Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"The new gunpowder, excavating and blasting walls, Cloud Serpent Mountain City..."

The sky darkened and campfires were lit. Xiulote ate fresh tender corn, his mind still pondering over the possibilities of using gunpowder in siege warfare.

In October, the southern Water Valley City's garrison had another bountiful harvest. This garrison of 150,000 acres of tilled land this October, yielding enough grain to supply the four northern legions for another year of campaigning!

It was this large new harvest that gave Xiulote the confidence to lead his legions eastwards to conquer Golden Bay City.

To be honest, the mountain range in the Tlaxcala Basin obstructs the rainfall, making it less prone to flooding than the Kingdom. This basin, like the Mexican Valley, is a fertile highland granary, a trait that continues to hold true in later generations. As for this tender corn, it was harvested early by Head Warrior Bertade, and sent as a favorite of the royal diet.

"Ecatl, have the Divine Revelation Priests completed the survey on Cloud Serpent Mountain City's position?"

"Family Head, the accompanying Divine Revelation Priests have conducted surveys... The terrain of this mountain city fortress is indeed very high! Even with the latest mortar cannons, it's difficult to hit Cloud Serpent Mountain City. Pushing the mortars to the foot of the mountain would likely be ineffective..."

Hearing such a response, Xiulote furrowed his brows, silently eating the corn. Cloud Serpent Mountain City stands on solid stone hills, making excavating and blasting walls equally difficult to execute. Calculations show that without an insider's cooperation, this impregnable fortress can only remain under siege.

"Then let's continue the siege! The supplies for the people of Tlaxcala are already running low. The fall of the fortress is only a matter of time. Under such circumstances, we can also attempt to contact the Tlaxcala defending army within the city..."

Xiulote spoke calmly, making the decision. He then arranged the besieging legion, while contemplating the forces needed for the upcoming eastern campaign.

"Ecatl! For this eastward expedition, I plan to take 4,000 Imperial Guard Legion, 8,000 Yu Yan Legion. Clan Leader Mixcoatl of Yu Yan has agreed to join me in heading east to subdue the rebellious Totonac!"

"The remaining 4,000 Imperial Guards will be handed over to Bertade to oversee, with him heading north to preside over the Tree Snake City garrison. The 8,000 Huashu Legion will cooperate with the 4,000 Imperial Guards to maintain the siege of Cloud Serpent Mountain City. As for the rear Water Valley City garrison, it will be guarded by 10,000 Coiled Python Legion and 2,000 Royal Warriors from the Alliance!"

"Family Head, the southern Water Valley City garrison has 150,000 able-bodied captive laborers. The 10,000 strong Coiled Python Legion comprises mostly militia... Isn't this suppressive force slightly inadequate?"

"No matter! The first batch of over 10,000 able-bodied men are already being transported by the Kingdom Fleet to the lower reaches of the Tarsas River and the two southern counties of the Kingdom. This batch being moved first are the most unruly Totonac warriors and able-bodied men from the garrison camp. Upon reaching the Kingdom, they will be watched over by legions from the southern two counties, participating in major construction initiatives..."

At this point, Xiulote paused briefly, then resumed his normal demeanor. In fact, aside from participating in the Kingdom's construction, thousands of these laborers will be redirected to various mines throughout the Kingdom. Many of their fates were sealed the moment they boarded the ship!

And the only way to alter their fate is to exhibit sincere faith while engaged in different labors. As long as their faith meets the standards of a sincere believer, as certified by the Preaching Priests, they can stand out, formally assimilate into the flag units of the garrison, and even be selected into local militia.

"For the 150,000 able-bodied, if they settle down, they can then supply a semi-detached legion of 8,000..."

Xiulote momentarily entertained the idea of expanding the army, but soon suppressed it.

The Long Snake Legion composed mainly of Tlaxcala warriors was formed not long ago and hasn't yet undergone the baptism of war. They haven't fought for the Kingdom, nor have they received land and titles for military merit, fully committing themselves. Establishing new legions now would introduce too many instability factors to the Kingdom!

"May the Chief Divine protect! No rush in this matter!"

Xiulote collected his thoughts and estimated the ratio of soldiers to civilians in the Kingdom, his brows twitching again. As a nation geared for war, the pace of external conflicts indeed cannot halt even for a moment. And the prerequisite for launching a war is sufficient intelligence and information.

"Ecatl, the exploration royal decree I personally issued two months ago... How's the preparation by the Southern Shipbuilding Department?"

"Family Head, the Kingdom's Southern Shipbuilding Department has prepared twelve longships for the first exploration fleet, forty canoes for the second reconnaissance fleet... And the selection of the Exploration Captain is arranged according to your plans! Hmm, by my calculations, the two Kingdom fleets are set to depart from Trout Town's port in the next few days!"

"In the next few days?... Excellent! May the Chief Divine protect them!"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote nodded slowly and refrained from further comment. He had already drawn up the "prophecy" sea chart, which was formally handed over to the Exploration Captain with the royal decree.

The upcoming voyage marks the beginning of this longstanding journey. As for how far this fleet can sail, how many years it will take, whether it can reach its destination, and if it can return upon arrival... all depends on the Chief Divine's protection!

After concluding the affairs of the Kingdom, the two transitioned their conversation to discuss the current state of the Alliance. The trusted aides lit the Divine Smoke, cleared away the food, and poured two cups of invigorating cocoa. Xiulote drank a few sips of hot cocoa, his thoughts active, and then he spoke with caution.

"After the autumn harvest, the large-scale reallocation and relocation within the Alliance will formally commence! The Southern Two States of Tlaxcala are the first regions to migrate. The familiar lands outside Water Valley City won't remain ours for long."

"Therefore, increasing the speed of population transfer is imperative! Otherwise, if more than ten thousand captured able-bodied men and women are relocated here and seen by the great nobles lacking in population, it'll undoubtedly cause trouble!... They will surely find ways to petition the Alliance and the High Priesthood, seeking to retain some of the population."

Hearing this, Guard Commander Ecatl also nodded in agreement. The Alliance's Great Nobility is typically bold and unscrupulous, inherently greedy. The Kingdom's response to them cannot directly resort to force, making matters rather complicated... The Guard Commander pondered and came up with another idea.

"Your Highness, the Kingdom's main issue in transporting the population lies in the insufficient capacity of vessels and the lengthy travel distance. Many reallocated noble families come from the Southern Three States, near the Tarsas River, and possess family fleets..."

"Hmm? Ecatl, are you suggesting?"

"If the Kingdom contacts them and promises the recently cultivated fertile lands in the Water Valley City area in exchange for their vessels... I believe many reallocated families will be willing to trade!"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote thought for a moment his eyes brightened. The area around Water Valley City is bound to be handed over. Using these cultivated lands as leverage to swap for small vessels from various city-states, enhancing the transport capacity of the Kingdom's southern naval forces, is indeed cost-effective!

"Good! Ecatl, that's an excellent proposal! Just right, Coiled Python Commander Moyahualo hails from the Southern High Mountain City. He's rather constrained and not wealthy... Let's enlist him as a middleman for the trade, and then offer him a commission for facilitating the transaction!"

"I obey, Family Head! If it's Commander Moyahualo, I believe he can sell the entire High Mountain City-State's fleet to the Kingdom!..."

"Haha!"

Xiulote laughed heartily, shaking his head. At the slowest pace, relocating over ten thousand able-bodied men from Water Valley City would take seven or eight months. But if expedited, catching up with next May's spring cultivation is achievable!

This large group of young and strong population, once they arrive in the Kingdom, only needs to undergo two cycles of spring planting to feel settled. And once absorbed by the counties, the strength of the Kingdom of the Lake will see another significant increase!

"The five counties of the Kingdom of the Lake already have a population of around 1.3 million. Most of them are involved in the operation of the military machine, providing constant forces for campaigns! If this batch of relocated captives is integrated, reaching 1.5 million, it accounts for almost half of the Alliance's population..."

At this point, Xiulote's thoughts fluctuated, his spirits soared. Intense ambitions, akin to sprawling vines, extended, continuously growing within his heart.

"Population, only population, is the foundation of the Kingdom! And faith is the bond that holds these foundations together, the cement that solidifies them!"

"Ecatl, dispatch an envoy!"

"Family Head?"

"Have the Kingdom's southern Divine Revelation Priests prepare! After every two waves of migrating captives arrive, hold a 'Divine Heart' hot air balloon ascent miracle event! Then, have the Preaching Priests hasten, converting these migrants who are shaken by the miracle!"

"Miracle evangelism?... I obey, Family Head!"