Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"Hmm... my method..."

Upon hearing Priest Tomate ask solemnly, the old Militia Chiwaco pondered in silence. He knew that whether he could truly convince everyone and initiate peaceful exchanges between the Kingdom and the various Taíno divisions depended on his upcoming suggestion.

The old Militia troubledly scratched his head and pulled out a tuft of hair. He looked at the nearby palm tree, adorned with the bright and beautiful colorful Cuba snails. At the base of the tree crawled a large group of ants, and an idea suddenly struck the old Militia, prompting him to speak thoughtfully.

"Witness, Chief Divine! Back when I was in my homeland by the lake, I once saw ants coexisting with aphids!"

"Hmm? Ants and aphids living together?"

Upon hearing, Priest Tomate was momentarily stunned. He listened thoughtfully to the old Militia's explanation.

"...Among the small animals on the ground, ants are actually very strong. They have organization and force, fierce like Samurai, and many larger insects are no match for them. As for aphids, they are extremely weak and gentle, but they can suck the sap of plants, producing very sweet honeydew..."

"...The warlike ants will protect the docile aphids, even raising a group of aphids, continuously obtaining honeydew. If any larger insect comes to prey on the aphids, they will be killed by the ants. And if a tree doesn't produce much sap, or if there are too many aphids on a tree, they will move the aphids to another tree!..."

As he spoke, the old Militia Chiwaco's thoughts became clearer. He blinked his eyes, and his old face broke into a gentle smile.

"So, the ants' attitude towards aphids is, on one hand, protection, safeguarding the aphids from harm. On the other hand, it's demand, acquiring the food produced by the aphids. Besides that, they are responsible for transportation, attempting in every way to make the aphids better produce honeydew!..."

Hearing this, Priest Tomate stroked his chin, thoughtfully asking.

"Hmm... Captain Chiwaco, so you mean the relationship between Kingdom's Warriors and Taíno villagers should be like that between ants and aphids?"

"Exactly! Witness, Chief Divine! In my opinion, the kingdom's presence on Cuba Snake Island should have four identities!"

"Four identities?"

"Yes, the first one is to protect the aphids, that is the protectors of the Taíno people. The Taíno divisions are gentle in nature, and in this region, they are facing the harassment of the Sigualo. We can announce to the surrounding Taíno tribes, becoming their protectors. And as a price for protection, they need to provide enough food to the Kingdom's people, and during farm free time, contribute some labor."

At this moment, Chiwaco's eyes were bright, and his thoughts clearer than ever before. This journey of thousands of miles opened his eyes to so many sights, and he experienced much in human affairs, his wisdom growing daily deeper, increasingly turtle-like.

"Taíno people's food is plentiful, and the cassava planting area is easily expanded. During farm free time, their abundant labor has nothing much to do, so why not help the Kingdom mine? Of course, we can offer some gemstones or cloth for trading to increase their enthusiasm for labor... Similarly, through attacking Sigualo or other raiders, we can demonstrate the Kingdom's might in the form of protection! And if the chieftains of Taíno villages witness this firsthand, knowing the ferocity of the Kingdom's Warriors, they will naturally become reverent and obedient!"

"Taíno people's protectors employ force in the form of protection, obtaining food and labor..."

Upon hearing, Priest Tomate nodded. This suggestion was indeed in alignment with his thoughts.

"Very good! Captain Chiwaco, please continue!"

"Hmm... the Kingdom's second identity is the one who transports aphids, um... or rather, the organizer of trade between the divisions, establishing trading markets, providing trading goods, offering unique Kingdom merchandise, and conducting trade between various distant tribes!"

"Throughout this journey, the Kingdom's gemstone trade has made a handsome profit, as have the trade of cloth, copperware, and other goods. The output from various Cuba tribes is different. For example, the Salt Coast Tribe produces salt, the Lake Bird Tribe is rich in feathers, the Palm Bay Tribe produces wooden items, while the Gold Lake Tribe is situated next to a large copper mine... Furthermore, the tobacco produced in abundance by various Cuba tribes is the currency widely purchased by Mayan merchants!"

"The distance between Cuba tribes is quite far, trading by canoe is not easy. Mayan merchants come voluntarily, often pressing tobacco prices very low..."

Speaking of this, the old Militia Chiwaco shot a fierce glare at the Mayan merchant Tikalo. Tikalo touched his divine head, smiling awkwardly.

"If the Kingdom's longships could control the trade between Cuba's tribes, Cuba and Maya, and even Cuba and Haiti, even just a part of the trade... the benefit we could gain would far surpass enslaving a few Taíno tribes! Moreover, when the large iron mine and large copper mines at the eastern tip of Snake Island are mined and smelted by the Kingdom... we will continuously produce valuable goods, obtaining benefits from all the coastal tribes!"

"Ah? Maritime trade organizers, trading between divisions, gaining benefits?!"

Upon hearing, Priest Tomate showed surprise for the first time. He hadn't anticipated that Chiwaco could think of this. Without a doubt, if trade among divisions could be promoted, the Kingdom would occupy an absolute advantageous position, gaining developmental nutrients from the divisions of 'aphids.'

Even merely a shipload of gemstones would yield profits dozens of times over. While the Alliance's tobacco trade is tens of times more profitable. However, these maritime trades are not yet developed at this time. And the few existing trades are held by several coastal Mayan Clan Kingdoms, it certainly wouldn't be complete without force to fully take over.

"Good! Excellent! Honorable Captain Chiwaco, do you have any other suggestions?"

"Hmm... the third kind of identity..."

Chiwaco bit his teeth and pulled some hair from his head. Then, he organized his thoughts and spoke again.

"We can mediate the relationships between the 'aphids' and become the arbitrators of the various Taíno divisions! Once we establish prestige by demonstrating force, we can actively accept appeals from various divisions, resolving disputes between and within tribes... Even the simple Taíno people will have internal and external conflicts, such as food distribution, land use, and property trade..."

"Especially the matter of property trade! As sea trade expands, related disputes will inevitably arise. Once the kingdom controls arbitration rights, it effectively sits above the tribes. Hmm... In the former Tarasco Kingdom, only the city nobility could decide whether villages outside the city could buy salt. Similarly, only the nobility could determine whether the water from a river should be given to the upstream or the downstream, deciding which village gets it for irrigation..."

"Becoming the arbitrator of the various Taíno divisions is to become their de facto ruler..."

Upon hearing this, Priest Tomate's eyes sparkled, quickly making a decision. In his view, the supreme arbitrator among the divisions should naturally be the Chief God Priest of the kingdom! The kingdom's doctrine will bind all divisions impartially and spread the majesty and glory of the Chief Divine!

"Hmm, as for the last kind of identity, being the ant herding the aphids..."

Chiwaco paused, gave a deep look at Priest Tomate, and then smiled.

"The faith of the Chief Divine must spread across the land of Cuba! The kingdom's priests are indeed the disseminators of the Chief Divine's light. And the kingdom priests possess the technology for agriculture and the Divine Power to ensure abundant food production, familiar with medicine and herbs, able to heal the sick... If the priests can bring tangible benefits to the local tribes, it may well spread faith more effectively than hastily resorting to violence!..."

"Haha! The protector of the Taíno people, organizer of maritime trade, arbitrator of the various Taíno divisions, and the spreader of the Chief Divine's light!"

After listening to Chiwaco's narrative, Priest Tomate burst into laughter, full of joy. By now, he had a complete and well-formed plan in mind, certain to let the light of the Chief Divine shine upon the various obscure divisions at sea! He stood up, grabbed the arm of the old militia Chiwaco, and sincerely praised.

"Excellent! Captain Chiwaco, you spoke very well! With your abilities, you are enough to govern a territory for the kingdom on Cuba Snake Island! It's a pity you cannot stay here..."

"Ah! Ah, this..."

Upon hearing he might stay in Cuba, the old militia Chiwaco's face twitched, and his straight back bent halfway in an instant. Given his age and physical condition, staying in Cuba for a few years might mean he ends up buried here. He stammered, forcing a smile.

"Nowhere... nowhere... it's all under the Chief Divine's protection, just using my mouth to speak some ordinary ideas... I can only say so much, actually doing it still depends on the honorable priests... Praise the Chief Divine! May the Divine bless the kingdom!"

"Praise the Chief Divine! May the Divine bless the kingdom!"

Priest Tomate nodded, prayed devoutly for a moment, and then made a decision in his heart. A moment later, he blinked and leaned closer to the old militia Chiwaco, whispering with a smile.

"Captain Chiwaco, your suggestions have greatly inspired me! In honor of you, in the letter to His Highness, I will... and your previous proposal, giving him a chance... I also..."

The two spoke a few words in low voices. Chiwaco turned his head, looking at Puap, who seemed curious and confused, and sighed secretly.

"Good! Then thank you very much! Actually, since arriving in Cuba, he has performed quite well..."

"Captain Chiwaco, I am only considering your face."

Priest Tomate smiled and repeated once again. Then, he glanced lightly at Tikalo, and said in a deep voice.

"As for the other, I'll leave it to you! The sea chart, shipwrights, bee slaves, and hostages of the Kokom Family, please make sure to bring them back to the kingdom and hand them over to the heir of the Divine Revelation!"

"Understood! I will do my best!"

Chiwaco solemnly nodded. The two of them exchanged a laugh, then closed their eyes together, praying devoutly, making their vows on the coast of Cuba and in front of the Iron Mine Mountain of Mayali.

"Praise the Chief Divine! May He shelter us! May the sailing be smooth, and may everyone have long lives! And the glory of the Chief Divine!"