Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 977 - 579: End of the First Campaign in the Land of the Rain God

Chapter 977: Chapter 579: End of the First Campaign in the Land of the Rain God

The Chief Priest Viko departed, just as quietly as he arrived, cloaked in a low-key black robe and a simple black cloak. However, the esteemed Chief of Divine Stone City left with bruises and a heavy sense of humiliation, alongside an indelible hatred.

Standing in front of the window of the Grand Hall of the Temple, Andiwei watched the cloaked chief, disappearing into the western mountain forests under the escort of samurai. Beyond those forests was the sturdy Divine Stone City, like a hedgehog curled up, stuck behind the Mexica legion.

"Ha! Stop staring. If you truly hate that old fox, wait for him to return for negotiations next time and slaughter him yourself!"

Red Monkey Ozoma smirked and approached the young priest, also gazing at the distant Divine Stone City.

Today’s negotiation, though it had not reached a final outcome, had led the Mistec people to be aware of the conditions and express a certain degree of submission. For secret negotiations of such great significance, the envoy from the other side must return a few times. At the very least, Chief Viko needs to share the responsibility of the peace talks with the priests and nobility within Divine Stone City, rather than shoulder everything himself.

"I... myself... kill the Chief?"

At these words, Andiwei froze, hands stiff. He did not doubt the red-haired barbarian’s resolve and once again realized the power of the Aztec Alliance. Even a common tribal chief dared to casually speak of killing the Mistec Chief Priest.

"...uh, next negotiation, Chief Viko, may not come...uh, the negotiation was requested by Black Wolf, killing their envoy might ruin the Great Chief’s plans..."

"Haha!"

Upon hearing this, Red Monkey Ozoma burst into laughter. He reached out, patted the young priest’s tense shoulder, and mocked him.

"A little wolf indeed, afraid even to bite a fox! The Mistec people are powerless on the battlefield; even if a Chief Priest dies, they still come crawling to beg for peace! Besides, these dogs may not fight outsiders well, but their internal struggles are fierce. Even within their dens, they bite each other. If you kill the chief, the rest might even be secretly delighted!"

"..."

Andiwei was again silent, his face a shifting hue, feeling like he’d just been verbally attacked. The red-haired barbarian spoke crudely, but it was indeed the reality of the Southern City States. The Priest Elder Council was known for its intense and brutal infighting...

"Ah! Chief Divine! May you bless me, grant me the light in my heart!"

"Ha! Blessing of the Chief Divine!"

Seeing Andiwei’s prayer, Red Monkey Ozoma pursed his lips and also closed his eyes, murmuring a prayer for a moment. Then, Ozoma opened his eyes, gazed at the distant line of captive troops, and seriously asked.

"Little wolf, you’re good at counting. How many able-bodied captives have been migrating north these days?"

"Let me see."

Andiwei retrieved a roll of hard paper from his bosom for records. It was Mexica paper, much more useful than wooden boards.

"Up till today, twelve groups have migrated north, each group ranging from five hundred to more than a thousand captives... plus the group that just went past... about ten thousand able-bodied men and women!"

"And according to the message from Black Wolf Commander-in-Chief, there are approximately the same number of able-bodied captives in the valley to be sent over!"

"Hmm, ten thousand plus ten thousand, that’s over twenty thousand able-bodied men and women? No, there are also three to four thousand defectors, making it over twenty thousand... five thousand mouths to feed."

Red Monkey Ozoma counted on his fingers for a while. Then, he painstakingly calculated the remaining stockpile, his expression serious.

"With these extra twenty-five thousand people, the legion’s food supply will only last a month! Despite much plundering while on campaign, consumption remains high! It seems we must fiercely extract a batch of provisions from Divine Stone City!"

At this time, dispersed plundering by armies typically leads to significant losses. Unless they conquer large grain stores or particularly prosperous areas, surplus is rarely achieved.

"Yes. Chief Divine witnesses! I will severely intimidate Divine Stone City for Black Wolf Great Chief, for the legion! I know their weakness, which is the power of the city-state! If delayed too long, if Teotihuacan Valley is scorched into a barren land, the strength of various groups greatly reduced, Mountain River City’s Yun Chen Leader might find the opportunity to invade Divine Stone City! Lowland Mistec and Highland Mistec do not share one heart!... "

Their voices gradually sank, scattered in the late summer breeze. Their gaze drifted towards the west. The west was lush with mountain forests, the highland Divine Stone City, while the lowland Mountain River City Huajuapan lay two hundred li away!

September steadily passed, as the rainy season came to an end. The black-cloaked envoy from Divine Stone City came and went, while migrating captive troops meandered northwards. Mountain River City’s Yun Chen Leader had finally gathered over ten thousand Mistec warriors, over ten thousand militia, stationed at the southwestern mountain pass of the valley.

These Mistec armies hailed from lowland and coastal city-states, led by different military leaders, merely united under the banner of Yun Chen Leader. They set camps, occupied strategic positions, withheld action, continuously threatening the southward-moving Mexica legion.

Black Wolf consolidated the troops, bringing six thousand Guajili legion, four thousand Tlaxcala defectors, and four thousand Mistec defectors, standing off against the Mistec people’s reinforcements. He wished for a decisive field battle to crush the Mistec forces entirely. However, the opposing leader did not grant him such an opportunity.

Yun Chen Leader’s main forces remained entrenched, repeatedly dispatching small units to engage in skirmishes with Mexica scouts in the familiar mountainous forests.