Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 958 - 563: The Handling of the Red Crow Tribe

Chapter 958: Chapter 563: The Handling of the Red Crow Tribe

"The sun sinks behind the walls, casting colors, while the moon ascends with flying light... The day of departure is not far off!"

The evening glow fell on the stone walls of the grand hall, reflecting divine spirits in myriad colors. A gentle breeze swept over the Chief Divine’s emblem, shimmering with dazzling golden light. In the grand hall of Water Valley City, the Sovereign and his minister stood and knelt, respectively, exchanging a long gaze, with everything understood in silence.

After a while, Xiulote pursed his lips, suppressing the surging emotions. His eyes were firm, his face showing a deep smile.

"Bertade, what you are about to undertake will surely change the entire world, to be sung by future generations forever!... Of course, beasts move constantly and unpredictably, the hunter must dig traps and wait for the right moment. To accomplish this great task, one must adapt to circumstances and seize the right opportunities, and cannot act hastily!"

"Yes, Your Highness! I swear to follow your will with my life!"

The loyal Head Warrior nodded heavily. No matter how peculiar His Highness’s prophecy was, how distant the eastern Snake Island might be... he would unhesitatingly follow His Highness’s guidance, crossing the vast ocean, and journeying thousands of miles eastward, just to capture the fair-skinned evil demons of foreign lands.

"Rise!... The key now is to find a stable harbor in the East."

Xiulote extended his hand to lift Bertade from the ground. Then, he looked at the map again, his gaze moving along the eastern coast. All towns with large populations and ample supplies were carefully marked by the Kingdom’s scouts.

The most northern one, naturally, is the northern ancestral land of the Vastec people, 800 miles from the Lake Capital City, the otter city of the Cukuxicapan State.

"Where is the Red Crow Tribe in the North now?"

"Your Highness, after the Red Crow Tribe fled eastward, they re-established their tribe’s banner and camped on the lowland plains northwest of Otter City, over 200 miles northwest of the Vastec north, at a place the local Vastek people call ’The Land of Many Trees and Rivulets’."

Bertade reached out and drew a hundred-mile-wide circle northwest of Otter City. The terrain there is flat, bordered east and west by tributaries of the Tampen River, with rivers connecting north and south, making it a strategically important military site.

"The Land of Many Trees and Rivulets, a strategically important location..."

Xiulote studied the map, contemplating in silence. He vaguely remembered that the latter Castillo De Nueva Apolonia built by the Spaniards should be in this area. The Red Crow Tribe’s choice to establish their camp here likely holds significant intentions.

"What progress has been made in the Kingdom’s relations with the Red Crow Tribe?"

"Your Highness, the Red Crow leader Amoxtli claims to be a subject of the Alliance and treats the Kingdom’s envoys with great courtesy. They trade with Pamus City upstream through the Lerma River tributaries... At your suggestion, Pamus City Lord Balamo provided the Red Crow Tribe with a large batch of bows and copper spears, exchanging for five or six thousand Vastec captives. These captives mainly consist of young women and children, with few in population."

"Hmm. The arms trade is merely a first step... What is the current strength of the Red Crow Tribe, and can they capture Otter City from the Vastec?"

"The detailed situation of the Red Crow Tribe... They are simply too distant for us to have deciphered detailed intelligence yet."

Bertade pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

"But over the past two years, with their base in the northeastern lowlands, there is no rival around them. On the one hand, they raid the weak and affluent Vastec to the south, and on the other, they assimilate the northern hunting tribes skilled in warfare. At their development rate, capturing Otter City should be within these two years..."

"According to the estimate of the Red Cat Chieftain Mizili from Pamus City, the Red Crow Chieftain Amoxtli might already have two to three thousand Wilderness Dog Descendants, enslaving twice the number of Vastec farmers, enabling them to raise a regiment of warriors at the very least!"

"Can they raise eight thousand Dog Descendant warriors?"

Hearing this, Xiulote’s eyes flickered with a hint of surprise.

"I recall, three years ago, when I marched north to defeat the Dog Descendant Allied Forces, the Red Crow Tribe fled eastward... They had barely over ten thousand people?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Bertade confirmed with a nod.

"When the Red Crow Tribe fled eastward, they had just over ten thousand people and at most four thousand warriors. They then crossed the mountains, reached the northeastern lowlands, and began raiding the weak and prosperous Vastec, causing a sudden shift in the situation. After last year’s autumn harvest, the Vastec tribal leader mustered an army north to crusade against the Red Crow Tribe, eventually falling into an ambush and killing them. The Vastec army subsequently collapsed, suffering heavy casualties under the pursuit of the Dog Descendants..."

"Last year, the terrible cold front came once again, forcing the Wilderness Tribes to migrate south. Thousands of fierce Bozalos moved south, joining the Red Crow Tribe. Following them, several coastal Janambre tribes migrated south and were annexed by the Red Crow Tribe. With these new northern tribes joining, the Red Crow Tribe has truly risen to a dominating force north of the Vastec people."

Bertade paused, glanced at His Highness’s thoughtful expression, and further explained.

"The Bozalos are actually the same roots as the Guajili Canine Descendants. They roam in the eastern wilderness, in opposition to the more northern Coa Weiltecan tribes. Last year, facing the cold front, countless Coa Weiltecan tribes migrated south, forcing the neighboring Bozalos even further south. Some were recruited by Pamus City, while others, following the wilderness tradition, sought refuge with the culturally similar Red Crow Tribe."

"And the coastal Janambre people were similarly forced south by the Coa Weiltecan people, migrating to the southern lowlands. Last autumn, the Red Crow Chieftain led thousands of tribe warriors north, launching a surprise attack on the Janambre’s migrating groups, forcibly annexing thousands from the tribes. This spring, he led the newly recruited warriors south to raid the affluent Vastec..."

The Bozalos and Janambre people all reside in the northeastern Tamaulipas state of later Mexico, the former primarily in the western mountain forests, and the latter along the eastern coast.

"Your Highness, while the Red Crow Chieftain Amoxtli campaigns all around, continuously unifying the northeast tribes, the Vastec farm for him, providing food and wealth; the Wilderness Tribes wage war for him, conquering more tribes. Although he is a defeated subordinate of the Kingdom’s northern campaign, he is a hero among the Dog Descendants and should be closely watched..."

"Hmm. The Crow Tribe, having experienced southern migrations, have captured Otomi City-States and survived the Kingdom’s northern campaigns... Their level of organization is naturally much better than other Wilderness Tribes."

Xiulote pondered briefly and responded deeply. The rise of the Red Crow Tribe faintly gave him an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Of course, at this time, the strength of this tribe was still insignificant compared to the powerful Kingdom of the Lake.

"Moreover, the rise of the Red Crow Tribe is backed by the Alliance’s military acquiescence and trade support, primarily targeting the Vastec people... Bertade!"

"Here, Your Highness."

"Dispatch the Kingdom Envoy to the Red Crow Tribe. Have them gather the tribal warriors and quickly assault Otter City!"

As he spoke, Xiulote’s gaze sharpened. He stood up, calmly setting new conditions and threats.

"Tell them! Pamus City will dispatch three thousand Guajili warriors to secretly join the expedition. As long as the Red Crow Tribe captures Otter City, the Kingdom will accept them as a stable trade partner. Weapon and people trade can continue, and all spoils from capturing Otter City will belong to the Red Crow Tribe!... But if they refuse, the Allied Forces of the Alliance will immediately march north after the eastern campaigns, burn their camp, and drive them to the desolate north!

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Bertade respectfully bowed. As the hegemon of Central America, the Mexica Alliance naturally had such authority over the weaker northern hunting tribes. Well, at least until horses from the Old Continent arrived.

"Additionally, order the Kingdom of the Lake to quickly select a group of devout and diligent Chief God Priests to be sent to the Red Crow Tribe."

Xiulote squinted his eyes, gazing at the Chief Divine’s idol, making a decisive judgment. The hunting tribes of the wilderness are inexhaustible. Purely attacking often results in wasted effort and little gain. At this time, referring to the Spaniards’ accumulated experience is necessary...

"Have the priests bring with them the Kingdom’s farming and construction techniques while they evangelize... Help the Red Crow Tribe with slash-and-burn farming, establishing towns, and even building fortresses."

"Ah! Your Highness, this?... "

"Bertade, a wandering wolf pack with a den is no longer dangerous and can slowly be domesticated into dogs... Moreover, in front of the Kingdom’s new weaponry and armor, as long as the wilderness tribes dare to confront head-on, they will face inevitable defeat!"

Upon hearing this, Bertade was momentarily dazed. He looked at His Highness’s smile, thought carefully for a moment, and finally bowed respectfully.

"Praise Your Highness! You are wise and benevolent!"