Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 959 - 564: Dominating the Wilderness Exploration

Chapter 959: Chapter 564: Dominating the Wilderness Exploration

The red sun sank behind the Western Mountains as dark clouds drifted in from the East. It was clear that another heavy rain was imminent. August marked the peak of the Highland rainy season, where the rain came unbidden, and sunny days were few, making large-scale military operations difficult. August was also a busy farming season, with early squash nearing harvest. For the sake of making a living, the populations of each tribe were occupied in the fields and could not participate in military mobilization.

All in all, in the chaotic, war-torn world of Central America, August, as hot as fire, was a rare month of peace. At least, it had been so for millennia.

"Nashu, what day is it today?"

Xiulote sat cross-legged on the carpet of the Stone Hall. He drank a bowl of sweet pumpkin soup and gnawed on two pieces of soft cornbread. Then, he peeled a newly boiled turkey egg, savoring the familiar yet rare taste of eggs, and exhaled contentedly, his mind filled with a certain nostalgia.

Head Warrior Bertade sat next to the King, eating the soup bread heartily, yet there were no turkey eggs.

Indeed, turkey eggs were precious ingredients in this era, available only to the Great Nobility. Even if adequately fed, an adult female turkey would lay eggs only once or twice a week. Most turkey eggs were reserved for hatching, producing equally scarce meat.

In contrast, Old Continent’s hens were much more prolific, laying eggs daily, providing more protein output. This difference was due both to the species themselves and the time of domestication.

"Your Highness, today is Eight Rabbit Day of the Crocodile Month. The Earth Mother Goddess grants her blessings; it is a lucky day for fertility!"

Nashu swayed her graceful figure, carrying two cups of hibiscus tea, handing them to the two men separately. She licked her lips, extended her slender fingers, and secretly touched the prince’s palm. Then, with enchanting eyes like silk, she offered two early ripe avocados.

"... The original crocodilian Tonacatecuhtli is the Lord of Nurturing, responsible for creation and fertility as an Ancient God. In traditional mythology, the Crocodile Month springs from chaos anew, creating order in January. The three tenets of creating order are language, agriculture, and family. As for Rabbit Day, it symbolizes self-sacrifice and transcendence, serving greater things, and is also a time of peaceful reproduction..."

"Mmm..."

Xiulote’s nose twitched, feeling a warm softness in his palm. Then a fragrant breeze, carrying tempting whispers, brushed closely against his ear.

"My supreme master, on this sacred day, your shadow slave Nashu is willing to dedicate herself to you! ...Wow!"

"Uh!"

Upon hearing the enchanting cry of the fox, Xiulote felt a feverish rush through his body and quickly lowered his head to sip the sweet and sour flower tea. After months of campaign, his long-restrained body couldn’t withstand such teasing.

"Ahem! In the ninth year of Flint, on Eight Rabbit Day of the Crocodile Month..."

Xiulote arduously shifted his attention. He steadied his mind, calculated for a moment, and his expression turned solemn.

"Whew, it’s already August 9, 1488 AD! ...Time flies, the Eastern-flowing Tampen River, never rests for a moment!"

"Your Highness?"

"Nashu, you may leave now! I have important matters to discuss with the Head Warrior."

"...Yes, Your Highness."

Nashu pressed her lips together, bowed her head, and tidied up the dishes on the mat. Upon hearing that the Princess had given birth to a noble Princely Heir, for some reason, a yearning suddenly arose in her heart. This yearning was like the fertile fields, longing for the rainy season’s storm, as well as the seeds of life.

Moreover, the High Priest who governed the Divine had gone to the Divine Kingdom. No one could sway the prince’s will anymore...

"Hmm... You should also take these two avocados. Make them into a puree, add some honey, and accompany it with fresh cactus fruit..."

With that, Xiulote pondered for a while. Since his eastern expedition, he had been self-restrained, and his appetite longed for something. To savor fresh, delicious sweet fruits on a warm rainy night was to enjoy something soft and smooth...

The King lifted his head again, glancing at Nashu’s slightly revealed curves, her kneeling arch, and the watery gleam in her eyes, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart.

"...Bring it to my bedroom when it’s done. Lately, in the middle of the night, I often feel like a hungry Jaguar."

"Ah!"

Upon hearing this, Nashu lifted her head in delight, gazing at the prince with eyes moistening as if about to spill tears. Because her trembling body remembered... that whenever the foxy siren called out her final "Wow" in provocation, the starving Jaguar would pounce, and amidst fierce, low roars, she would cry out lowly in both exertion and futility.

"At your service... my prince~"

Nashu’s trembling footsteps and her trembling voice soon disappeared outside the grand hall. Xiulote took a deep breath, suppressing his young and passionate body. He looked at the spread-out map of the world, contemplating the Kingdom and the Alliance’s grand strategy anew.

"Bertade, the Pamus State has recently subjugated several thousand southward migrating Bosaloth people, bringing the number back to a little over 100,000. The Pamus Valley, directly under the Kingdom, now has close to 40,000 settled tribes! The Northern Tribes, though impoverished, are used to fighting. At this moment, Poet Balamo can also muster a tribal army!"

"Indeed, Your Highness. In the vast Northern Land, as long as there is food and wealth, along with a core force of warriors to suppress, it’s not difficult to conscript Tribal Warriors. And now, the entire Pamus State is under the control of the Kingdom!"

"Yes."

Xiulote nodded in understanding. He gazed towards the northern night sky, sinking into prolonged contemplation.

Ten years ago, the Pamus State in the north housed roughly 200,000 Wilderness Tribes, with the Otomi People comprising an overwhelming majority. After Tizoc’s two-year conquest of the Otomi people, Pamus State suffered grave devastation, reducing its population to about 130,000 to 140,000. Farmlands went desolate, villages burned, and ensuing famines continued to further weaken the Otomi Tribes’ power.

Thus, when the cold wave came, the 100,000 Guajili Canine Descendants surging south from further north, a weakened Pamus State didn’t hold for long before completely falling. The southbound Canine Descendants faced food shortages, their path marked by slaughter, equally brutal.

After the Allied Forces of the Kingdom of the Lake and the Otomi people marched northwards, defeating and relocating the Guajili tribes, only 80,000 were left in Pamus State. Although the Otomi people remained the majority within the state, they no longer held the primary position, replaced by a new order led by the Kingdom of the Lake!

"Your Highness, currently at the Northern Border, the Mexica nobility are the ruling Jaguars, the Otomi Tribes are the proliferating deer, the Wilderness Canine Descendants are the obedient wolves, and the Prepetcha nobility are the message-bearing monkey group... The arrangements made three years ago are now stable! However, to truly root in the Northland and establish enduring rule, it’s essential to further encourage intertribal marriages, promote the faith in the Chief Divine, and migrate more Mexica settlers!"

Hearing the words of the Head Warrior, Xiulote pondered briefly and nodded solemnly. The northern wilderness was boundless; the further north one went, the less power the Kingdom could project. And the Pamus Valley that was directly under the Kingdom’s control served as the initial exploration for establishing wilderness rule.

In the newly established northern order, the few Mexica nobility formed the ruling nucleus, while the submissive Otomi Tribes, the compliant Wilderness Canine Descendants, and exiled Prepetcha nobility together composed the governed subjects.

The Otomi people mainly engaged in farming, providing food and labor; the Wilderness Canine Descendants were semi-hunting and semi-farming, providing most of the military service; while the Prepetcha nobility managed numbers and calculations, effectively serving as low-ranking officials. Finally, transcending above the chieftains of each tribe yet rooted among the populace of each tribe were the priests of various levels sent by the central Kingdom, spreading the faith in the Chief Divine.