Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 969 - 572 Mistek Land, the Guiding Yellow Bird

Chapter 969: Chapter 572 Mistek Land, the Guiding Yellow Bird

The clouds rolled, the eastern sea breeze carried moist vapor; the mountains layered, the southern rainforest was particularly lush and dense.

At this moment, the faint scent of blood lingered among the towering temples. Most of the once exalted Rain Divine Priests had turned into fallen corpses, their souls journeying to the Divine Kingdom in the clouds. In the ancient temple, the tall Rain Divine sat on the Throne of the Gods. He silently gazed with deep golden eyes at these heavily armored northern warriors and the barbarian soldiers from the wilderness they had never seen before.

"Over eight hundred miles north to south, more than five hundred miles east to west, with treacherous eastern highlands, undulating western lowland valleys, and dense southern coastal rainforests, this is the vast expanse known as the Mistec Land!...Two cities in the highlands with over two hundred thousand tribes; four cities in the lowlands, close to four hundred thousand people; three cities on the coast with three hundred thousand each...altogether, these make up nine large city-states, over nine hundred thousand tribes!"

Black Wolf’s eyes gleamed as he watched the genuine expression of the young priest, pondering silently. He considered the situation of the eastern campaign, analyzing the southern invasion, accumulating experience for the inevitable southern expedition in the future.

Tlaxcala’s four states were small, but populous, with relatively flat terrain. Most Tlaxcalan tribes were concentrated in the core Tlaxcala Valley and the Holy City of Cholula. As long as the alliance army conquered the northern and southern gateways, it could directly penetrate the enemy’s heart, sweeping through the major cities both north and south. Thus, each Tlaxcalan tribe had to rely on checkpoints and city-states to hold ground, willing to fight for every inch, with no room to maneuver.

However, the nine Mistec tribes were vastly different. Their alliance was looser, the land area extensive, the terrain fragmented and rugged. Even the population was scattered across various mountain valleys. Within the entire Mistec Alliance, the nine city-states were independent, with no capital city ruling over them that could easily accomplish everything. To conquer all the city-states, the journey from north to south would be a daunting nine hundred miles of mountain road!

Black Wolf had fought wars from north to south, west to east, for many years. Coupled with the patient teachings from the prince, his insight had significantly improved.

"Although Mistec Warriors aren’t formidable, if they were to engage in a head-on battle formation, the kingdom’s army could easily break them with one strike! But if they hid in the mountains, relying on one city-state and village after another, dispatching small squads of warriors and militias to harass the army’s route..."

Thinking of this, Black Wolf frowned and fell into deep thought. If each city-state had to be cleaned out one by one, who knows how many troops would be needed or how many years it would take. He vaguely felt that the Mistec tribes might resemble the Tekos people from the southwestern mountains.

"Against opponents like this, military battles aren’t the biggest challenge. Steep mountainous terrain, long marches, arduous mountain supply routes, and enduring military presence are the real difficulties!...Well, such a problem should be left to the wise prince or the king!"

After a while, Black Wolf shook his head vigorously. As his status rose, he thought more deeply and increasingly felt his mind lacking knowledge. But now, he had to return to the southern expedition task given by the prince.

"...Gather intelligence from the south, intimidate the Mistec tribes, preventing them from moving north. If possible, weaken their war potential as much as possible..."

Black Wolf’s gaze turned cold again. He reached out with his left hand, grabbing the young priest’s collar, staring into the evasive eyes.

"Tell me your name?"

"...Respected commander of the Mexica, I am the High Priest of the Cloud Temple, descendant of the Tiger Claw King, Sky Divine descendant Andiwei!"

The young priest Andiwei was somewhat fearful, but when speaking his name, he still carried his habitual pride and dignity. In the Mistec language, andivi means cloud, sky, descendant of the sky. It’s a sacred name, only those with noble blood, the Divine Descendants, have the right to inherit it.

"You, so young, are a High Priest?"

Hearing this, Black Wolf was a bit surprised. He recalled the alliance’s elder priests, each one experienced and cunning, accustomed to martial prowess and blood sacrifices. Yet, these ancient Mistec people allowed such a young Divine Descendant to hold a High Priest position...

He gently shook his head, continuing to press.

"In Divine Stone City, how many warriors and militias are there? When can the other Mistec tribes send reinforcements? How many reinforcements will each state send, and how long will it take to arrive?"

"...This, this...I...I don’t know..."

"Hmm?"

Black Wolf’s expression turned cold. He extended his right hand, receiving the Obsidian Dagger handed to him by Red Frog Kaka. The sharp blade shimmered with sacrificial black light. Then, he smiled grimly, and the black light pressed against the young priest’s neck, bringing real death pressure.

"Last chance."

"This, I..."

Andiwei sweated heavily, his face pale. His gaze dropped again, seeing the corpse of the old priest leader, his fingers trembled.

"I’ll count to three! Three! Two! One..."

"Ah! I’ll tell!"

The cold blade applied slight pressure, slicing the skin on the neck, oozing faint red blood. Andiwei could no longer endure this torment, his shout carrying a sobbing tone.

"In Divine Stone City, there are about five thousand warriors and ten thousand militias stationed! Plus, the able-bodied men from various tribes who fled into the city, might recruit a few thousand more!"

"Hmm..."

Upon hearing this, Black Wolf raised an eyebrow. Besides the three thousand Mistec warriors ambushed and eliminated, Divine Stone City still had twelve thousand warriors and militias. Such a force, relying on sturdy walls, if they held fast...

"Unfortunately! This time marching south, the mountainous terrain is rugged and hard to traverse, and it’s the rainy season, so we can’t carry copper cannons to blast the walls..."

Black Wolf sighed inwardly. The Guajili Legion’s light infantry advanced rapidly, ambushing the Mistecs during the rainy season, with only one month’s food supply carried.

To maintain logistics, the eight thousand-strong legion split into three, dispersed throughout the valley in raids. The army’s supply lines were difficult, dependent on raided provisions along the way, with even arrows being scarce, let alone the heavy copper cannons that couldn’t be used in the rainy season. And Divine Stone City’s walls were six to seven meters high, the defending army was sufficient in numbers, and their morale in defense was relatively high. If the opponent’s commander doesn’t make serious mistakes, it’s very difficult to conquer.

"And what else?!"

"...The highland Mixtec are closely knit, and the nobles of Cloud Mountain City in the south have surely received the news. Although their reinforcements are few, just about a thousand or two, they should arrive in a few days."

"Cloud Mountain City? Two or three hundred miles to the south?..."

Obsidian’s eyes flickered as he glanced at the map on the wooden board. Then, his finger pointed southwest.

"Then, how will the Lowland Mixtec, Mountain River City, react?"

"This... how would I know..."

"Hmm?"

"...Ah! Esteemed General, this time the various tribes have gone north, each diverting the forces of the Mexica Alliance, to rescue the Tlaxcalans, precisely at the call of the Mountain River City leader, the nominal Mixtec leader, Divine Descendant Yun Chen (Yuchi)."

At the brink of life and death, Andiwei’s thoughts raced rapidly, bursting with intelligence and wisdom never before seen.

"With the Teotihuacan Valley under attack and Divine Stone City in danger, Mountain River City more than two hundred miles southwest will also face a threat. Moreover, with Cloud Temple lost, all the priesthoods of the various states will be shaken with fear! Leader Yun Chen will surely gather the warriors of the tribes in Mountain River City, retracting the Mixtec legion that has moved forward..."

Upon hearing this, Obsidian nodded slightly. The Mixtec legion that moved forward would fully contract, with each major city-state consolidating its forces for self-defense, naturally nullifying their restraint on the Southern Army.

"The warriors gather in Mountain River City, and mobilization takes time. And before gathering enough forces, the Mixtec warriors of the lowlands and coasts are unlikely to take the enormous risk of rushing to aid..."

At this, Andiwei felt despondent. The Mexicans from the north grow ever stronger, conquering in all directions, invincible in battle. Facing the fearsome northern Fierce Tiger, when will the divided flock of the Mixtec unite as one?

"Oh? In a short time, no massive reinforcements..."

Obsidian squinted his eyes, thoughts flashing through his mind. Subsequently, with a murderous intent on his face, he coldly asked.

"In the Teotihuacan Valley, which tribes have large populations, with villages on flat terrain? Where are they located?"

"This... I..."

Andiwei shivered. At this moment, he seemed to see endless fires and blood in the eyes of the Mexica commander.

"Speak!"

"Ah! In the Teotihuacan Valley, villages with more than a thousand people, there are probably a dozen or so. The largest villages even have several thousand to ten thousand people. Their locations, are, are..."

"Andiwei! You treacherous yellow bird of the tribe!"

At this, a middle-aged priest prisoner could no longer bear it, roaring in anger. He knew that in Andiwei’s ensuing words, his tribe’s name would be revealed. And knowing these villages’ names, the cruel Mexicans would certainly take ruthless actions. As for the yellow bird, in traditional mythology, it symbolizes an ominous sign.

"Think of your glorious ancestors! The immortal Tiger Claw King is in the Divine Kingdom, protecting our tribes! Look here! This is the sacred Cloud Temple, the holy place observed by All Gods! ...Andiwei! Before the supreme Rain Divine statue, how can you act thus, shaming your ancestors and bloodline?! Are you not afraid of endless storms and Divine Punishment after death?!"

"Hmm?"

Obsidian’s gaze turned harsh, looking towards the exceedingly agitated middle-aged priest. The priest wore a blue feather crown, appearing to hold a significant position. The surrounding priest prisoners seemed to regard him as their center.

Hearing the middle-aged priest’s rebuke, shame appeared on Andiwei’s face. He lowered his head, trembling all over, unable to speak for a while.

"Heh heh!"

A murderous intent emerged on Obsidian’s handsome face. He drew a bronze longsword from his waist, taking a step towards the middle-aged priest, then suddenly stopped. Subsequently, he looked at the young Mixtec priest again, examining his fearful and ashamed expression, gradually curling his lips into an amused smile.

"Who is he?"

"...Temple Elder, Divine Descendant of the Mountain, Flower Ita (ita)."

"Oh? Another High Priest. It seems he’s quite dissatisfied with you."

Obsidian smiled, nodding and patting Andiwei’s shoulder. Then, his expression became severe, and he threw a sharp obsidian dagger with a "ding" at the young priest’s feet.

"I told you, I would give you a chance to convert to the Chief Divine! And now, this is your test of faith in the Chief Divine!"

Speaking, Obsidian extended his hand, mercilessly pointing at the opposite, roaring elder Ita, whose hands were bound.

"Andiwei! Right here, in front of the Rain Divine, go over there, and kill him!"