Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 878 - 496: Battle Damage and Enemy Casualties

Chapter 878: Chapter 496: Battle Damage and Enemy Casualties

The spring sunlight fell from the top of the tent, illuminating the simple interior. The King sat cross-legged at the head, smiling gently. The Black Wolf stood proudly at the center. The light dimmed slightly, falling behind the King. Head Warrior Bertade’s expression was calm, and the close servant Nashu remained silently low-key.

Behind the Black Wolf, in the dimly lit edges of the tent, stood the burly "Yu Yan" Mixcoatl, the slightly chubby "Huashu" Huitzilopochtli, and the lean "Coiled Python" Moyahualo.

In the tent, there were seven people, who controlled the six legions of the Southern Army, totaling fifty thousand troops. Xiulote personally led six thousand Royal Legion, Bertade was in charge of seven thousand Imperial Guards Legion, and the Black Wolf commanded eight thousand Dog Clan Army, plus five thousand Tekos defectors. These twenty-six thousand men were directly under Xiulote’s command, allowing for full operational control. As for the remaining twenty-four thousand, they were divided among the three eight-thousand-men legions of the Southern City States.

The "Yu Yan" Legion came from the largest Raziko State, with five thousand warriors and three thousand militia. The "Huashu" Legion came from the wealthy Sarco State, with four thousand warriors and four thousand militia, some equipped with bronze weapons. The "Coiled Python" Legion came from the nearby Vats teppek State, a frontline state that had been in bitter conflict with the Telascallan people for decades and was relatively devastated. They had only two thousand warriors and six thousand militia but had the deepest hatred for the enemy and the strongest will to fight.

"...In the three months of the eastern expedition, the Guajili Legion acted as the army’s spearhead, being the first to break into the Tepeyacak Basin. The Guajili warriors suffered nearly two thousand casualties, killing two thousand Telascallan warriors and six thousand enemy militia! In the siege of Water Valley City, we assaulted the city for ten days... The longbow guards, throwing vanguard, and great axe guards given to me by Your Highness sustained three hundred casualties..."

At this point, the Black Wolf paused and carefully glanced at the Highness. During this siege, he had employed the guards only in critical moments, greatly minimizing casualties. Yet, the number two hundred still made his heart skip a beat.

"Mmm."

Xiulote slightly nodded, his expression unchanged. He pondered for a moment and ordered.

"Bertade, handle the compensation. Grant each household of a fallen guard one hundred acres of land and five agricultural slaves, and exempt them from tribute for three years!"

"As ordered, Your Highness!"

Bertade respectfully saluted, took out pen and paper, and recorded the royal decree. Most of the warriors in the Imperial Guard Legion were of the third level or higher, granted land by the kingdom, and had family members or descendants. They were the backbone of the kingdom and the most loyal supporters of His Highness.

"...Tekos warriors were first to breach the defenses multiple times, losing over four hundred men, with about fifty survivors. They have proven their loyalty to the kingdom and have been incorporated into the Guajili Legion! According to my previous promise, they should be promoted to third-level warriors..."

The Black Wolf paused again, looking towards the King.

"Excellent! The vanguard warriors, regardless of their origins, should all receive generous rewards!"

Xiulote nodded with a smile, expressing his approval.

"All fifty or so survivors will be promoted to third-level warriors, granted one hundred acres of land, and five agricultural slaves! Since they were selected from the Tekos defectors, it is likely that their families are either in the Tekos camp or as agricultural slaves in the kingdom. Allow them to choose their relatives or friends for these five positions!"

"Thank you, Your Highness! The Tekos warriors will certainly be willing to fight to the death for you!"

The Black Wolf’s face lit up with joy. Such rewards would provide a path of advancement for the Tekos defectors, greatly motivating them to fight. He then raised his head and reported in a loud voice.

"...In the battle for Water Valley City, we sacrificed one Telascallan honorable nobility, over a dozen hereditary nobles, and more than two hundred noble descendants! No one could withstand the might of Your Highness’s legion! We also killed six thousand Telascallan warriors and four thousand militia, and captured another eight thousand militia!"

"Hmm? This number..."

Upon hearing this, Xiulote paused slightly and looked at Nashu. The other nodded lightly and made a sacrificial gesture. He immediately understood and, with an unchanged expression, praised with a smile.

"Not bad! My Black Wolf General has never disappointed me!"

"Ha ha! It’s all thanks to your protection, Your Highness!"

The Black Wolf laughed, saluted, and glanced back at the three city-state legion commanders. Lastly, he added lightly.

"As for the Tekos defectors in the Tekos Legion, in the battle for Water Valley City, about two thousand of them were injured or killed. Now, there are less than half of the five thousand defectors remaining... Can we replenish them from the captured Telascallan warriors?"

"Hmm? So quickly, they’ve lost half?"

Hearing this, Xiulote was somewhat surprised.

"Your Highness, after all, Water Valley City is a major stronghold in the south, fortified and dangerous, with ample defending troops and strong resistance..."

"Yes. As we’ve fought onward, the resolve to resist among the Telascallan people has been beyond my expectations!"

Xiulote nodded. The enemy’s will to fight was steadfast, with resistance from nobility to commoners. To besiege a stronghold like Water Valley City, even with the help of trebuchets and copper cannons, it would be impossible without incurring significant casualties. Using defectors as siege cannon fodder could greatly reduce the casualties of the legion warriors.

"Bertade, when we captured the mountain pass fortresses, I recall a batch of Telascallan troops surrendered?"

"Yes, Your Highness. There were over two thousand Telascallan warriors and more than eight thousand militia."

"Mmm, good!"

Xiulote pondered for a moment, then looked at the Black Wolf again.

"Black Wolf, your Dog Clan Army has suffered significant losses. Replenish it with two thousand Tekos defectors from the defector camp."

"Your Highness? The Tekos defectors..."

"These people surviving this great battle are somewhat usable. Incorporate them into your legion and give them an identity! The kingdom will treat them equally, promoting those with military accomplishments!"

Xiulote raised his hand, making a decisive gesture.

"As for the defector camp, I’ll give you two thousand Telascallan warriors and select over two thousand skilled militia to make up the five thousand along with the remaining Tekos!"

"Praise Your Highness! You are my supreme Wolf King!"

The Black Wolf was overjoyed and immediately knelt in salute. Thus, his legion would again number thirteen thousand. After incorporating the captured Telascallan warriors, he would first execute a few troublemakers to establish authority, then promote a dozen capable ones as officers...

"After a campaign, the Southern Army’s main force lost two thousand legion warriors and three thousand Tekos defectors, but replenished five thousand from the Telascallan defectors. We killed eight thousand enemy warriors and ten thousand militia, and captured over two thousand warriors and about twenty thousand able-bodied men. Combining the captives and the killed, we eliminated forty thousand Telascallan fighting men."

Xiulote stroked his chin, calculating rapidly. Just the main force alone, in reality, according to Nashu’s intelligence, over ten thousand militia in Water Valley City had surrendered. Whereas Black Wolf claimed to have killed four thousand and captured eight thousand... Undoubtedly, at least two thousand able-bodied captives had been executed by the rampaging troops.

"These butchers!"

Xiulote frowned, cursing inwardly. He then looked towards the three city-state commanders.

"Yu Yan, Huashu, Coiled Python, what about your situations?"

"Cough. Praise the Chief Divine, praise Your Highness, for protecting the legion to victory!"

The three glanced at each other, and it was the strongest, Yu Yan Mixcoatl, who stepped forward first.

"In the three months of the eastern expedition, Yu Yan Legion’s eight thousand warriors only lost one thousand militia. The number of Telascallan warriors we killed exceeded five thousand!"

"Hmm... Killed five thousand..."

Xiulote squinted his eyes, casually glancing at Nashu. According to Nashu’s intelligence, the Yu Yan Legion was responsible for suppressing local areas and various villages, with likely around three thousand Telascallan militia killed and more than a thousand lost. As for this five thousand enemy killed figure..."

"Your Highness, the Chief Divine protects the Alliance! The warriors fight for the Chief Divine, fearless of death. Killing five thousand enemies, we have the heads to prove it!"

Seeing the Highness’s doubt, the burly Yu Yan commander confidently patted his chest and responded.

"Good. The Chief Divine protects the Alliance!"

Xiulote thought for a moment, bypassed further mentions, and looked at the other two.

"Respected Your Highness, the Huashu Legion’s eight thousand warriors similarly lost one thousand militia. The number of Telascallan fighting men we killed reached seven thousand, with heads as proof!"

"Hmm. Not bad."

Xiulote’s expression did not change, smiling as if in praise, while internally feeling a surge of anger. The Huashu Legion, besieging the west gate, faced multiple sorties by the Water Valley City warriors. The militia camps collapsed twice, likely losing two thousand men. As for the seven thousand enemy killed..."

"Respected Your Highness, the Coiled Python Legion’s eight thousand men lost one thousand..."

Xiulote gave Coiled Python a cold look. He immediately changed his tone, trembling.

"Lost two thousand militia... In killing Telascallan fighting men, we have full ten thousand heads as proof!"

"Nonsense!!"

The King could no longer bear it, his face turning reddish with anger, rising abruptly. He slammed his scepter so hard against the table that he shattered the purple clay teapot!

"Ha! Killed six thousand, seven thousand, ten thousand!... Exactly how many heads in your hands are warriors, how many are militia, and how many are just ordinary villagers!!"