could clearly grasp the battle situation, pinpointing the critical information.

"Discussing the fall of Water Valley City now is pointless."

In a confident tone, Wezil answered.

"If the Mexica launch an attack, the holy city of Cholula will unquestionably perish. Even if we mobilize all five thousand samurai, conscript ten thousand militia, and store enough food for a year, we couldn’t hold out for a month. Moreover, the holy city only has the inner city of the temple district, without any strong outer defenses."

"Damn it!!"

Upon hearing this, Quyo cursed in fury. He slapped the cotton rug with his hand, shouting out his buried resentment.

"If we knew earlier, why did you rush to join the Telascallans?! Now, the land promised by the Telascallans is all but a fantasy, while the threat of the Mexica legion is at our doorstep! The great holy city, with a legacy spanning four to five hundred years, is about to be destroyed by you greedy fools!..."

"Cough, cough!..."

Petl, the leader of the holy city, coughed heavily twice, interrupting Quyo’s furious roar.

"Quyo, joining the Telascallans’ war was the unanimous decision of the holy city’s priesthood, not anyone’s personal assertion. Our decision was forced by the rapidly expanding threat of the Mexica Alliance, compelling us to make a choice!"

Petl paused, his eyes glinting coldly.

"Do not forget, months ago, we negotiated with the Mexica envoy, seeking to join the alliance while retaining the elders’ positions... What were the conditions offered by the Mexica then?!"

"... Alas! The terms back then... looking now, they aren’t completely untenable."

Upon hearing this, Quyo sighed as well. After a while, he responded in a low voice.

"As long as Cholula City could maintain its autonomous independence, even accepting the Mexica King from Tloquiditlan wouldn’t be unreasonable. As long as we could tax passing merchants and accept worshippers, even giving up some land and population wouldn’t impact our lives much... Regarding acknowledging the Great Priesthood of the Lake Capital City as paramount, elevating the Mexica holy city as the foremost holy city, and even raising the Mexica War God to the chief divine... those are merely empty titles!..."

"Nonsense!"

Upon hearing this, Petl, the leader of the holy city, was enraged. He abruptly stood up, resembling a skeletal raven, and shouted furiously.

"Submitting to the alliance king, wouldn’t he intervene and place elders within the holy city?! Giving up land and population, where would we recruit samurai to defend?! In these chaotic times, without samurai protection, and with others meddling unchecked, how could we preserve our power and wealth?! And about those so-called empty titles..."

At this point, Petl was shaking with rage. Extending his hand, he flung the expensive jade dish in his hand to the ground, shattering it into several pieces!

"Empty titles, empty titles! Without these empty titles, how could our holy city of Cholula guide all tribes and earn the reverence of followers? Quyo, you fool, remember this well! We enjoy our high status for generations, without labor, indulging in divine smoking herbs, fine clothes, gourmet food, beautiful maidens... living a life incomprehensible to ants, because of these lofty, mysterious empty titles!!"

"..."

Facing the leader’s rebuke, Elder Quyo’s face turned blue and white, yet he couldn’t utter a word for a long while. After a while, he sighed again.

"Petl, I know, you’re right, it’s all for the sake of the elders. However, given the circumstances, the brutal Mexica barbarians wielding war clubs are at our gates. A single mistake, and if the war club falls, it will all be over! ... What do you say we should do?"

"Hmph! What panic! The gods protect the holy city!"

Petl took a few breaths, then responded confidently.

"This is the holy city, the sacred land of all Nava gods, the place of belief and reverence for followers worldwide! No matter how brutal the Mexica are, they wouldn’t dare massacre here! Otherwise, they’d be against all tribes and lose the people’s support within the alliance! Furthermore, the Mexica aren’t a solid rock without cracks..."

"Makes sense! The revered holy city is unlike other cities that can be compared."

"Chief Petl is right! The Mexica also must have concerns."

"Hmm. Now, you should take the lead!..."

A few elder priests who had been silent finally spoke, expressing agreement. Quyo nodded as well, with a bit more confidence on his face.

Only Wezil, the war elder, opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But seeing the elders’ reactions, he lowered his eyes and silently closed his mouth.

"The gods protect the holy city!..."

Everyone discussed, their emotions gradually calming. Chief Petl beckoned, and over ten pure priestess apprentices came forward. They approached with reverence, first lighting large bundles of herbs for the elders, then extending their arms to gently hold the aged elder priests in their soft embrace.

Elder Quyo tilted his head back, exhaling comfortably. As he inhaled the relaxing divine smoke, his worries remained unresolved.

"Chief, the Mexica are at our gates, how exactly should we respond?"

Chief Petl straightened up, frowning, still unsure. But matters could not be delayed and must be addressed promptly. After pondering for a while, he looked at the elders, issuing a solemn command.

"The Telascallans are likely no match for the Mexica. And the threat of the Mexica can only be dealt with by the Mexica."

"What do you mean?"

Quyo was stunned, leaning forward to look at the chief.

"Mexica?"

On the other side, Wezil’s eyes opened abruptly, deep in thought.

"I pondered, and the key to the holy city’s crisis lies with three Mexica individuals."

Petl contemplated, explaining more clearly.

"One in the north, grasping royal power, seeking to surpass divine authority. Another in the south, holding military power, seeking royal power. And another in the west..."

"Seeking divine authority to surpass royal power?"

Hearing this, Quyo tentatively asked.

"No! Not that person. That one is near death, holding a murderous blade, too dangerous to approach. Nor the even more terrifying one..."

Petl squinted his eyes, smiling meaningfully.

"It’s another, perhaps two, coveting divine authority."

"We’ll have to send three people to meet each of them...