Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"Honorable Captain Chiwaco, your 'scouting' trip this time has really yielded abundant results!"

Night fell, and the bonfire was lit. Inside the low thatched hut, Priest Tomate sat cross-legged, holding a clay pot, sipping fresh fish soup while teasing Chiwaco.

"Chief Divine is my witness! I've been in the village all day, pondering how to convert Water Chief. Puap has been busy 'converting' the women of the Taino Tribe in the thatch hut. Meanwhile, you've been 'converting' the lost fish in the Great Lake upstream... We are all recklessly striving for the glory of the Chief Divine!"

"Cough, cough!"

Upon hearing these words, the old militia man looked awkward, quickly lowering his head to sip the fragrant hot fish soup. He pondered Priest Tomate's complaints, his eyes moved, suddenly having an idea.

"With Chief Divine's blessing! Priest Tomate, I learned two new fishing methods while fishing with the Taino fishermen. One is using fish to catch fish, called garfish fishing. The other is using herbs to catch fish, making them numb..."

Old militia man Chiwaco earnestly explained the newly learned fishing techniques. Without waiting for Tomate to frown and speak, he continued with a smile.

"Actually, I feel that preaching to the various Taino divisions is much like fishing!"

"Hmm? Preaching, fishing?..."

Tomate was taken aback, asking in a deep voice.

"Captain Chiwaco, please explain in detail."

"Preaching, well, it's like fishing. You think of ways to get the fish into the basket. Water Chief is well-experienced and not easily fooled. So, might as well use herbs to make him 'numb,' cajole him into holding the conversion ceremony! With his mild temperament, even if he gets tricked, he won't complain much in the end anyway..."

Captain Chiwaco, with a smile, holding the fish soup, spoke slowly, like an old turtle squinting its eyes.

"Water Chief is no longer young, has experienced much, and is not easily guided. His peaceful nature, indifferent to worldly matters, makes it hard to make major decisions... So, don't expect him to actively convert and become a devout believer willingly..."

"However, once he's in the basket, he becomes a garfish. We can then use him to 'catch' others in the tribe, making it much easier... In comparison, ordinary tribespeople are easier to guide and become devout believers of Chief Divine..."

"Hmm? Using Water Chief's temperament to make him 'numb'?... The chief is the garfish, the tribespeople are the fish shoal..."

In the vast night, Priest Tomate stroked his chin, his face shifting under the firelight. He recalled interactions with Water Chief, making up his mind after a while.

"Captain Chiwaco, what you say makes sense! His Highness once said, if the mountain won't come to me, then I'll go to the mountain... So, when do you think is a suitable time to act?"

"Hmm... I'm thinking, when we campaign against the Siguayu, we can invite Water Chief to join the battle... After winning, we should hold a celebration ceremony on the longship according to the Kingdom's tradition! ... During the celebration, erecting Chief Divine's emblem and praying together, the chief will surely understand..."

Chiwaco chuckled, winking as he spoke.

"As the Kingdom's friends and battle allies, inviting Water Chief to participate in the prayer ceremony is just as normal as the chief inviting us to sing the tribal epics! As for cutting some hair, drawing blood for blood wine, even engraving Chief Divine's emblem on the forehead during prayer... these are traditional in our tribe, while people are still on our ship!..."

"Ah! Tribe's tradition, ceremony on our ship, conversion ceremony..."

Hearing this, Priest Tomate's eyes brightened, thoughts racing.

Cutting hair for a blood pledge, engraving emblem, these are significant parts of the conversion ceremony, promising the soul. As long as Water Chief is brought aboard and cajoled through the conversion process of Chief Divine… with the Sun Hummingbird's mark on his forehead, he can't back out, right? And with Water Chief's temperament, once done, there's no way 'Waterflower' will turn back.

After all, once Water Chief leaves his foundational tribe, aboard the Kingdom's longship, what can he do? The Kingdom's many fierce samurai are indeed 'witnesses' to the sacred ceremony!...

Once the chief 'actively converts' and returns with Chief Divine's mark, he won't be able to explain it away. The Kingdom will not allow him to deny the conversion ceremony. This silent loss, he'll have to accept. With the chief's endorsement, teaching the villagers becomes a live example, making breaking ground ten times easier...

"Haha! Wonderful, truly wonderful!"

Priest Tomate quickly sorted through his thoughts, devising an opportunity. Overjoyed, he laughed while lifting the fish soup to toast the old militia man.

"Praise Chief Divine! Honorable Captain Chiwaco, you always bring inspiration to me from unique angles. Such a good plan makes me eager to try it! And if it works this time, we can replicate this in future preaching..."

"Uh... Honorable Priest Tomate, such a method depends on the person, mainly the chief's temperament... But most Taíno chiefs can be considered honest and kind..."

"Indeed, you are correct! This method should work with the simple Taíno divisions, but not with the crafty Maya tribes... Since it's about getting the chief aboard and coercing conversion... let's call this method 'forcing aboard the longship'! Haha! Forcing aboard the longship, blessed by Chief Divine!..."

Priest Tomate's hearty laughter echoed in the thatched hut, reaching distant surroundings. At this moment, Water Chief was nearby in the chief's wooden house, patiently working the crocodile skin. Hearing this familiar voice, the chief paused slightly, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

"Praise All Gods and Ancestors! The priest of the Longboat Tribe is truly a straightforward and good person!"

Night encompassed the village, which returned to tranquility, only the crackling rain sound persisted. A succession of storms, large and small, lasted for over a month. Until mid-September, the sky finally cleared again after a long absence.

Post storm, the sky was vast and cloudless. The gentle sunlight spread freely, and the fierce Caribbean Sea temporarily returned to calm. The peaceful island tribes also finally stirred into action. Coastal canoes shuttled back and forth, bringing trade goods and the latest news.

The Kingdom Fleet was ready to set sail, prepared for battle. After waiting several days, they received the latest news from the envoy requesting aid from the Red Soil Clan in the Mayali Region!

"The Siguayu, silent for two months, are mobilizing again! At this moment, they've gathered hundreds of warriors and nearly a hundred canoes, plundering around the Red Soil Clan area!"

Upon receiving this news, Priest Tomate donned his armor, grabbed the Bronze Axe, and immediately went to see Water Chief, requesting to set out together. Facing the crisis of the brother tribe, Water Chief did not hesitate, nodding in agreement.

"Good! Thank you, Tomato Priest! The Longboat Tribe's willingness to lend a hand is wonderful! I will immediately bring sixty hunters and militia from the tribe to board the faster longship and set out with you!..."

"All Gods and Ancestors bless us! Let us fight together to repel the Siguayu invasion!"

Hearing this, Priest Tomate's face showed a confident smile. He nodded briskly, his smile as warm as sunlight.

"Excellent! Chief Divine's blessing! The Red Soil Clan is in dire crisis, please hurry aboard the longship so we can depart immediately!"