Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Outside Tree Snake City, the Mexica's grand camp stretched for several miles, imposing and grim. Hundreds of Alliance Warriors, armored and wielding bows, patrolled around the camp. Meanwhile, on the hill several miles away, the flag of the Chief Divine flew over White Snake City, where two thousand-strong samurai camps were stationed.

As for the more distant mountains, Cloud Serpent Mountain City stood silently and solitary atop the towering peaks. The vast Alliance camps almost completely blocked all mountain passes, cutting off most of the supply flow, especially of food and salt. Even those Alliance city-state nobles who dared to smuggle salt into the mountains would be put to death by military law if caught!

This strict siege had lasted for over a year, causing the defending army within the mountain city to become increasingly desperate. Only four or five thousand Tlaxcalan Divine Descendants, warriors, and militia remained within the treacherous mountain city. They already knew that White Snake Hill City had completely fallen, and all the Divine Descendant Nobility had been executed! At this moment, the Cloud Serpent Divine Descendants clung to a last shred of faint hope, stubbornly defending the mountain city fortress.

The bonfire in the grand tent burst into flame, with starlight drifting down from the sky. When Xiulote returned to the main camp at Tree Snake City, the kingdom's war machine once again accelerated its operation. Numerous reports converged from all directions; most were post-event reports, with only a few requiring the king's directive.

Under the current military state system, the capital's Chief Minister, the Priesthood's bishop, and local County Magistrates all had considerable administrative autonomy. They made decisions independently to actively maintain the operation of the kingdom's war machine, without requiring Xiulote's direct command. It was precisely under this delegated system that Xiulote was able to lead a large army on campaign, without returning to the capital for three years.

"Family Head, the urgent report on the Kingdom of the Lake's autumn harvest has been received. In Rivermouth County, weather conditions were favorable, resulting in a bountiful harvest. In Capital County, there was flooding during the rainy season, causing a slight decrease in yield. Meanwhile, the newly cultivated Zicao and Apa Counties had average harvests. As for the northern Qingqiu County, specific reports have not yet arrived, but based on previous estimates, there hasn't been much change."

Guard Commander Ecatl, holding a stack of reports, summarized the latest information. No one else was present in the tent, so he naturally addressed the Family Head, sounding more intimate.

Xiulote listened carefully and noted the key points with his pen. Whenever he encountered issues of concern, he would personally review them,

"Flooding in Capital County during the rainy season? How much of a shortfall?"

"Approximately a ten percent shortfall. The farmland affected by the flooding was not extensive and wasn't severe."

"Since there was flooding in Capital County, the downstream Zicao and Apa Counties must also be affected! Their reports indicate an average year; they must be hiding something. Deploy a few Secret Guards..."

Here, Xiulote paused, thought briefly, and changed the royal decree.

"Do not deploy Secret Guards. Instead, transfer a batch of grain from Rivermouth County to replenish Capital County. Then transfer a batch of grain from Capital County southward to replenish the two southern counties!"

"Family Head, the latest reports from Rivermouth County indicate that County Magistrate Kuluka, after the autumn harvest, has once again assembled a legion to raid the downstream Chapala Lake Region. He plans to mobilize four thousand pike warriors, ten thousand Canine Descendant militia groups, along with six thousand Guamal Tribe members, forming a looting army of twenty thousand!... He needs to leave behind enough grain to maintain the army's logistics and trade prisoners of war with the Guamal people. Therefore, Rivermouth County's grain cannot be requisitioned too much."

"A looting army of twenty thousand?... "

Upon hearing this scale, Xiulote rubbed his temples and asked in a deep voice.

"How is this ten thousand-strong Canine Descendant militia group formed, and what is their equipment like?"

"The ten thousand-strong Canine Descendant militia group consists of five thousand experienced Gajili units, three thousand Bosalus people transported from the Northern Land, and two thousand unnamed Wilderness Clans..."

"The entire ten thousand-strong Canine Descendant militia group consists of seasoned warriors from the Wilderness, adept at rapid marches and strikes. Most are clad in paper armor, a few in leather armor, all equipped with copper spears and axes, with many also wielding inexpensive bamboo longbows... Overall, their combat strength won't be inferior to the city-state corps of the Alliance and might even surpass it!"

"To assemble a fearless militia force of ten thousand from the Wilderness, with decent equipment... Monkey has certainly done well these years!"

Xiulote nodded in satisfaction and truly admired. He wasn't worried about the expanding army in Monkey's hands because copper armor in the kingdom's main corps was steadily increasing, reaching ten to twenty percent. Furthermore, his half-copper-armored Imperial Guard Corps possessed an overwhelming advantage over the local corps!

Moreover, Monkey Kuluka, being of commoner samurai background and lacking family roots, didn't possess the foundation for independence. Thus, he was allowed by the king to tacitly hold more military power. In fact, a few of Xiulote's frequently used commanding generals, Head Warrior Bertade, Black Wolf Torc, miner Ezpan...were all of commoner origin. The remaining few Legion Commanders were mostly his own vassals.

"Since Monkey is set to campaign again, then his grain won't be requisitioned. Still transfer grain from the capital to supply the two southern counties of new cultivation!"

"Yes, at your command! Family Head!"

"By the way, send an envoy to the Monkey with a message: ask him to pay attention to the intelligence of the various Guamal tribes and further woo some small tribes who are willing to join us. Once the Chapala Lake Region is annexed, the northern highland barrier where the Guamal people reside must also be taken by the Kingdom! By then, the best excuse for deploying troops against the Guamal people would be being invited by some Guamal tribes to arbitrate their inheritance or disputes..."

Xiulote spoke a few words and stopped. He believed the Monkey would understand the meaning and was certain the latter had already planted secret agents among the Guamal people. This sealed message was to encourage the Monkey to go further, to be bolder, to divide the Guamal tribes and find opportunities for the Kingdom.

"At your command! Family Head!"

After discussing the military affairs of the Kingdom, the next topic was the development of the Kingdom. The most crucial parts included land reclamation, religious missions, mineral output increase, ironware promotion, saltpeter production increase, new maritime exploration, and the grand plan of road and water network construction.

"Family Head, the two southern counties with a population of 400,000, have reclaimed 1.6 million mu of new land this year, totaling around 3.6 million mu of farmland... but the new land has just been reclaimed, and the autumn harvest yield per mu is still insufficient."

"Hmm? Reclaimed 1.6 million mu of new land?..."

Xiulote touched his chin and calculated slightly. The two southern counties had over 200,000 Tlaxcala tribes migrated in, mostly able-bodied men. This year, 1.6 million mu of land was reclaimed, roughly averaging about 8 mu per person... this figure seems reasonable, even if there's some exaggeration, it's not excessive.

"Send envoys to inform the two southern County Magistrates, especially the Apa County Magistrate, Ezpan: do not be too harsh on the newly 'migrated' Tlaxcala tribes. Provide enough seed grains and food, and also send priests for guidance."

"As the rainy season has passed and the autumn harvest is completed, the grand plan after the autumn harvest also needs to mobilize able-bodied men appropriately to ensure food supply. The Eastern Expedition Legion painstakingly transported people from two thousand li away, not just for you to waste them. Even granted agricultural slaves must be fed with mixed grains..."

"Of course, for those able-bodied men who refuse to convert, the unruly Samurai, especially some individual Totonac Samurai transported back... make them bear the heaviest labor! Before spring plowing next year, there will be over a hundred thousand tribes 'migrating' into the Kingdom, mainly Totonac people. All of you need to be patient and properly subdue these seaside people..."

At this point, Xiulote hesitated slightly, weighing the pros and cons. The number of tribes newly migrated into the two southern counties was indeed vast, requiring time for assimilation, and the missionary work also needed strengthening. In the short term, it would still be unwise to migrate too many immigrants. After careful consideration, Xiulote made the decision.

"As for the distribution of these over a hundred thousand tribes, divide them roughly among the four counties! Apa, Zicao each share thirty thousand, while Rivermouth and Capital Region each share forty thousand!"...

"Yes! Family Head!"

Guard Commander Ecatl quickly drafted the Royal Decree, then had it stamped by the King. The first decree was naturally to the Samura Head in charge of garrison in Water Valley City. The subsequent decrees were sent to the county magistrates of the four counties and the Southern Naval Commander, Noah, responsible for transportation.

It is noteworthy that after Puapu was sent to the exploration fleet, he participated in two long-distance maritime explorations consecutively. The management rights of the southern naval forces of the Kingdom were entrusted to the newly promoted hereditary noble from Prepetcha, Noah.

Noah was born into the naval family of the Prepetcha, familiar with the water network and lakes in the south of the Kingdom. Behind her was an ancient family with more than a hundred naval core members inherited over generations. Noah's appointment was also strongly recommended by the Chief Minister, Jatili. Her allegiance meant that the last batch of hidden elites among the Prepetcha tribe had chosen to join the Kingdom.

All this was an advantage that the Huitu Puapu could not compare to. After careful consideration, Xiulote handed over the fleet transport on Tarsas River to Naval Commander Noah.

It proved that Noah performed excellently, living up to the King's trust. As for Puapu, if he could successfully return, Xiulote had another position prepared, the naval commander along the Western Sea coast, specifically responsible for trade on the northern route.

"Family Head, an urgent report from the Divine Revelation Place in the Capital City has arrived. They bring good news of divine revelation! The application of Guano Rock in the farmland has greatly increased the field's yield!..."

"Bring it! Let me read it personally!"

Upon hearing such a report, Xiulote's somewhat weary spirit suddenly got invigorated. He reached out directly for the document from the Divine Revelation Place and read it carefully. After a short while, joy filled the young face of the King.

"...Divine Revelation Majestic! We ground and applied more than 30 tons of Guano Rock, spreading it over 1,800 mu of cornfield... After the autumn harvest, compared with surrounding farmland, the fertilized fields had increased yield of over 120 tons, with each mu increasing approximately 130 pounds this year... and 1 ton of Guano Rock could increase at least 4 tons of food production, this is just the first year!" "According to Your divine revelation, these nutrients buried in the soil should continuously provide vitality, ensuring a bountiful harvest for the land!... The Alliance's fields need more and more Guano Rock!"