Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 960 - 565: Establishing Counties in the Northern Land, The Beginning of Annexation

Chapter 960: Chapter 565: Establishing Counties in the Northern Land, The Beginning of Annexation

"The Mexica nobility and kingdom priests, assimilate and rule the northern tribes... military power, political power, and divine authority."

Xiulote’s eyes flickered slightly, pondering silently. Even though he was on the front lines of the eastern campaign, information from the northern lands continued to flow here.

"Bertade, I heard that the Otomi’s old priest Olte is gravely ill, with little time left?"

"Um... Your Highness, a year and a half ago, the Supreme High Priest Olte was already gravely ill. He has been bedridden ever since, but until last month, he had not gone to the Divine Kingdom."

The Head Warrior thought for a moment and answered cautiously.

"However, the envoy of the Supreme High Priest Olte is currently in the Lake Capital City, meeting with the newly appointed High Priest Uguel!"

"Oh? The old priest Olte sent out an envoy?"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote was somewhat surprised.

"What did they say?"

"The envoy, on behalf of the Otomi Priesthood, expressed respect and reverence to the newly appointed High Priest. Additionally, the High Priest Olte has little time left and requested the Supreme High Priesthood to send an esteemed Elder Priest to succeed his position as the Otomi Supreme High Priest. Furthermore, he recommended his student, the Otomi Elder Priest Omaltzin, to take the position of Otomi Deputy Supreme High Priest."

"Hmm, relinquishing the Otomi Supreme High Priest position to secure the Deputy Supreme High Priest role... The old priest Olte has truly seized the moment!"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote nodded, unable to resist expressing admiration. He recalled the figure resembling a marmot, thinking of the old, stout, and resilient man, genuinely impressed by his precise foresight and decisive actions.

The High Priesthood Alliance had been planning for a long time to control the Otomi Priesthood, just waiting for the old priest Olte to go to the Divine Kingdom.

However, now that the elder and grandfather have both passed away, the power distribution within the High Priesthood is still embroiled in ongoing struggles. The Elder Priests, who hold real power, are all focused on the central religious authority of the Alliance, unable to be dispatched to the wilderness of the northern lands at this critical moment.

The old priest Olte resigns at this time, and the intensely struggling High Priesthood could not send out powerful Elder Priests. To appease him, they will surely swiftly approve the recommendation for the Otomi Deputy Supreme High Priest. With such operations, the Otomi priests have retained their influence to the greatest extent in the northern Three States.

"Hmm... Omaltzin? Is she a Priestess?"

Xiulote pondered slightly, his expression changing. The name Malinche is evidently a common name for a Nava woman and is very famous in later generations.

In fact, the indigenous translator and wife of the later Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes was named Malinche. She played an extremely important role in Cortes’ conquest of the Aztec Empire. Without her dedicated translation and exceptionally outstanding communication, the early, sparsely numbered Spanish colonizers would not have been able to establish themselves in Central America, let alone form alliances with the initially hostile Telascallan.

Due to Malinche’s outstanding diplomatic contributions, the Spanish soldiers of the colonial era respectfully called her "Dona Marina" or "great lady". Among them, Dona is a noble feminine title. Even white women rarely earned such a title in contemporary Spain.

However, hundreds of years later, the Mexican Kingdom, which struggled to gain independence from Spanish rule, coined a new term from her name, "malinchiste," meaning "traitor and betrayer"!

"Yes, Your Highness! Omaltzin is an elder Otomi Priestess. According to tribal customs, Otomi women can also wield divine power, and high-ranking Priestesses of great authority are not uncommon."

Bertade nodded respectfully, carefully reporting.

"According to the scout’s information, this Priestess did not come from a noble background but was promoted from a low-level temple Priestess, very flexible in her methods and friendly towards the kingdom..."

"Hmm? Lowly born, risen from the temple’s low-level Priestess?"

Hearing this, Xiulote looked surprised. Among the various tribes, the low-level temple Priestesses have always been the lowest tier in the Priesthood. They not only have to serve the Divine but also serve the High Priests and noble warriors, and even attend to important sacrifices. That the Priestess Omaltzin could rise step by step from this position and be recommended by the old priest Olte as a successor surely indicates many extraordinary qualities.

"Indeed! Your Highness, the kingdom controls many Otomi nobles and influences many Otomi priests. After the death of the Supreme High Priest Olte, the Otomi’s divine authority succession?..."

"Hmm... Grandfather has just passed away, the Elder Priests are engaged in fierce struggles, very sensitive. The divine authority of the Otomi Three States, I cannot interfere immediately... Oh! The old priest Olte really chose a good timing!"

Xiulote pondered for a long time, finally shaking his head. After his grandfather’s death, he can no longer easily influence the divine authority of the entire alliance as before.

"Never mind! All that needs to be ensured is that the Chief Priest of Pamus City is under the kingdom’s control."

"According to your command, Your Highness!"

"Priests and nobles, local and central... truly a vast northern land!..."

Xiulote stretched out his hand, tracing the north on the world map, continuing further north. Four months ago, the old militia Chiwaco returned from sailing, bringing information from the far north. The Sakatekas Desert in the northern lands extends further, all the way to the Apache Alliance on the North American Plains. And at present, Pamus City is only the starting point of the southern wilderness!

The King’s eyes looked at the unmarked north on the map. His heart, as clear as a mirror, knew how vast, yet how challenging this boundless continent is.

"Currently in the Pamus Valley, the Mexica nobles stationed here hold political and military power. If intermarriages between the military nobles and priests wielding divine authority occur in secret over one or two generations, there is a risk of a tail wagging the dog! But in the remote and desolate northern lands, to handle complex military situations, battle frequently, and enable the kingdom’s expansion... the power of the military nobles not only must not be weakened, but must, instead, be further concentrated and strengthened!"

The King weighed it for a moment and decisively made up his mind. Through the curtain of the Chief Divine, he looked deeply towards the northern lands, then loudly ordered.

"Bertade!"

"Your Highness!"

"The military power in Balamo’s hands must be further strengthened. He must not only suppress the Canine Descendants and various Otomi tribes but also suppress the downstream Red Crow Tribe! From the captured Telascallan surrendered army, draw three thousand experienced militia and send them to be stationed at Pamus City. Then, from the Kingdom’s Treasury, transport enough Copper Spears and Bronze Axes to equip five thousand men, and five hundred sets of Bronze Armor to Balamo!"

"According to your command, Your Highness!"

Bertade bowed respectfully, answering solemnly. He then wasted no time, called two trusted aides, and immediately went to make arrangements.

Seeing this quick administrative efficiency, Xiulote nodded in satisfaction. He lowered his gaze, contemplated for a while, and then spoke again.

"I remember Olte had a grandson serving as a Samurai in the Otomi military?"

"Yes, Your Highness. That is his illegitimate grandson, named Oxina. He is part of the Otomi military, participated in the alliance’s western campaign, and now serves under Jiowar’s command as a Thousand-man Camp Commander!"

"Hmm. Have a letter drafted for the old priest Olte. Just say..."

Xiulote contemplated for a few moments, decisively instructed.

"The Priestess Omaltzin’s piety towards the Chief Divine indeed makes her the best candidate for the Otomi Deputy Supreme High Priest. Samurai Oxina is brave and skilled in battle and could be promoted to the kingdom’s hereditary nobility with a fief in the Kingdom of the Lake. Meanwhile, the Kingdom of the Lake still has three hereditary noble fiefs in the Pamus State, which can be appointed by the Supreme High Priest Olte’s recommended candidates..."

"Additionally, the Pamus Valley is located at the southern border of the wilderness, directly facing the south-migrating Canine Descendants Tribes. The kingdom shall establish a fifth direct county here, with Balamo, the City Lord, governing military and politics, acting as the County Magistrate!... Please ask the old priest Olte to inform the Otomi nobles in Pamus State to ’independently’ decide whether to join the kingdom!"

Upon hearing the King’s emphasis on the word "independent," Bertade’s expression changed, nodding in understanding.

Nominally, the Otomi Three States are vassals of the Alliance, subjects of King Aweit. The kingdom’s gradual annexation of the Otomi Tribes, starting from the Pamus State, has to be done subtly for now...

The Head Warrior pondered for a moment and asked softly.

"Your Highness, the kingdom has already established the counties of Capital Region, Rivermouth, Zicao, and Apal. What shall this fifth county in the northern land be named?"

"Hmm... The Pamus Valley has rolling mountains, with a tributary of the Tampen River extending east, bringing rare fertile soil to the wilderness, full of green vitality."

Xiulote’s expression flickered, reminiscing his observations during the northern campaign. A familiar name suddenly surfaced in his mind... Thinking of this, the King’s lips curled up, laughingly announced.

"Given these reasons, this fifth county in the northern land shall be named Qingqiu!"