Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 1410 - 965: The Kingdom’s Political Path of Expansion and the Three Stages of the Maya Campaign

"Samurai, Tupa, the governance of the Eastern Sea is crucial in the kingdom’s long-term political strategy! From the vast grasslands of the Coa Wei Ke Great River in the North, to the jungle coasts of Vastec; from the thousand-mile coastlines of the Totonac, to the coastal regions of the Eastern Maya; and then eight thousand miles away to Cuba Snake Island, even further to the islands of the Great Lake... this vast stretch of over ten thousand miles is what we call the land of the Eastern Sea! And this sea route connected by passage is the kingdom’s line of interest for Eastern expansion, as well as the future lifeline for all tribes under heaven!"The group sailed on the lake, the water reflecting the colors of the mountain, with the East standing tall with mountains. Xiulote gazed toward the East, his view extending far, seeming to reach the end of the Caribbean Sea, those lush and prosperous islands.

The kingdom’s political bodies have already expanded and dispersed throughout the realms of Central America. As he returns to the Lake Capital City, the authority for various conquests will be entirely handed over to the generals. At this critical moment, he needs to clearly inform everyone, proposing the kingdom’s political masterstroke, thus unifying everyone’s thoughts and goals under one clear banner! The "banner" he chose is the kingdom’s "expansion," the "unification" of the world!

"Monkey Kuluka will hold the fort at Chapala Great Lake for me, launching an expedition to the lower reaches of the Lerma River; miner Ezpan will swear allegiance to me with the Colima tribes, securing peace on the North Tectos Coast; the veteran Etalik will control the Tarsas River downstream for me, conquering the Tlapanec coast; poet Balamo will recruit the wilderness tribes for me, governing the wilderness upstream of the Tampen River tributary."

At this point, Xiulote looked at the two generals, took hold of the hands of Black Wolf and Tupa, and entrusted them solemnly.

"Black Wolf, Tupa, may the Chief Divine protect! The campaign in the Eastern Sea lands, I will entrust Bertade and you all!"

"Once Head Warrior Bertade captures Cloud Serpent Mountain City, he will lead four thousand Imperial Guards, that is half of the Imperial Guard Legion, to come to Golden Bay City. He will become the first Military Governor of the Seaside, assembling the Coastal Legion composed of Totonac Warriors, and serve as the first Commander of the Coastal Legion! Hmm, Tupa, you will lead the Artillery Camp as the Vice Commander of the Coastal Legion. Subsequently, the army must drive the tens of thousands of surrendered Totonac Tribe Warriors, continuing the eastward expedition to the Maya Coast!"

"According to the exploration fleet’s map, the eastward expedition to the Maya Coast will be divided into three stages, namely the Central Maya Coast, the Lowland Maya West Coast, and the Lowland Maya East Coast... I will only give the strategy for the first stage, the conquest of the Central Maya Coast. As for the remaining Lowland Maya Coast, it will depend on the specific situation, to be decided by Bertade and you yourselves!"

Xiulote unfolded the leather map he carried, densely filled with his meticulous drawing of the Maya based on memories from later generations and reports from the Eastern Sea exploration fleet. Pointing first at Hidden Snake City, he traced eastwards until reaching the southern side of the Yucatan Peninsula, encircling at Grassland City among the Putun tribes.

"The first stage is to pacify the more than one thousand miles of the Central Maya Coast, from the Hidden Snake City of the Totonaq people to Champoton of the Putun Tribe, the ’Grassland City’ in the mouths of the Maya! Among them are many small city-states and villages, including Red Lake Town and Shrimp Village, but there are no particularly large city-states or tribal alliances... This also means there are no forces strong enough to resist the kingdom’s legion."

"This vast Central Coast, with tribes of all sizes along the way, possesses cultural characteristics of the Olmec and the Mayans, and retains some Highland culture brought by the Toltec eastward expedition. Their resistance level against highland conquest should be weaker than that of the ancient Lowland Maya Tribes... And the half-hunting half-farming Putun Tribes, whom the Lowland Mayans call ’Barbarians,’ can likewise be subdued and driven northward as tribal forces by the kingdom!... Previous exploration fleets have opened a good start for the kingdom, establishing good trade connections with a powerful Putun Tribe Chief."

Here, Xiulote paused slightly. He looked seriously at the two generals from his trusted aides, and instructed solemnly.

"Black Wolf, Tupa, there are two key points in the campaign against the Eastern Maya Coast! The first point is to continuously organize servant armies to bear losses, maintain logistics, and subdue local regions from newly conquered areas through converted faith, military merit ennoblement, and vanguard selection from the conquered city-states and tribes, cultivating reliable local forces step by step from surrendered servant armies."

"Therefore, in the next step of the Eastern campaign, the surrendered Totonac Warriors will have to take on the main fighting roles and be parcelled into newly conquered territories! Furthermore, the war against the Eastern Maya Coast and the East’s expansion is the best means to absorb and unify the warriors from various coastal regions."

"The first stage of the campaign lasts until preliminary acceptance, alliance, and even submission of the Putun Tribes. These semi-nomadic Putun Tribes are excellent sources of servant armies! The tens of thousands of tribe able-bodied men accustomed to warfare have a wilderness tribe tradition of respecting powerful tribes. If they accept the kingdom’s conscription and influence, they will be the best assistance for conquering the Lowland Maya!"

"As for the second key point in conquering the Maya Coast, it is to form a sufficiently powerful Eastern Sea Navy to completely suppress the coastal city-states, and even each Mayan Chiefdom!"

"To maintain the thousands of miles of coastline, maintain the kingdom’s city-states and fortresses in various locations, supply the frontline army’s campaign... inland jungle transportation is certainly inadequate! We must possess a strong Eastern Sea Navy! And in the not-too-distant future, this Eastern Sea Navy will face more challenging opponents and opportunities, those fair-skinned enemies coming from the sea."

Xiulote reached out, patting Black Wolf’s shoulder lightly, smiling to reassure him.

"Therefore, if the Naval Commander of Hidden Snake City can bring the fleet and shipwrights to surrender, it would be beneficial to the kingdom’s naval strengthening... For the kingdom’s expansion path, we need to forgive his offenses, accepting his surrender! As for whether this person can be used and to what extent... it depends on whether he’s smart enough to walk the same path as us!"

"There are many heroes in the world, and many elites in each tribe! To conquer the world, opportunities to integrate into the kingdom, showcase talents, and enjoy the fruit of power must be given to these heroes from various tribes! Like the wilderness Guajili Tribes, once our enemies, creating many troubles for us. Now, they are the sharpest blades in the kingdom’s hands, also the most ferocious pack of wolves!"

"Witnessed by the Chief Divine! Although I am from the Mexican Royal Family, I have no bias when facing the tribes beneath the heavens. If the heroes of the world are willing to be used by me, walk the same path, and even be drawn into my fold... I will treat them equally and share the bounties with them! Black Wolf, Tupa, you must also do the same!"

"Because the force that the kingdom can deploy to the coast is actually limited. Stronger and more powerful forces require you to expand yourselves! In this regard, I will not limit you in the slightest, freely expand the pack of wolves for me!"

This long-term plan and promise said with sincerity made Black Wolf and Tupa’s eyes gleam brightly, resembling the lead wolves hunting in the night. And "Wolf King" Xiulote smiled as he grasped the hair of the "lead wolves," releasing the restraining "reins," and generously promised.

"As long as the first phase of the campaign against the Maya Coast is completed and the thousand-mile region of Central Maya is controlled, Head Warrior Bertade will be promoted to East Sea Marshal, a position equal to the Prince of the Alliance! And Tupa, you shall take over the Coastal Legion, succeeding as the Coastal Legion Commander to oversee military affairs on the Totonac Coast!..."

"Ah? Your Highness! I... I’m to take over the Coastal Legion? Oh this!"

Upon hearing this, Firearms Camp Commander Tupa’s young face first showed disbelief and surprise, followed by sheer joy and excitement, and then a hint of fear appeared...

"By the witness of the Chief Divine! Your Highness, I am still young and lack deep credentials... There are so many veteran generals in the kingdom..."

"Haha! Tupa, what? Do you lack confidence to command the Coastal Legion and manage the Seaside Lands for me?..."

"Ah! I do! Your Highness, I am confident! I have battled in the Seaside Lands for years, so I am absolutely familiar with the situation... As for the Totonac Warriors’ Legion, I am also confident I can lead it well!..."

"Very well, with the blessing of the Chief Divine! As a young general, you should have such confidence and fighting spirit! Tupa, you emerged from my trusted aides, and I have never doubted your loyalty. Now that I have chosen you, and you have this ability, you must do it well for me!..."

Xiulote firmly appointed Firearms Camp Commander Tupa. Then, he glanced at Black Wolf, who appeared calm and as though he had already anticipated this, with a slight hint of surprise passing over his face.

"Oh? My clever Black Wolf, you guessed it already?"

"Indeed!"

Black Wolf lifted his head and confidently replied.

"Your Highness, I, Black Wolf Torc, am smarter than the bald Mayans without hair, and I had already guessed your intentions!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote raised an eyebrow and instantly understood in his heart.

"So it was you! Mayan merchant Tikalo, you sly old fox, you told Black Wolf these things... I fear Black Wolf’s willingness to accept the enemy’s surrender is also because of you..."

Xiulote’s thoughts turned, seeing through it yet choosing not to lay it bare. He smiled and reached out, warmly ruffling Black Wolf’s head.

"Good! My Great General, my Black Wolf! You are so smart, you must have anticipated... The place I have left for you to go is two thousand miles away, to preside over the military and political affairs of the various Maya states, becoming the Military Governor of the Maya Lands!..."

"Ah! What!! Two thousand miles away, Ma... Maya Military Governor?"

Black Wolf Torc’s confident expression froze instantly. His pupils widened in shock, mouth opened wide, resembling an incredulous Arctic sled dog, a fierce husky.

"Yes! The Maya Military Governor, the Great Chief presiding over the military and political affairs of the Maya!"

Xiulote nodded, his eyes becoming sombre. He spoke in a quiet, deep voice, yet somehow a boundless crimson seemed to envelop him.

"With the blessing of the Chief Divine! To conquer the ancient, devout, innately noble, and class-fixed Maya tribes... it always requires slaying enough of the Divine Descendants, sacrificing sufficient noble species, spilling ample blood, and burning enough temples... Until all the old order is broken, all traditional resistance is dismantled, can it be achieved!..."

"Therefore, Black Wolf, let loose! Subdue the Maya coastal states for me, let them all convert for the Chief Divine! Regardless of how you slaughter, that is the necessary price for unification..."