Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 894 - 512 Offering Dance to the Generals

Chapter 894: Chapter 512 Offering Dance to the Generals

In the tent, the feast was in full swing, and the bamboo flute resounded. The firelight sparkled in their eyes, and the aroma wafted at their noses. The generals, with their bellies full and half-drunk from wine, reached the stage of dance and song.

According to the Alliance’s tradition, after a great victory, the Samurai must perform a war dance and sing poetry to bless the esteemed tribal Leaders. Well, this custom is somewhat akin to the Shang dynasty’s noblemen wielding weapons, performing the great Huo dance to offer sacrifices to Cheng Tang. Or like the Liao Dynasty’s Emperor spring hunting, holding a feast with the first fish, letting the Jurchen Chieftains offer their dance.

"Xiuxoke, with Stanley absent, among the generals present, you shall lead... let’s start with you!"

King Aweit glanced around at the generals, smiling lightly, and first called upon the Deputy Head of the Eagle Warrior Battalion, his relative Xiuxoke. Xiuxoke nodded respectfully and stood up. His figure had grown prosperous, with a double chin, and he looked genial, lacking the appearance of a Warrior. Indeed, during this Northern Campaign, Xiuxoke did not hold military power but was in charge of the army’s logistics, overseeing food supplies transport.

"...I battled in the Southern City; I died in the Northern City!

The corpse lay exposed in the wilderness, drawing a crowd of crows pecking.

I spoke mockingly to the crows, asking them to mourn for the Warriors!

Caw caw caw!...

Dying in the wild, no burial needed,

Dying for the Gods, the soul journeys to the Divine Kingdom.

And our bodies, willingly offered to you all!

Caw caw caw!..."

Xiuxoke slightly raised his head, looking westward to his hometown. He stretched his arms like a dancing plump crow, singing the sorrowful, tragic poetry, while imitating the cawing of death, portraying a Poet’s demeanor.

This imagery of intertwining death and generosity is most revered by the Alliance Warriors. After hearing it, the generals were somewhat moved. Evidently, the Deputy Head of the Eagle Warrior Battalion, though not skilled in slaughter, is an excellent Poet.

King Aweit was a bit surprised. He nodded, his face showing appreciation.

"Xiuxoke, what is the name of this poem?"

"Ahem... the poem is titled ’Battle South of the City.’ I witnessed Warriors attacking Feathered Serpent City, bodies falling like rain, some not even buried, thus inspired, I composed this yesterday!"

Xiuxoke responded calmly, without blushing or a beat, exuding the calm confidence of a true Poet.

"Hmm, not bad, not bad! Come, drink this cup!"

King Aweit raised his wine glass and drank it down with his relative.

"To the fallen Warriors!"

"To celebrate the King! To celebrate the Warriors!"

The generals all raised their glasses in unison, drinking heartily, and the atmosphere turned lively.

After drinking, Xiuxoke bowed his head in salute and returned to his seat, his belly preceding him. He looked slightly pensive, sighing gently in his heart.

"Alas. In the Capital City, it’s hard to stand as a Warrior, so reluctantly, I must excel as a Poet... Hmm, my son’s childhood poems are all neatly kept; there are many usable ones..."

"Casal, it’s your turn next!"

King Aweit sat cross-legged, smiling as he looked at the Northern Route Army’s Deputy Marshal, Commander Casal. Speaking of the seniority among the generals present, Casal was indeed the most seasoned. Unfortunately, he followed the wrong King before and had no outstanding son, leading to his long period of neglect.

"Yes, supreme King!"

Casal respectfully stood up and first saluted the King. Then he crouched slightly, using his limbs forcefully, leaping into an ancient Samurai war dance, singing an ancient sacrificial poetry.

"...The sacred Chief Divine illuminates the Divine Descendants,

Those high and mighty will walk their paths.

On this path is full of slaughter and expedition!

...The supreme King seated on the Throne of the Gods,

waves frozen wings in the Clouds,

letting flames descend from the heights of the sky!

...He will wage war, He will conquer all people,

He lets the flames descend to earth, raging in the dust-stirred land!

...Fire and Thunderbolt, war and death,

He is the Divine Descendant incarnate as the Sun, the sacred Mexica King!

..."

Upon hearing Casal’s poetry, the faces of the generals became subtly complex. This handed-down poetry, originally praising the War God and the Samurai, was now modified into a praise for the King.

"Haha!"

King Aweit laughed heartily, with a joyful expression. He looked at the vigorously dancing Casal and nodded with satisfaction.

"Hmm, Casal, you have intention! Come, and drink a cup with me!"

"Thank you for the wine, King!"

Casal kneeled on one knee, saluting deeply. Then he took the wine and drank it carefully, without spilling a drop. After the defeat of the previous King Tizoc, he was confined to his home, stripped of all military power, languishing for full six years! It wasn’t until this Eastern Campaign that he finally earned King Aweit’s trust and was reinstated.

These six years of experience were enough to smooth any edges, turning a proud Divine Descendant Commander into a cautious King’s eagle hound.

"Hmm, ’Flowery Carving’ Chilto, ’Dead Dog’ Chichimequi! Come, dance for me!"

Upon hearing the call, the young and strong ’Flowery Carving’ and ’Dead Dog’ stood up together, clenching fists on their chests, saluting the King. In the Navajo language, Chilto "chiltototl" means "colorful raptor"; Chichimequi "chichimicqui" means "death hound," or, well, dead dog.

Both were royal Warriors promoted in recent years, each commanding an 8,000-strong Royal Legion; they are the King’s true "eagle hounds"! Though both come from minor nobility, their loyalty to the King is undoubtedly the highest among the generals present.

"Supreme King, we are willing to die for you! Roar!"

’Flowery Carving’ and ’Dead Dog’ roared in unison, then rolled up their War Clothes to reveal their sturdy arms. Then, the two began fiercely wrestling and performing an intense war dance at the same time.

"...Crimson flowers bloom on the battlefield.

Sacrificial flowers bloom on the battlefield,

Bonfire flowers bloom on the battlefield!...

Our only flower,

is the blossoming flower of war,

blooming in death, burning everything in the world to ashes!

..."

The impassioned Warrior song, accompanied by heavy footsteps, echoed in the great tent. Watching the intense dance and listening to the heroic and fierce song, everyone’s eyes were filled with excitement.

"...Nava All Gods!..."

Seeing the continuous war dances in the tent, listening to the poetry praising war and death, Priest Leader Petl slightly lowered his head, quietly clutching his sleeve.

"These Aztecs, born from the Wilderness, barbaric and warlike!... Alas! Chichimec, Toltec... the barbarians outside the city have ultimately overwhelmed the civilized people inside the city..."

"Chichimec" literally means nomadic barbaric tribes. Whereas "Toltec" is considered a term for the civilized urban ethnic group. As for "Aztecs," it naturally is a derogatory term for Wilderness Tribes, "Barbarians from Aztlan."

"Great! Absolutely splendid!"

King Aweit’s face showed pleasure as he watched his Warriors’ offering dance, reveling in the power held in his hands! He watched for a long time, until both generals were panting and sweating, then laughed out loud and exclaimed in praise.

"Come, my valiant eagle hounds, drink this cup with me, fully enjoy this moment of exhilaration!"

"Yes, supreme King!"

’Flowery Carving’ and ’Dead Dog’ stopped their war dance, kneeling respectfully on the ground, paying a great homage. Then they received the wine handed personally by the King, drank it in one gulp, soaking even their collars.

"Good! Good! Drink more!"

King Aweit cheered twice, gave the two generals another cup of wine, and then let them retire. Next, his smile unwavering, he looked towards four honorable nobility, the Legion Commanders of the City-State Army.

"’Tzompantli’ Xochitl, ’Luwei’ Xintle, ’Canyon Gold’ Pachjo, ’Mountains’ Izel. Who among you will come first?"