Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 999 - 600: Vanguard Battle Maniac, 7th Kingdom Legion

Chapter 999: Chapter 600: Vanguard Battle Maniac, 7th Kingdom Legion

The dry north wind blew over the Mexican Plateau, bringing a bit of chill. Now, in the blink of an eye, it’s already the beginning of December. The tropics have no winter, only a prolonged deep autumn. The northern part of the Tlaxcala Valley is filled with an extremely deep sense of autumn. As far as the eye can see, the fields are half withered yellow and half cold green, with an endless high sky.

Beneath the high sky stands the peak of Cloud Serpent Mountain. Cloud Serpent City remains sturdy and majestic, like an unyielding fortress, only now tinged with bleakness and deep yellow.

Further down, White Snake Hill City stands eight or nine miles away. Among the undulating hills, the vegetation is slightly yellow, with no flying birds or wandering beasts to be seen. A deep trench and spaced fortifications have already surrounded the entire White Snake Hill City. From the city head of White Snake City looking down, the Mexica’s trenches resemble the giant open maw of an abyss worm, and their fortifications are like a mouthful of venomous fangs, poised to slowly swallow the entire hill city.

Beyond the hill city lies the plains with evergreen trees, and amidst the green trees is Tree Snake City. Water Valley River flows quietly, heading northeast. The Mexica legion’s camp stretches along the river for several miles, like a water python waiting patiently.

Xiulote stood at the seven-inch mark of the "water python," under the royal banner atop Tree Snake City. He looked into the northeast, his thoughts drifting far. The Kingdom’s expedition fleet had already set sail after launching a few days ago. At this moment, having replenished their provisions, the fleet hoisted the alliance flags and set out, steering towards the lower reaches of Cat Owl River. Their first target was four hundred miles away, the southern ancestral land of the Mistec, Crow City. And controlling Crow City was the Silver Raven Tribe, the great tribe of the Mistec engaging in an alliance marriage.

"The Kingdom Fleet carries the envoy of the alliance, conveying the joyful news of the royal family’s marriage. Silver Raven Papata has always been submissive, and will surely obey the alliance’s instructions to help the fleet refit and resupply..."

Xiulote mused for a moment and relaxed slightly. Besides the Silver Raven Tribe, he had also dispatched alliance envoys to the coastal Totonac states.

At this moment of great victory in the eastern expedition, with the recent destruction of the Four State Alliance of Tlaxcala, there shouldn’t be any city-state daring to openly revolt against the alliance and attack the Kingdom’s fleet. As for further on, marching over a thousand miles east, past the easternmost Hidden Serpent City of the Totonac people, there lies the western Yucatan Maya city-states...

"Those, however, are beyond the reach of the current alliance... They can only rely on the Maya guides within the fleet, and the axe and spear in warriors’ hands..."

Xiulote gazed with a distant expression eastward. He hurried, racing against time, and urgently sent out this fleet, uncertain about how it would turn out.

"Perhaps they will all be drowned in the Caribbean Sea’s storms. Or perhaps attacked by coastal Maya city-states and disappear completely. Even, they might lose their way, drifting to northern Florida or southern Panama, until decades later when the last remnants will be found by the alliance..."

"This season, the ocean currents move north, while the monsoon blows south, anything is possible... May the Chief Divine protect them!"

Xiulote closed his eyes and murmured a soft prayer for a while. Then, he turned around, descending from the city tower, heading towards the temple in the city.

A month passed, and Tree Snake Temple didn’t change much, merely has more black persimmon wood furniture in the center, and more drawings of the Chief Divine on the walls, all favored by the King.

Soon, Xiulote settled down in the center, sipping hibiscus tea delivered by Nashu, and perusing Kingdom documents coming from afar.

The first document was written by Bertade, recording the progress of prisoner transfers in the past three months.

"Honorable Highness, since September, the southern route naval forces have been transferring prisoners day and night, moving 60,000 Tlaxcala youths and adults. These captives have witnessed Your Highness’s majesty and experienced autumn harvest during their station outside Water Valley City for several months. Their morale is relatively stable, and few have escaped, making them easier for the Kingdom to assimilate..."

"Your Highness, perhaps it might be possible to select two battalions of warriors and militia from these captives to manage newly established Tlaxcala villages, and train them during agricultural downtime... All Tlaxcala states have a foundation in bow and arrow skills, and are excellent sources of archers..."

Seeing this, Xiulote thought for a moment and slowly nodded. So far, 210,000 Tlaxcala prisoners have been transferred to the Kingdom of the Lake, with over 180,000 people moved. Counting losses and transfers stationed in towns along the way, approximately 160,000 reached the Kingdom’s heartland, forming camps divided into settlements across two southern counties. The remaining prisoners, plus over 20,000 captured Mistec youths brought back by Black Wolf, amount to around 50,000. These young people will be completely transferred within three months.

"The area under the Kingdom’s expansion is getting larger, with battles on all fronts, requiring increasingly vast military forces! Within a few years, Bertade will head to Cuba, needing to take thousands of samurai with him. The establishment of a new legion is imminent!... These newly acquired over two hundred thousand people are enough to support a semi-professional legion of eight thousand... Hmm, at least eight thousand..."

Pondering this, Xiulote stroked his chin, contemplating the composition of the eight thousand-strong Tlaxcala legion.

"Over a month ago, Black Wolf already returned from the South. The Tlaxcala surrendered army camp in his hands still has more than two thousand people. These defectors are all experienced in battle, hands stained with blood, warriors who court death. Now, with the conflicts temporarily paused, the Guajili Legion is resting in Water Valley City, it’s an opportune moment to separate this surrendered army camp out. Then, select War Priests and officers from the Imperial Guards for re-training."

"Two thousand warriors courting death, as the central core, equipped with leather armor, bronze axes, and copper spears. Then, draw a thousand kingdom warriors from the Imperial Guard Legion as the personal army of the main commander. Further conscript two thousand five hundred archer militia from the hundred-thousand tribes who participated in half a year of farming, equipping them with paper armor, long bamboo bows, and short spears. Lastly, conscript a further fifteen hundred archer militia from the remaining hundred thousand people. This way, it forms a fully staffed legion of eight thousand! Of course, to appease the two thousand core warriors, you still need to grant them land and slaves..."

Drawing warriors from the Imperial Guard Legion aims to strengthen control over the legion. After the transfer, the remaining vacancies must be selected from the surrendered army to be placed next to the King for training. This scheme partially draws inspiration from the Khitan’s imperial tent army, aiming to strengthen the monarch’s command over local legions.

Xiulote made up his mind and reached out slightly. Nashu lowered her jade-like head, astutely offering a paper and pen while prepping black and blue ink. The King nodded slightly, dipped his pen in the black ink, and then wielded it like a dance of dragons and serpents, the strokes like ghostly symbols.

"Royal Decree: Form the Long Serpent Legion, with a limit of eight thousand. The entire Tlaxcala surrendered army camp of two thousand people shall be granted Second Level Warrior titles, awarded 20 acres of land, and one slave. From the two thousand, select five hundred warriors based on merit to be granted Third Level Warrior titles, awarded 100 acres of land, and five slaves. The Kingdom Warrior camp of one thousand shall be selected from the Imperial Guard Legion, half being Mexica and the other half Prepecha warriors, with their ranks unchanged. Choose five thousand longbow militia from... those brave and excellent in archery shall be granted First Level Warrior titles!"

In this way, from the two hundred thousand Tlaxcala people, the most combative eight thousand are drawn out and integrated into the kingdom’s ruling echelon. These people leave their homes a thousand miles away to resettle. Stationed in the heavily fortified heartland of the kingdom, with a new warrior identity, land, and slaves, the thought of rebellion or escape would lessen considerably.

"Of course, the quickest way to fully win over the hearts of this legion is to ensure they gain real benefits! Let them engage in battles with fewer losses, plundering other tribes to earn more military merits, land, and slaves, witnessing the pathway to advancement! And these are things previously monopolized by the hereditary Divine Descendants and nobility within the original Four States Alliance, impossible for them to obtain..."

"As long as they earn military merit and become part of the kingdom’s ruling fabric, even as a Second or Third Level Warrior... their loyalty will be greatly solidified, just like the current Prepecha warriors!"

With this thought, a hint of self-satisfaction appeared on Xiulote’s face. The method of ruling the kingdom is actually not complicated, it’s all war, war, war! As long as victories are achieved continually, fulfilling the military merit promises of granting land and slaves, the military group of the Kingdom of the Lake will become more solid and powerful!

"That being the case, the station for the Long Serpent Legion will be at the Tarsus outlet near the Black Rock Mountain iron ore. From there, marching northwards along the river, they can plunder over ten city-states of the Northern Ticos tribes, with a population of hundreds of thousands, as well as the Sea Woman City on the southeastern coast! The old account of the kingdom’s expedition being attacked needs to be properly settled. Meanwhile, the nearby Fire River City tribes should also be gradually influenced and slowly brought under control!"

Contemplating this, Xiulote’s mind whirled, swiftly writing the Royal Decree. Soon, the decree establishing the seventh legion was written, except for one final difficulty: the choice of the legion commander.

"The Legion Commander of the Black Serpent Legion... Well, since the legion mainly comprises defectors and captives, the main commander needs to be loyal. In the kingdom, possessing such qualifications and abilities are only the Eagle Warrior Balda and the Temple Guard Captain Elvi, both currently serving as Camp Commanders in the Imperial Guard Legion... Who should I choose?"...

Xiulote closed his eyes, pondering silently. Seeing the contemplative His Highness, Nashu knowingly and softly smiled. She lit calming incense, brewed a cup of honeyed herbal tea, and patiently knelt by the side, waiting with her head down.

"Loyal and unwavering... If I rise... facing the supreme... between the two, who will follow without hesitation, swearing allegiance until death?... Alas! Why do I harbor such disrespectful thoughts?!"

The gentle aroma seeped into his heart. Xiulote clenched his lips, feeling guilty. But when he opened his eyes, he no longer hesitated, immediately taking up the pen to write.

"Royal Decree, Black Serpent Legion, stationed at Tarsus seaport. Legion Commander shall be..."

Nashu quietly opened her eyes, glanced at the Royal Decree on the paper. Then, she curled her lips into a faint smile.