diymy Chapter 1414 - 969: Surrender Is Also an Art
Chapter 1414 - 969: Surrender Is Also an Art
"Papu Chieftain, the Mexica envoy has already rested."The sunset had completely faded away, and the dark sky enveloped the seaside. A bonfire was lit in the large wooden house of the village, cooking two fresh sea fish and two hard old corns. In this era, eating calorie-deficient sea or river fish never meant abundance. And when the leader of an army can only eat fish to satiate hunger, it often means that the food in the army is running low.
"The Mexica envoy? Ha! This Forest Wolf guy, being the tribe chief of Eastern Totonac, once clamored for fighting the Mexica to the death for the glory of all gods! But now, after surrendering, he dons a Mexica war clothes and speaks of the Chief Divine’s blessing, proud to serve the Mexica..."
The Papu Priest reached out, took an old corn from the clay pot, eating slowly with a hint of disdain on his face. Yet shortly after, thinking of his own situation, his expression restrained, and he couldn’t help but sigh.
"The storm sweeps in, the tide surges... In the face of such overwhelming Divine Might, how can mere mortals grasp their own fate!..."
Upon hearing this, Chuchut, the chieftain, also sighed. He held a wooden bowl, fetching out a sea fish, leaving the more filling corn for the Papu Priest. For the past two years, he led the people of Snake Lake Village, fleeing east with the Papu Priest, even reaching the farthest east of these seaside lands. However, the Mexica legion relentlessly followed them, like a tidal wave about to drown him once again, coming right in front.
"Chief Divine bless! Chieftain, this Forest Wolf is your old friend... Don’t you need his help with so many warriors from Hidden Serpent City in the naval forces?"
"Ha! Old friend? I dare not claim to be his old friend! You should know, his hands are stained with the blood of his old friends!"
The Papu Priest curled his lips and shook his head. When talking about what Forest Wolf had done, his face showed both disgust and vigilance, as if speaking of a ruthless and unscrupulous mad dog.
"After the fall of Golden Bay City, Forest Wolf was captured and defected to the Mexica. This was nothing unusual; many submitted to the strong when circumstances demanded... But he personally acted, took a blood oath for conversion, and sacrificed numerous Divine Descendant Nobility from Coyote City, which equated to completely betraying his tribe of origin! Furthermore, he exposed the Rabbit Hill City Chieftain Yoltzin’s rebellion plot, leading to Yoltzin’s heart being separated from his body, sacrificed on the altar of Golden Bay City... And this was his very close friend through marriage! These two acts made him thoroughly become a Mexica wolf dog!"
"Later, he participated in the sacrifice of the Ke Shi City Grand Chief, his old friend Teotlara, then led the vanguard to break through Ke Shi City, working himself to the bone for the Mexica! Now, he comes as some Kingdom envoy, risking his life to persuade me to surrender... Ha! If I really let him help, lead his warrior camp into the water fortress... At that time, will my head also become his achievement? That is really uncertain!"
At this point, the Papu Priest laughed at himself, touching his own great head. Then, squinting his eyes, he looked towards the west, his voice gradually sinking.
"Moreover, in the seaside lands, those chieftains who have defected to the Mexica, controlling various warrior camps... like Wood Gecko from Five Mountains City, Red Ear from Feathered Serpent City, Kuikama from Earth River City, Toqina from Rabbit Hill City, and Mayakun from Coyote City... These Totonac surrendered armies probably wouldn’t be pleased to have another me coming to share the already limited military authority and competing for that Coastal Legion Warrior Camp Chief position!"
"Ah? Coastal Legion? Warrior Camp Chief?"
Hearing this, Chuchut, the chieftain, showed surprise. He knew little about the news of the Mexica and couldn’t understand the struggles among the surrendered armies. He thought for a while, asking with confusion.
"Papu Chieftain! Aren’t we the naval forces? We’re not competing for the lands with these folks on land... We’ve all made up our minds to strive for the coastal Maya Lands... Why should they worry about us?"
"Hmm. Chuchut, you’re right! Our best way out, naturally, is to join the East Sea Navy of the Kingdom and venture to the Maya Coast of the East, seeking a foothold! But alas, even saying it out loud, they might not believe. Moreover, the tribal warriors in the naval forces probably don’t want to go too far from home..."
The Papu Priest stroked his chin, his expression rarely showing hesitation.
"The best and most suitable land is of course the prosperous Red Lake Town, more than two hundred li to the east, that vast Red Lake Rivermouth. But can it succeed, and can it be our turn, I have no confidence at all... And if going further east by one or two hundred li, the Bay Mouth Town at the Great River (Grijalva River) Rivermouth is also good... If going further east, then there’s only the shrimp-abundant Shrimp Lake."
The Papu Priest stood there, pondering for a while. He had diligently studied the situation on the Eastern Coast for a long time and inquired many Mayan merchants and sailors to comprehend thoroughly. In fact, if the Mexica’s Temple to the God of Death did not appear, unwilling to accept his surrender personally... his last option would be to lead the naval forces eastwards, seeking allegiance from coastal Maya city-states!
"Alas! It ultimately depends on the Mexica Highness! We must bring the entire naval forces over, bringing all the shipwrights, to increase the weight of our surrender..."
The Papu Priest murmured, pacing back and forth. Then he suddenly paused, looking at the wooden house with only two people, lowered his voice to ask.
"Chuchut, among our dependable core members, how much of the naval forces can we control?"
"Hmm... Chieftain, it depends on where we are going..."
Chuchut, the chieftain, cautiously looked around and replied softly.
"The entire Naval Forces comprise more than two thousand people! Currently in our hands, there are about five to six hundred warriors and sailors from various tribes that migrated east. The warrior militia from various city-states and villages are estimated to be around five to six hundred as well. However, the true main force is the Hidden Serpent City warriors, approximately one thousand two hundred to three hundred people, all of whom are adept at battles on the water!"
"Chief Divine bless us! We have stationed the Naval Forces here and severed the connection between the Holy City and the water fortress under the pretense of a Mexica attack. It has been over a month... The reason why these warrior leaders have tacitly accepted our actions is not because they have betrayed their tribes and completely abandoned Hidden Serpent City..."
"On one hand, they are unwilling to follow Hidden Serpent City’s orders, to give up their positions within the fleet to transport the families and belongings of the Divine Descendant Nobility, aiding these cowards in fleeing... On the other hand, it’s due to the rumors we spread earlier, that you have connected with the Maya city-states and are planning a good route for everyone..."
"So, if we go east to the Maya Lands in the East, there won’t be much opposition within the fleet... But if we head west to side with the Mexica... I’m afraid the Hidden Serpent City warriors will not obediently follow the orders!..."
Hearing this, the Papu Priest furrowed his brows and carefully reaffirmed.
"Hmm? Chuchut, you have always been dealing with these warrior leaders... Are you sure they really do not want to side with the Mexica? Even in such dire circumstances..."
"Uh... Boss, as you know, not to mention the blood feuds from the prolonged battles, and whether the Mexica would seek revenge... Just the reputation of the Mexica, fueled by relentless propaganda from the Hidden Serpent City priests, has entrenched such a... "
"Such a what?..."
Leader Chuchut pursed his lips, put down the remaining half of the sea fish in his hand. He swallowed and, staring at the fish head that died with eyes open, cautiously replied.
"They are regarded simply as the incarnations of volcanic demons from the underworld, an Evil Demon Army that devours tribal souls! When they slaughter Divine Descendant priests and noble warriors, it is as ruthless and cold as pulling out weeds. And when they eat us, it’s akin to how we eat fish! If not absolutely forced, who would voluntarily surrender to them and accept such harsh constraints from body to faith? Would it mean truly abandoning all gods and ancestors, discarding the soul after death?..."
"Ah, I see! These warriors, whose minds have been marinated by Hidden Serpent priests, do not understand the true Mexica. Regarding everything about the Mexica, they are filled with an inherent, indoctrinated, blind fear and hatred... Only when they are forced to convert to the Chief Divine and break the clay pot of thought, can they open their eyes and attain...’rebirth’..."
The Papu Priest squinted his eyes, tightened his hands, and then released them. After a long moment of contemplation, he gritted his teeth resolutely.
"All Gods bless us! Chief Divine bless us! Opportunities are fought for! Even if there is only one branch, we will fight for the entire tree!..."
"Given the current situation, if we can lead the entire fleet over and hand it to the Mexica’s hands... Everything else will be out of our control, and even the warriors on the ships can’t decide! Of course, the most crucial are the twelve large ships and the dozens of Mayan and Totonac shipwrights capable of building large ships..."
"Twelve large ships? Boss, we only have seven large ships, where do the twelve come from..."
"Ha! The five that were under construction before, are more than half completed, just lacking the upper decks and sails... But it’s okay if they don’t have upper decks, as long as the side oar sails are there and can paddle out! Anyway, we are going to surrender, not to fight, so bring everything that can move along!..."
The Papu Priest clapped his hands, his gaze turning sharp and resolute.
"Six hundred core warriors and sailors. Bring along the other five to six hundred tribe members, and firmly control the twelve large ships! As for the one thousand plus main force from Hidden Serpent City, arrange them on the small boats. As for the narrative..."
"Hmm... Chuchut, I do have an idea! Let’s do it like this, like this..."
"Ah! Boss?!"
"What, is it unworkable?"
"Uh! This... It really is a good plan! Except your reputation afterward..."
"Haha! What reputation do I have? Let’s just survive first!..."
Before night fell, the Papu Priest laughed heartily. He finished the last bite of Old Corn, looked at the boundless sea under the moonlight, and let out a long sigh.
"Ah! A ruined reputation might not be such a bad thing either... I might also have to throw myself heart and soul to the Mexica like Forest Wolf, with no retreat left!..."