Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 979 - 580: Bountiful Farmlands, the Northward King

Chapter 979: Chapter 580: Bountiful Farmlands, the Northward King

The sunrise, with its canopy of clouds, marks the autumn glow of September. The mountain winds howl, and the long Wolf Banner shines brilliantly. Cooking smoke curls, gently brushing against the soaring Eagle Feather. Outside the flat Water Valley City, the vast Mexica camp bathes in the bright morning light, gradually buzzing with human voices.

"滴, 滴滴!"

The horn sounds, and tens of thousands of Legion Warriors awaken from their slumber. They organize their armor and maintain their weapons while also preparing their breakfast.

"呜~! 呜~!"

The desolate horn resounded across the vast valley, awakening the dozens of militia encampments stretched over twenty miles. At the command of the Militia Captain, thousands of Telascallan civilians emerged from makeshift hovels and pits. Following that, everyone, regardless of age or gender, gathered before the main emblem of the Chief Divine in the center of the camp.

Soon, under the guidance of the Chief God Priest, more than a hundred thousand people raised their heads in unison, facing the morning light of the East, praying to the Supreme Chief God!

"Praise our God Huitzilopochtli! He is supreme and omnipotent! He grants us sunshine and rain, harvest and food!..."

A chorus of chaotic prayers echo through the vast valley, like a sudden storm in the rainy season, merging into orderly thunder. Every time such a collective prayer is held, it’s unforgettable, deeply engraved in the hearts of both villagers and warriors!

At this moment, many newly converted Telascallan cannot hold back their tears. It seems as though a beam of light falls upon their barren and parched hearts, dispelling the darkness of death and bringing hope for new life! Everything is like the nearly ripening farmlands around the militia encampments, heralding perhaps a peaceful future.

"...Praise our God! He shields me, writing new Chapters across the world with spears and plows!"

Xiulote, dressed in ceremonial dress, raised his hands high towards the red sun in the sky, uttering the ruler’s prayer. Standing atop the Water Valley City wall, he cast his gaze around, and boundless cornfields entered his sight.

In the fields, the corn thrives, with most stalks bearing one or two ears, and only a few sprawling and lodging. With the rainy season past, the sunny weather is also ideal for harvest. This year’s situation around the Water Valley City is evidently a rare bumper harvest!

"The land after the carnage always turns more fertile... The use of compost helped somewhat..."

With bright eyes, Xiulote straightened his spine. Observing the endless, lush green and golden fields before him, a satisfied smile spread across his face, like a sincere child whose voice turned clear.

"Five hundred thousand mu! Five hundred thousand mu of bountiful land! I’ve stayed here for nearly half a year with the Imperial Guard Legion, personally managing each camp to guide over a hundred thousand Telascallans for this scene!"

Staring at the ruler’s star-like eyes and listening to the ruler’s proud proclamation, Nashu’s heart began to beat rapidly. She struggled to clutch her chest, her eyes gradually turning misty, like dew under the sunlight, rushing unhesitatingly towards the sun’s rays.

"Congratulations, Your Highness! You are the true king!"

Bertade bowed his head in admiration, sincerely praising.

"The bountiful fields are the will of the people, and they are the essence of divinity! You are the immortal Xiulotel, the master of new life and death, bringing pure and bright vitality after destroying decaying death!"

"Haha!"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote laughed heartily, a sense of comfort spreading across his entire being, even his pores relaxed. Building and creating always bring long-lasting happiness. At this moment, the joy and satisfaction in his heart surpassed even leading tens of thousands on the battlefield!

The sun rose slowly, the birds circled in the sky, farmers busied in the fields, while warriors drilled in the camps, everything running smoothly.

Xiulote descended from the city wall, changing into a light white robe, entering the grand hall within the city. Seated cross-legged in the grand hall, with Nashu carrying a short dagger behind him, Bertade with a brass sword on his left, and on his right—a resolute and calm middle-aged warrior. The warrior’s face bore slight aging, yet his eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s.

"Bertade, September will come to an end, the rainy season is past, and autumn harvests should pose no problem. King Aweit has again sent a Messenger, urging us eagerly... In two days, I will lead the four thousand Imperial Guard Legion north to meet the king in Tree Snake City!"

Saying this, Xiulote glanced at the calm-headed Head Warrior, then looked at the other middle-aged warrior with a gentle smile.

"This northern journey, besides the four thousand Imperial Guards, will include eight thousand Yu Yan Legion, eight thousand Huashu Legion, and an additional thousand elite Fire Warriors gathered from various groups, replenishing the king’s newly formed Tonsured Guard... totaling over twenty thousand. The army only needs to prepare twenty days of food, as supply will naturally be provided once with the Northern Route Army."

"Your Highness, you... only bring four thousand guards?"

Hearing this, Bertade pursed his lips, inquiring in a deep voice.

The journey from Water Valley City to Tree Snake City is only one hundred fifty li. Large Telascallan strongholds along the way have all been cleared by the Northern and Southern Armies. Even marching the slow-moving Artillery Camp north takes no more than ten days. Yet, beyond those hundred li lies the two regions controlled by the Northern Route Army, where the king’s legion possesses overwhelming advantage...

"Hmm. Four thousand Imperial Guards, including three thousand in heavy armor and one thousand from the artillery camp, are more than sufficient!"

Xiulote smiled confidently and made his decision.

"As for the remaining three thousand Imperial Guards... Bertade, I leave them all to you! Black Wolf has already sent word that the Divine Stone City has dispatched an envoy indicating submission, and the Mistec people are withdrawing completely. His Guajili Legion will return any day now. Scouts in the South have also confirmed the movements of the Mistec people."

"... Since the threat from the rear has been relieved, we can pull out half of the Royal Legion and Militia from the Mountain Pass Fortresses and Blade Road City to replenish the camp at Water Valley City. That amounts to three thousand Mexica Warriors and three thousand Lake Region Militias, totaling six thousand men. Although the Coiled Python Legion is mainly composed of militia, it can still be used to maintain the local farming camps. Plus, Black Wolf has fifteen thousand men..."

"Bertade, my loyal Head Warrior, oversee the South in my stead! When I leave, the thirty thousand warriors in the South will all be under your command!"

"Take good care of the camp at Water Valley City, complete this year’s autumn harvest, and appease the over one hundred thousand Telascallan villagers! Also, Black Wolf mentioned that he would bring back more than twenty thousand Mistec youths. You must help me transport these precious people back to the Kingdom of the Lake!"

Upon hearing about overseeing the South, Bertade was taken aback. He opened his mouth in surprise and asked with concern.

"Your Highness, what about your escort on this journey north?"

"Haha! No worries. Guard Commander Ecatl is skilled in martial arts and has guarded my grandfather for many years. This time heading north, he will accompany me, advising on military matters and participating in the defense. Yes, this was also a suggestion you had given me earlier."

After speaking, Xiulote affectionately reached out his hand and patted the shoulder of the middle-aged warrior beside him. This person was a trusted aide to his grandfather and a family warrior he had known since childhood.

"Ecatl, this time on our northern journey, the task is entrusted to you!"

The former High Priest’s Guard Commander, the middle-aged family warrior Ecatl, immediately knelt on the ground, bowing deeply in reverence.

"Your esteemed Highness, you are the heir of the Holy City’s Royal Family! I will pledge my life to guard by your side, like my forefathers and brothers before me! I will stand before you, be it thunderbolts, arrows, spears, or poison!"

Seeing Ecatl bowing toward the King, Bertade pursed his lips, feeling a torrent of complex emotions within. However, he knew that His Highness had already chosen a new path for him. In the end, all of this was unavoidable.

After several moments, the calm Head Warrior knelt on one knee, also offering a deep bow.

"Your Highness, I adhere to your commands, my one and only sun!"

"Very well!"

Xiulote nodded slightly, his expression calm yet bearing increasingly mature authority. He hesitated briefly, calculating the food supply in the camp, and then asked seriously,

"Bertade, how is the transportation of the Telascallan youth proceeding?"

"Your Highness, since the eastward campaign began, the Southern Army of the Kingdom has prioritized acquiring population as its primary mission. Before attacking the Holy City in June, the Southern Army captured 120,000 people from various Telascallan tribes, killed 30,000, and transported 30,000, all of whom were young and old under 35."

Bertade paused slightly, glancing at His Highness’s calm face before speaking cautiously.

"After the pacification of the Holy City Cholula... another 90,000 were captured, and 30,000 were killed. Over the past three months, the Kingdom has launched a large number of newly constructed canoes, speeding up transportation, and a total of 60,000 have been relocated! In total, the Southern Army has captured 210,000, and 90,000 have already been relocated. Approximately 120,000 remain stationed around the Water Valley City region, responsible for harvesting 500,000 mu of farmland!"

"Good! Good! More than 200,000 people, with nearly half already relocated! If these 200,000 tribes are settled in the southern part of the Kingdom, the Kingdom of the Lake’s strength will dramatically transform!"

The young royal was extremely satisfied. He turned to look southeast, waiting for Black Wolf’s Guajili Legion to return, bringing another 20,000 youths. These relocated tribes and youth had been stripped of their original nobility and chieftains, making them entirely under the Kingdom’s control! And once these more than 200,000 people were stabilized, they could support another non-producing army!

"In this turbulent world of Central America, ultimately, it’s the army in hand that holds sway!"

Xiulote lowered his gaze, thoughts flashing through his mind, determination welling up in his chest. After a long pause, he beckoned Bertade closer to discuss another critical task, the final arrangement.

The campfire flickered, swaying without wind. As the moon set and the sun rose, another two days flowed like water. Flowing southward, against the Tarsas River northward lies the river’s original source. And towering White Snake Hill City and Cloud Serpent Mountain City lay to the north of the river’s source, sixty to seventy miles away.

By the end of September, Black Wolf’s Royal Banner stood tall, marching northward under the escort of four thousand Imperial Guard Warriors. Heavy copper cannons were dragged by civilians, containing the power of destruction. The large Kingdom Legion had already taken the lead, heading to the King’s camp outside Tree Snake City.

The King followed the mountain road, walking from the bountiful southern fields to the overgrown northern lands. However, this time, behind him, there was no high-raised Wolf Banner, only a seemingly cold yet warming silver box.