Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

In the hot August summer days, the sea temperature rose significantly. A strong tropical depression finally formed over the Atlantic Ocean, moving from east to west. At this time, Cuba and the Caribbean Islands, located around 20 degrees north latitude, were precisely in the main area swept by tropical cyclones!

Therefore, the upcoming month would be the month of storms. The howling, galloping wind brought continuous torrential rain and terrifying thunderstorms, plunging the skies over the entire Cuban coast into a prolonged gloom. The abundant and persistent rainfall also caused the river levels to surge. The muddy floodwaters carrying slightly reddish silt rushed down, submerging the lowlands along the river, even causing the crocodiles in the river to flee to the banks for shelter.

"Hmm, the rainfall on Cuba Island is at least twice that of the Mexican Valley. The river width will drastically widen during the peak of the rainy season, and the low-lying wetlands will also become lakes. Therefore, before large-scale reservoir construction, settlements and farmland should be established on high ground near the river, considering the impact of flooding... The newly built Iron Bay Town still needs to move two or three Li south to higher ground..."

The wind and rain swayed, beating on the raincoat with a cracking sound. Priest Tomate, with eyes like torches, stood on the high ground outside Mayari Village. Observing the river's situation to the east of the village, he made slight adjustments to the upcoming city-building plans. Of course, he left two scouts in the iron ore area for more detailed hydrological information to be brought back by the scouts.

"With the Chief Divine as my witness! During the season of storms, fleets must stay ashore... If we take some risks, we might have a chance to raid an enemy that's difficult to catch at sea..."

The heavy rain poured down, seemingly forming a curtain, as Priest Tomate looked towards the sea, only to vaguely see a few longships floating in the rain.

This was the season of wind and rain, the most violent time in the Caribbean Sea. During such days, for a full one or two months, all fleets had to stay put in the harbor. Whether they were the Alliance's longships, the Taino, or the canoe of the Ciguayo people, or even more distant and powerful invaders, no one dared to venture out amidst the roaring waves. But from a military standpoint, this time could also serve as an excellent opportunity for a sudden attack, even if the cost was high.

Priest Tomate was lost in thoughts of this opportunity until the faint shouting from the village woke him from his ponderings. He listened for a while and found it was the loud voice of Puap harshly scolding the Taino militia during training.

"Hmm... this guy, if he could follow orders and not get muddled, would be an outstanding and brave officer of the kingdom."

Priest Tomate looked towards the village with a smile on his face. With nothing to do during the rainy season, the Kingdom's Warriors stayed in the village. Their daily lives consisted of training Taino men during the day and comforting Taino women at night. Presumably, in a few months, many warriors and sailors would become fathers.

"The Taino are accustomed to communal rearing, and their concept of marriage is not strong... But for the kingdom, to win the hearts of the warriors and settle them in Cuba, the best way is still to let them start families and establish careers! After some time, I should bring up with Water Chief to hold a collective wedding witnessed by the Chief Divine, letting the warriors marry the Taino women they favor!"

Priest Tomate rubbed his chin, pondering how to persuade Water Chief to agree. After the wedding, it was not about leaving the Kingdom Warriors here, but rather bringing the Taino women along to become the first group to join Iron Bay Town's local tribes.

"Hmm... Iron Bay Town isn't in sight yet, so there's no rush. All plans require first demonstrating force and fighting the Ciguayo... About conversion, Water Chief's attitude has recently loosened somewhat... I need to frequently visit him!..."

Interestingly, after a long conversation one day, Water Chief's attitude gradually changed. The chief was even willing to listen patiently to Priest Tomate expounding scripture and the mythology of the Chief Divine. However, every time Priest Tomate formally proposed conversion, Water Chief would divert the topic, never responding directly.

But in Priest Tomate's view, this was a positive trend. He prepared to push harder and develop the gentle-natured Water Chief into the first Taíno chief to convert to the Chief Divine!

"Hmm, I must find a way to make the chief convert to the Chief Divine!... How to plan this specifically, I still need to find someone to discuss it."

Priest Tomate slightly tilted his head, watching the heavy rain diminish, and the sky slowly darken. Soon he decided to return to the village. On his way back, stepping on the muddy soft ground, he thought of another issue.

"Strange! Captain Chiwaco said he would go scouting this morning and hasn't returned all day. I wonder what he's doing..."

On stormy days, it didn't always rain continuously; more often it rained heavily one day and lightly the next. And when the next day's storm slightly abated, the old militia Chiwaco, who was being missed, enthusiastically took apprentice Dark Snake, sailor Didi, and the tagalongs, with Mayari Region guide Black Stone, up to twenty Li away to fish upstream in the village.

Upstream of Maria Village, close to the mountains, not only is there the mouth of inflowing small rivers, but also a forty to fifty Li-long valley Great Lake, Mayali Lake (Rio Mayarí). By the lake, there are several fishing huts built by the Taino, with mountains to shield from the wind. During the stormy days, this slightly tranquil rivermouth was indeed a comfortable place.

"Dark Snake, Didi, I tell you, coming out with me to fish and learning some skills to support your families... It's better than staying in the village every day watching the warriors fool around! You're still young, need to grow a couple more years, don't rush into fooling around... Actually, once explained, it's just that simple! Remember, never listen to Puap's nonsense! The trivial matters of men and women are not better than coming out to fish, huh?"

The old militia Chiwaco carried a simple fishing rod on his shoulder, barefoot, steadily walking on the muddy ground. He chattered away with a smile on his weather-worn face. Dark Snake and Didi, both carrying wicker baskets for fish, followed behind their father, dejected and listless, to do a 'more interesting' thing in the mountains.

"After this heavy rain, the water level has risen, the river has become rapid, and the waters are muddied... But it's actually the best time to fish!"

The old militia smiled and pointed towards the rivermouth ahead. It was where the river met the lake, narrow in terrain but with rapid water flow. According to the old militia's experience, there was no need to look; it undoubtedly was an excellent fishing spot.

"Look, the water is carrying fish downstream. As long as there's an obstacle, there will definitely be fish! A lake this large upstream, all flowing through the mountain pass. The fish gather together, making it easy to catch them; just cast the rod and you get some! ... Also, sand mixed in the river makes the fish float upward. No need to put the line deep..."

Chiwaco gestured with his hands, cheerfully dancing around. Dark Snake and Didi, still young boys, were infected by their father's mood and quickly became happy as well. The four of them found a fishing cove near the rivermouth. But when the fishing started, the old militiaman's smile froze, and soon sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Splash!"

The Taíno guide Black Stone jumped into the cove, felt around at the rivermouth for a while, and excitedly embraced a large fish.

"Big one! Big one! Another big one!"

The old militiaman raised his eyes, twitching at the face. The large fish was as long as an arm, estimated to weigh at least over ten pounds! At that moment, the big fish was out of the water, desperately struggling in Black Stone's arms but couldn't escape. Looking closely, it seemed to be one big fish, but it was actually one big one and one small one.

The smaller one was a remora, tied with a fishing line, or rather a thin rope. One end of the rope was wrapped around Black Stone's arm, while the other end had the suction cup of the remora firmly attached to the side of the big fish, making it impossible for the capable swimmer to escape.

This fishing method is precisely the famous remora fishing of the Taíno! It doesn't even require a fishing rod, just relying on the remora's active attachment to specifically catch large fish in the lake. With this "using fish to catch fish" ultimate technique, Black Stone used only half an hour to catch eight or nine large fish at this crowded rivermouth, filling the fish basket completely.

Dark Snake blinked his eyes and looked at Captain Apu's fish basket, which contained only two small fish.

"Father, you talk much more than Black Stone, but your fish are much fewer than his..."

"Cough, cough! That's because... that's because Black Stone always gets in the water, scaring my fish away..."

Upon hearing this, the old militiaman Chiwaco blushed, finding it hard to maintain his dignity. He coughed twice, struggling to explain, only to see Black Stone back from the water holding a huge round shell.

Then, Black Stone smiled foolishly, walked over to Chiwaco, and placed the heavy round shell at the old militiaman's feet. As it turned out, this time, the remora had attached itself to a large blue turtle.

"This one, the biggest, is for you!"

Black Stone pointed at the blue turtle with innocent eyes, smiled, and then gestured at the three fish baskets behind the old militiaman.

"That one, lent me one. Mine, it's full!"

The old militiaman was dumbfounded, staring at the turtle at his feet, then looking at the empty fish basket. He couldn't help but jump and curse.

"Blind heaven!..."

As dusk fell, the day's fishing came to an end. The old militiaman released the big turtle and looked at the four filled fish baskets. Three and a half of them were caught by Black Stone alone.

Apart from the astonishing remora fishing, Black Stone also showed another ultimate technique, using mildly toxic senna leaves to numb fish. He threw a handful of chopped senna leaves into the rivermouth, where the gathered fish ate them. Shortly after, the water surface floated with ten to twenty motionless, anesthetized fish.

Black Stone picked carefully, only taking the large mature fish and leaving the smaller juveniles untouched. After a few quarters, the anesthetic effect wore off and the remaining fish quickly returned to normal.

"Blind heaven! With such fishing skills, what Taíno, might as well call you fishmen..."

The old militiaman clicked his tongue repeatedly, yet felt some admiration in his heart. He calmed down, asked Black Stone for fishing tips, then explored and fished for a day, feeling greatly rewarded. Until the scout sent by Priest Tomate found the little fishing hut by the lake, did he reluctantly end the "scouting" and, with ample fishing harvest, return to the Mayali Region's village.