Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 891 - 509: The Eastern Expedition of the Northern Route Army, the Songs of the Samurai

Chapter 891: Chapter 509: The Eastern Expedition of the Northern Route Army, the Songs of the Samurai

The night has fallen, and large bonfires are lit; bamboo flutes are played, accompanied by distant songs. The aroma of food wafts far, the joyous laughter of the samurai fills the camp. The entire main camp of the Mexica Northern Route Army stretches for several miles, filled with the joy and celebration of victory!

Aweit, dressed in royal attire, sits cross-legged in the main tent, holding the Divine Staff tightly in his hands. He watches the legion commanders celebrating and joking, feeling relaxed and pleasant. Months of campaigning flash in his mind, scene after scene, as clear as if they were before his eyes.

In December, the Mexica Alliance launched a Divine War, mobilizing the entire army in a solemn declaration of the campaign.

Dressed in royal attire, Aweit held the Eastern Campaign departure ceremony in the square in front of the Great Temple. Elders sat briefly on the vine rack, receiving the kneeling rites of various tribal leaders. Then, amidst the cheers of the capital city’s citizens, Aweit officially paid homage to the ancestors, prayed to the Chief Divine, and announced the start of the Eastern Campaign!

The army set out eastwards, shaking the wilderness; all tribes across the land were alarmed, while the Telascallan fully contracted!

Eighty thousand troops of the Northern Route, five royal legions, four city-state legions, and one elite militia proceeded to the Northeast in succession. Subsequently, ten legions gradually unfolded, pouring into the southeastern Atotonielk State, engaging the Telascallan in sequence.

In this era, due to logistical and combat method limitations, such a number of legions absolutely cannot be squeezed into the same battlefield; division of forces into multiple routes is inevitable.

In January, Giant Bear Stanley led a royal legion and an elite militia, totaling sixteen thousand warriors, along with six siege Divine Eagle Cannons, first dividing forces southward. They were responsible for attacking the southern mountainous Divine Pass, the most treacherous.

Divine Pass was the western hinterland of the Telascallan, the key portal of Weisoqinke State. It occupied a treacherous mountainous location, isolating north-south mountain routes, not a single fortress but a cluster of dozens of fortresses. Due to terrain constraints, Divine Pass’s front cannot deploy a large army, allowing only a thousand to assault from below, and at most two legions can be positioned, which is the limit.

In early February, Aweit led eight legions eastward continuously. The main force of the Northern Route Army attacked the Telascallan border fortress, then conquered the ancient Hot Spring City.

Hot Spring City was located northeast of the Lake Capital City, just over two hundred miles; logistical pressure on the army was not large. From here, sixty miles south, was the east-west stretching towering mountain ranges. The mountains blocked, the army cannot pass through them. The most important of the Four States Alliance, the Tlaxcala State, was just behind the mountains.

To cross the mountains, one must go through a mountain pass. Extending a hundred miles east-west, the mountain range finally revealed a flat southern mountain pass, accessing the heartland of the Tlaxcala State. At the mountain pass, two rivers converged and a solid fortress stood, this being the Feathered Serpent City, the northernmost of the Four Snake City.

Aweit didn’t rush southwards but paused for several days in Hot Spring City, waiting for various legions to arrive. From here, a hundred miles north were the unstable Vastek people; three hundred miles east were the tense and mobilizing Tototanak people.

In mid-February, Aweit divided forces again into two routes. He dispatched the reinstated Commander Casal, leading four city-state legions, totaling thirty-two thousand samurai and militia, eastward around Feathered Serpent City, suppressing the northern Telascallan army.

Casal had been silent for many years, finally earning the King’s trust, gaining reinstatement. He became low-key in his actions and extremely respectful to the King. Casal had served as Mexica Commander for many years, fighting the Telascallan several times, not only familiar with army commanding but also very knowledgeable of enemy tactics. At the same time, he was from the Capital City’s Glory family, with extensive experience, capable of suppressing chiefs from various tribes, making him the best choice for Commander-in-Chief.

Following that, Aweit personally led the last four royal legions, thirty-two thousand royal warriors, to the northern Reed Marsh City, pressuring the southern Vastek tribes.

Thousands of Mexica legions rapidly approached, causing great panic among the Vastek tribes. The King dispatched envoys all the way to the ancestral land of the Vastek people in the south, Crow City, located three hundred miles east of Reed Marsh City, five hundred miles east of Lake Capital City.

As the suzerain, Aweit demanded that leaders from the southern Vastek tribes come to pay tribute and provide some food for the army!

Crow City was the gathering place for various eastern coastal Vastek tribes, Papantla, Papantla, meaning "place surrounded by crows." It was a densely populated, very prosperous small town, located in lowland jungles, with humid and hot climate, suitable for spice cultivation; it especially produced delicious vanilla beans!

Upon hearing the summons from the Mexica King, southern Vastek tribal leaders argued for several days, hesitating and undecided. Meanwhile, the northern ancestral land, Otter City, was battling southern Canine Descendants, unable to support southern tribes.

Finally, the leaders hardly reached a consensus under the persuasion of the southern Vastek Leader, "Silver Raven" Papata. They brought trusted aides and food, arriving at Tree Wall Town, Huauchinango, Huauchinango, dozens of miles east of Reed Marsh City, to pay tribute to the nominal suzerain, the Mexica King.

In the spacious wooden house, Aweit sat high on the throne, accepting the kneeling rites of many leaders. He was expressionless, indifferent and apathetic, delivering a speech to everyone.

"This is Huauchinango, a place where trees are abundant like walls, elegant and beautiful scenery. And in our Navajo language, ’Huauchinango’ has another meaning, that is the ’Red Snapper’ in the Eastern Great Lake. Priests from the capital city have told me, Red Snapper is like eastern coastal tribes. A male Red Snapper is surrounded by many female Red Snappers, forming a considerable school of fish. And this male Red Snapper is the tribe’s leader, the female Red Snappers are the tribal warriors who listen to the leader."

Upon hearing this, the Vastek leaders showed surprise, feeling a bit uneasy. They had lived in lowland jungles for a long time, near the Eastern Great Lake, they had also tasted the delicious red snapper. If speaking of the habits of this fish, they knew far more than the Mexica.

"For a Red Snapper school, if the leader male Red Snapper dies, his ’wives’ will sadly swim around him. As they swim, one sturdy ’wife’ will turn from female to male! He will lead the entire school anew, as the tribe’s leader, as the head of a household, leading the many ’wives’ in a new life!"

Aweit said this, with a slight smile on his face, yet it revealed a divine-like chill.

"The male red snapper is dead, his tribe won’t avenge him, only birth a new male red snapper... and if you die, your Vastec warrior subordinates won’t avenge you either! Instead, they will elect a new leader to inherit all you have!"

"Ah! This, respected Mexica King... we are all tribal leaders loyal to you!..."

Upon hearing the King’s words, the southern leaders of the Vastec people became extremely frightened, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy.

Only "Silver Raven" Papata thought for a while, then respectfully knelt and called out.

"Supreme Mexica King, our Silver Raven Tribe is willing to join the Mexica Kingdom’s army, participating in the war against the Tlaxcala! We’re willing to gather tribal warriors, cross the vast Rainforest, and harass the Eastern Totonac people for you!"

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this, Aweit’s expression moved. He deeply looked at "Silver Raven" Papata for a few moments before faintly shaking his head.

"If the Eastern Totonac people dare to dispatch troops, they will be annihilated by the Alliance’s army. As for you, the Kingdom indeed has a use."

Aweit smiled, his expression becoming gentle, calmly saying.

"You might as well bring your trusted aides, stay here, and together with the Mexica legion, garrison at Tree Wall Town!"

Thus, the southern Vastec leaders "voluntarily" stayed here to guard Tree Wall Town for the Mexica overlord. Aweit also left behind a Royal Legion, one part "protecting" the Vastec leaders, while suppressing the Alliance in the North. Meanwhile, the Vastec people’s food supplies continued to be tributed.

Everything was arranged, and the army was about to move south. Before heading south, Aweit privately summoned "Silver Raven" Papata, and they held secret talks for half a day. Subsequently, he bestowed the Chief God’s Amulet of the Golden Sun and a pouch of the Kingdom of the Lake’s Turquoise as rewards for "Silver Raven."

At the beginning of March, after stabilizing the northern Vastec people, Aweit finally led three Royal Legions southward from Reed Marsh City. At this time, Casal had already led four City-State Armies, battling the northern rear guard of the Tlaxcalean army, killing a thousand samurai, and defeating several thousand militia.

The main forces of the Tlaxcaleans kept retracting southward, retreating to defend the core Four Snake City. Casal first controlled the western and northern areas of Feathered Serpent City, established a solid camp, crafted catapults, and blockaded around Feathered Serpent City. Then, he dispatched many scouts to observe enemy movements, waiting for the King’s main forces to arrive.

In mid-March, Aweit arrived with the army beneath Feathered Serpent City. Seven alliance legions unfolded near Feathered Serpent City, covering over ten miles of wilderness, completely controlling the west side, north side, and east side of Feathered Serpent City. The only support route for the Tlaxcaleans was from the river’s south side, crossing the river to supply the city.

At the end of March, Aweit divided a seasoned Royal Legion, including two copper armor samurai camps, and two longbow warrior camps, to cross the shallow southern river, Atenco River. This legion fought fiercely with the Tlaxcalean reinforcements, subsequently surrounding the south side of Feathered Serpent City, cutting off support from the other three snake cities. Thus, Feathered Serpent City was completely encircled by the Mexica army, cut off from supplies, becoming an isolated city...

"Ah! Heavenly Divine watching over the realm,

please tell me...

who are the descendants of the Divine?

Who is the true warrior?"

The bonfire blazed brightly, illuminating countless joyful faces; the night wind was warm, blowing the war clothes of thousands of samurai. At this moment, tens of thousands of Mexica warriors gathered in the great camp. They ate corn tortillas and sang the warrior’s ballad, filled with the grandeur and power of conquest!

Aweit straightened up and listened. After a moment, his face revealed a genuine smile. The song was proud and firm, brimming with vigorous vitality. It was like the robust growth of a water fir, like the backbone of the Mexica people, standing tall and straight, never bending in the slightest!