Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 987 - 588: Charging Ship

Chapter 987: Chapter 588: Charging Ship

"O mighty Rain Divine!..."

Amidst hundreds of samurai, the military leader of Ye Guo City, Yunshi Kawa, stood on the Eastern bank of the Great River. Squinting his eyes to avoid the blinding Western sunset, he carefully examined the longships on the river.

"What exactly are they...?"

"Leader Yunshi, those should be the boats of the Aztec Tiger Men."

Veteran scout Qiaoao inclined his head and replied respectfully.

"Two days ago, I saw these boats being dragged across the water."

"What? They have boats so large!"

Yunshi Kawa’s eyes widened, and he gestured in front of him, estimating the length of the longship.

"At least twelve men long! Ten times a canoe!"

The length of one person is roughly 1.5 meters. Twelve men long would be 18 meters, while the Mountain Tribes’ canoes are smaller, usually just two meters, for ease of landing.

"Ears, aren’t the Northern Aztec Tiger Men good at land battles? How can they build such sacred large ships?"

Yunshi Kawa tightly grasped his spear, astonished. Among the Rain People, waterborne vessels are important symbols of faith, just like the Rain Divine.

In the myths, after the Feathered Serpent Father Divine and the Rain Divine Mother Goddess committed a great folly, they sailed a serpent boat to the Great Lake in the East. The Maya, who also have large ships and worship the Feathered Serpent, have always had good trade relations with the Southern Coast’s various Mistec city-states. In the flourishing Black Altar City, coastal Mayan trade ships would often bring precious superior-quality turquoises and jade, traversing the expansive Southern Great Lake.

"...Leader, they might not be Tiger Men."

Ear Qiaoao scratched his head, speaking uncertainly.

"I’ve heard them singing; that doesn’t sound like Navajo. Their accent is akin to the nobility who escaped here years ago; they should be the Divine Eagle Tribe’s Eagle Men... Eagle Men are adept at shipbuilding and have traded copper vessels with the city-states. These large ships were likely made by them."

"Qiaoao," this name in Mistek Language means "ears." It’s typical for scouts with excellent hearing to acquire such a name.

"Tarasco’s Eagle Men?"

Upon hearing this, Yunshi Kawa’s mind flashed back to unforgettable memories.

Years ago, Prince of Tarasco, Southern Route Commander Quiyus, had landed along the Tarsas River, from a spot not far southwest, fleeing into Ye Guo City. As one of Ye Guo City’s military leaders, he hospitably entertained them for several months.

However, when the Aztec King personally led military forces to defeat the Tlaxcala Serpent People’s troops, the elders of the various tribes’ attitudes changed instantly. The leader of Divine Stone City, Yun Chen, also sent a message. In the end, he personally acted to send the brave Prince Quiyus off with a cup of exquisite poison wine.

"Ha! The elders are cowardly, and the leader Yun Chen is equally indecisive. Now, the Eagle Men have become Tiger Men’s claws, and the Serpent People are nearing extinction! Aztec’s vicious tigers come charging in, devouring the Cloud Temple in one breath... The sacred Rain People have no other choice! We must fight!"

Thinking of this, Yunshi Kawa’s gaze turned fierce, and battle intent burned in his chest. He looked around, watching the gathered tribal warriors and loudly encouraged them.

"Warriors of the Rain Divine! The vicious Tiger Men and Eagle Men have appeared here, near our city-state! They sail on large ships, intending to ambush our forts and destroy our temple... Just as it’s happening right now in the Teotihuacan Valley!"

At this point, Yunshi Kawa paused. He had led his troops here because he received news that Divine Stone City was besieged and urgently retreated from Mire Fort, preparing to return to defend Ye Guo City.

"The Rain Divine is furious, the Rain Divine roars! This is the Divine Realm of the Rain Divine Zavi, also our land! We are descendants of the Rain Divine, blessed by the Divine for a millennium!"

Yunshi Kawa, emotionally charged, raised his spear; even the feather bundle on his back fluttered in the wind.

"Warriors of the Rain Divine! To defend our home, go forth, fight to the death, defeat the invading enemy! For the supreme Rain Divine is watching over us!"

"Roar! The Rain Divine watches over us!..."

More than a thousand tribal warriors, filled with fanaticism, collectively shouted like thunder before a storm. Then, forty small canoes carried nearly two hundred tribal warriors, rushing downstream toward the longships on the Western bank!

"...The Mistek people are coming!"

A sharp shout spread across the riverbank, and the Prepecha Warriors standing in ranks instantly became tense. Camp Commander Pimeng climbed a mound, watched the incoming boat swarm, and adjusted the position of the army formation. Only when the Mistek people’s boats came closer, within two hundred paces, did he unambiguously shout the command.

"The enemy’s target is the longship! Archers, advance fifty paces, support the kingdom’s fleet, shoot freely!"

The boat swarm approached the longships for a naval battle; the heavy-armored warriors and able-bodied captives on the bank momentarily lost their function. Only the archers stationed in the camp could provide prompt assistance.

"One hundred paces, eighty paces, sixty paces! Archers on the boats, quick, shoot!"

Puap drew the greatbow, targeting the tribal warriors on the small boats, and shot an arrow.

"Whizz!"

Undoubtedly, this precise arrow... brushed past the enemy’s hair, plunging into the water.

"Damn it! With the favorable wind and water, the enemy’s small boats are incredibly fast!"

Puap gritted his teeth, squinted at the ever-approaching enemy boats, and again drew the bow and released arrows.

"Whizz, whizz, whizz!"

The boat swarm entered forty paces; the second wave of feathered arrows quickly struck. Almost immediately, the Mistek warriors on the opposite side erupted with screams. Several tribal warriors tilted their bodies and "splash" fell into the water. The rushing boat swarm suddenly started to scatter.

"Whizz, whizz, whizz!"

Within twenty paces, the third wave of feathered arrows was fired simultaneously from both the bank and the ships. The Mistek people’s cries suddenly turned shrill! More than a dozen elite warriors were killed, and many others wounded, causing several small boats to collide with each other. However, the remaining Mistek warriors drove their speeding boats ever closer with raised javelins, howling fiercely as they drew aim, aided by the speed of the water and boats.

"Rain Divine protects! For the tribes! Shoot!..."

"Whizz, whizz!... Uh!..."

"Oh blind Heavenly Divine!"

Old militia Chiwaco trembled all over, instinctively crouching down. A heavy and sharp stone spear screeched past the top of his head and then "thud," pinned the solid wooden deck. Another sailor on the ship managed only a scream before a vicious javelin shot him down. The plummeting stone spear pierced the cotton armor, creating a massive wound, with blood and viscera spilling immediately beyond saving.

The Mistek people’s javelins, although slightly inaccurate, struck seven or eight men. But these javelins, bolstered by the boat speed, proved extremely lethal, a single hit meant death!

"Chief Divine protects, only twenty paces remain! Ten paces! Damn it, they’re not slowing down, absolutely insane!!"

With roaring river currents and spreading crimson, the small boats charged like javelins. Huitu Puap dropped his longbow and raised his shield, yelling in anger, his expression slightly distorted.

"Quick! Quick! Warriors raise spears, sailors hold javelins! Brace the shields on both sides, prepare for the impact!... Ah!"

"Boom!... Bang! Bang!"