NOVEL NEXT Chapter 800: Chieftains of the Eastern Tribes
The dawn light emerged from the horizon, illuminating the city-state poised between the jungle and the coast, marking another brilliant spring day. In Golden Bay City, the fresh shoots sprouted from the plants, while the ancient stone carvings shimmered with liveliness. The towering Temple of the Sun and the grand Temple of the Feathered Serpent stood side by side at the center of the city-state. And as the sun ascended to its zenith, a grand prayer ceremony was held simultaneously before these two sacred temples!
"The Sun God bestows divine power, the Feathered Serpent flies in the sky! The Aztec evil demon's divine thunder, under the protection of the gods, will lose its soul and fall into powerlessness!..."
The priests of the city-state ignited the blazing sacred fire and lifted the swirling divine smoke. They chanted within the divine smoke, performed sacrificial dances before the sacred fire, and wielded sharp obsidian daggers to sacrifice the chosen offerings.
Besides the thousands of samurais guarding the city, over forty thousand Totonac warriors and tribespeople gathered in front of the temple plaza, prostrating themselves in prayer. They harbored naive expectations, longing for the descent of divine power to protect the city-state and their tribes, resisting the Mexica's invasion!
"Oh gods! Please protect your citizens, protect the Totonac!"
Sincere cries echoed throughout the city-state, transmitting afar. Outside the city, the Mexica legion, seemingly holding reverence for all gods, was stirred by the prayer ceremony, temporarily halting their brutal siege. The prayer ceremony within the city thus grew even grander and more fervent. Totonacs shouted out the names of the Sun God and the Feathered Serpent, tears flowing in excitement, even slashing their cheeks.
Amidst this chaos and frenzy at the brink of despair, the envoys of the Great Sun Chief moved low-key, bringing the message of the next day's leaders' council to discuss the evacuation plan to the chieftains of various tribes.
The prayer ceremony on the second day was still bustling and boiling. Numerous tribal leaders held blessings and praises to the Sun God in the Temple of the Sun, shedding tears of devotion. Then, as the sun inclined to the west, the praying crowd dispersed, and the chieftains led a scant few trusted aides deep into the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. There, a discussion concerning the lives of everyone officially commenced!
"...Golden Bay City has 60 war boats, capable of carrying four hundred people. The first group to be evacuated could only be the Divine Descendants and warriors of the Golden Bay tribe!"
Qiqini, the Great Sun Chief, had a severe expression and was uncompromising in his words to the arguing great chieftains.
"As for the Divine Descendants of Rabbit Hill City and Grass Altar City, they must either wait for the second round of boats to return or take the war boats of other city-states... However, the two esteemed chieftains can go with me!"
"Yes! The ancestors bear witness! Our Conical House City tribe only has 40 war boats, barely enough to carry three hundred people. The first batch to board will be the tribal Divine Descendant warriors; there really isn't room for any more..."
Yoltzin, the Conical House City chieftain, replied loudly. After being defeated by the ambush of the Black Wolf by Adobe River, he retreated to the city-state across the Great River and then returned with new tribal warriors. For the holy war called by the Holy City, he participated devotedly without reservation. But now, the matter was about life and death, leaving no room for negotiation.
Thinking about this, he looked at his fellow misfortunate comrade, Lin Wolf Mayakun, the Coyote City chief, who also returned with his army after a defeat.
"Lin Wolf, your Coyote City has more than 50 war boats, what do you think?"
"Sigh, the ancestors bear witness! This time I returned with troops, bringing almost the last of the city-state's warriors!"
Lin Wolf Mayakun sighed, his face shadowed with an inextricable worry.
"Golden Bay City cannot be held. Next will be Conical House and Coyote Cities across the Great River. In any case, I must take the backbone of the tribal warriors back... like this, even if the city-state cannot be held, the tribe can still retreat into the jungle inland, and fight a guerrilla war with the Mexica in the jungle!"
Upon hearing this, Warrior Chief Teotllara of Ke Shi City frowned and pursed his lips without speaking. He glanced at Chief Ozli of Sacrificial Lake City tribe, both nodding slightly, confirming each other's intentions.
If Golden Bay City was the first line of resistance against the Mexica, then Conical House and Coyote Cities, located a hundred or two li to the east of Adobe River, were the second line. Going further east three or four hundred li was Ke Shi City and Sacrificial Lake City, acting as the third line.
Both of them led two thousand tribal warriors, traveling along the coast over four hundred li to provide support. Now, they had to abandon the city and retreat, so the essence and backbone of the tribe must be taken back as much as possible! With seasoned veteran backbone, it's possible to summon multiple times the able-bodied men from the tribe, train them day and night, and organize a continued resistance force!
"Ahem! Ke Shi City only has over 40 war boats... Divine Rabbit Tochina, you might have to wait for the second batch of boats..."
"Yes! Our Sacrificial Lake City is the same!"
"Damn! Wait for the second batch of boats? Nonsense! Will the boats even return after you escape? Would the Mexica allow you to return? This city of Golden Bay, without chieftains and Divine Descendants, how could abandoned warriors and tribespeople hold it any longer!"
Rabbit Hill City chief, Divine Rabbit Tochina, gritted his teeth in anger, his face filled with rage. He had led two thousand Rabbit Hill warriors from the depths of the southern jungle, at the intersection with the land of the Mistec people, traversing four hundred li of jungle to aid. He came by land, not a single boat under his command! Yet now these comrades planned to abandon him, fleeing alone!
"Ha! If you leave me behind and escape, I'll bring the tribal warriors to surrender to the Mexica!"
"Divine Rabbit Tochina, you dare to surrender to the brutal Aztecs? Coward!"
Upon hearing this, Chief Ozli of Sacrificial Lake City instantly turned red-eyed. His father, Chief Olo, was ambushed and shot dead by the Black Wolf chief of the Mexica, embroiling him in irreconcilable blood feud. To him, even if he had to fight to the last man, dying at the hands of the Mexica, he would never surrender!
"You will be sacrificed by the Aztecs, with your heart cut out! Your skull will be collected!"
"Ha! Our Rabbit Hill City Tribe is deep in the jungle, four hundred miles from the coast. What use is it to kill me? The city-state will just elect a new chieftain! Even if the Mexica have a large army, they will find it difficult to invade such a deep jungle."
The Divine Rabbit Tochina glared, his expression filled with anger, yet his words remained steady, clearly pondered over for a long time.
"Currently leading the Mexica legion is His Highness of the Death God Temple, bestowed by Divine Revelation! His wisdom is far superior to that of the Black Wolf who only knows how to bite! He will certainly accept my surrender!..."
"Divine Rabbit Tochina, the priests of the Hidden Serpent Holy City have proclaimed the will of the Divine! The chieftains and warriors of the Totonac tribes must resist the invading Aztecs to the end for the Divine and our ancestors!"
Grass Altar City Chieftain, Santu Tlaco, spoke for the first time with a solemn expression. Grass Altar City is located near the ruins of the First Ancient City, adjacent to the Hidden Serpent Holy City, and adheres closely to the priests' divine directives. Since the death of the Great Chief Qua Serpent of Hidden Serpent, Santu Tlaco has become vaguely the most highly esteemed among the chieftains.
"The Grass Altar City Tribe has over 40 war boats. Tochina, I will allocate 10 war boats to you! Take a few dozen trusted aides and leave with me... Regardless, you must maintain the independence of the Totonac tribe in the southern jungles and mountains!"
As he said this, Santu Tlaco's eyes deepened, his words growing heavier.
"Rabbit Hill City connects to the southern mountains, linked with the Mistec and Zapotec peoples. You have the best geographical advantage and can even retreat into the mountains! Perhaps, among the tribes, you are the final hope, able to hold out the longest!"
Upon hearing Santu Tlaco's words, the arguing chieftains gradually fell silent, their faces solemn yet determined. Great Sun Chief Qiqini lowered his eyes with a silent sigh, finally understanding why His Highness of the Death God Temple repeatedly demanded the capture of these chieftains and leaders of the Eastern tribes.
"These great chiefs are the true Totonac warriors among the Eastern tribes!... "
Great Sun Chief Qiqini pursed his lips, surveying the people in the Temple. These esteemed chieftains of the city-states, who responded to the call of the Holy City and led city-state warriors across hundreds of miles to aid, are the most unyielding resistance forces among the Totonac tribes!
No matter how they argue verbally, their hearts are with All Gods and ancestors, with the tribal soul inherited for hundreds of years! As long as they hold power in their city-states, the Mexica will have to conquer each city-state through hundreds of miles of jungle, fighting for years if not longer!
Complex emotions surged in Great Sun Chief Qiqini's heart. He slowly closed his eyes, silent for a moment, and when he reopened them, sincere emotion shone through.
"Ah! Santu Tlaco is right... Enough, sacrifices must be made for the future of the Totonac people! Hence, Golden Bay City will allocate 10 war boats to transport the divine warrior descendants of Rabbit Hill City!"
Hearing this, Santu Tlaco nodded. He waited for a moment, but no other chieftain spoke. He shook his head covertly before turning to the chief of Rabbit Hill City, speaking in a low voice.
"Divine Rabbit Tochina, with 20 large boats, depart with us! The tribe is not at its end; we must continue to resist!"
"...20 large boats, carrying over a hundred..."
The Divine Rabbit Tochina pressed his lips tightly, his expression changing. After a while, he nodded heavily, agreeing with a firm statement.
"Witnessed by the Ancestors! I will resist to the end!"
"Good! Praise the Ancestors and All Gods! With this, we have reached a consensus! Three days from now, we will gather all fleets and withdraw from the coast as one!"
At this, Great Sun Chief Qiqini's face showed determination. A heavy sorrow appeared on his face as he chanted low prayers to the Feathered Serpent Divine statue in the hall.
"May the ancestors of Golden Bay City, who bear spears, protect our journey! May the Great Serpent of the coast and land protect the path of the tribe!... One day we will return to this place and rebuild Golden Bay City for the Totonac people!..."
"May All Gods and ancestors protect us!... "
Witnessing this, all the Totonac great chieftains lowered their heads, devoutly praying to the divine statue. The chieftain of Grass Altar City, Santu Tlaco, carried a dignified and solemn expression, respectfully saluting Great Sun Chief Qiqini, who had decided to abandon the Golden Bay Tribes.
Great Sun Chief Qiqini raised his eyebrows, his expression remaining sorrowful but with a hint of something indescribable. In front of the chieftains, he managed to squeeze out a faint smile, attempting to present a composed demeanor.
"Witnessed by the Divine! The common ancestors of the Totonac people, protect the divine descendants of each tribe! We pledge an oath of resistance to the end, refusing to surrender to the evil demons of the Aztecs!... Next, let us drink blood wine together and swear our oath with blood!"