NOVEL NEXT Chapter 825: White Sand Village
The bright moon rises from the Eastern sea, illuminating the vast bay. Rivers from the southwest jungle converge here, forming a lagoon more than a hundred li long extending east to west along the coast. At the junction of the lagoon and bay lies a wide estuary and a low Totonac fishing village, sustained by the bountiful catches of the lagoon, supporting a tribe of over a hundred people.
This is White Sand Village, located more than a hundred li northeast of the Coyote Tribe, at the mouth of the river downstream from Coyote City. At this moment, more than thirty Totonac canoes are hidden at the village's estuary, seemingly inconspicuous yet clearly exceeding the tribe's scale. Surrounding the silted lagoon are vast swamps and towering mangroves, nearly completely concealing the village's traces.
Without local guides familiar with the geography, navigating this complex terrain would be nearly impossible. Even if enemies attack, the time spent traversing the swamp would be enough for the tribe's canoes to escape. In other words, even under the Mexica's military advance and before legion scouts, this is a very safe hiding place.
The night is bright, the lake surface dancing with moonlight. A small boat silently rushes from the southern upstream, shattering the moon in the lake into starlight. Soon, the boat docks among the reeds at the shore. Three tribal warriors skillfully leap ashore, two hiding the boat while the leading one hurriedly heads straight to the largest thatched hut in the village.
Moonlight like water, gently flows through the tranquil village. Two tribal warriors cling to their long spears, guarding in front of the thatched hut. Seeing the visitor, they respectfully bow in salutation.
"Feathered Serpent Divine bless us! Chuchut Chieftain!"
"Bah! Bless what nonsense! The Feathered Serpent Divine to the west is already gone, and no one knows how long the Sun God can hold on..."
Chuchut Chieftain spat disgustedly, hurriedly pushing open the door. A man in ritual robe was lying on a bed of grass and, upon hearing the commotion outside, suddenly sat up from the bed.
"You're back?! How was it?"
"Coyote City has fallen! Under the Aztecs' thunderbolt, it didn't last two days!"
Saying "thunderbolt," Chuchut Chieftain's face showed fear and reverence. But upon hearing such shocking news, the man on the grass bed remained unmoved. He displayed a knowing expression, reaching out to grasp Chuchut's shoulder, and questioned further.
"Fire broke out?"
"It did!"
"You saw it with your own eyes?"
"I saw it with my own eyes! The fire was so large that smoke could be seen from ten li away, half the sky was lit up!"
"Was the food burned?"
"Certainly burned! Half the city burned! Yilwei listened to your advice, prepared so much black oil. Once that oil burns, it can't be extinguished!"
"Good! Excellent! Praise Feathered Serpent Divine! Praise Sun God!"
Upon hearing this, the man in ritual robe showed joy on his face. He grasped the amulet around his neck, continuously singing praises and praying.
"Praise All Gods! Burning Coyote City's food, the Mexica legion can be stalled for at least two months, maybe even longer! Fire Rat Yilwei Chieftain is indeed a devout and fearless chieftain! For the glory of All Gods, he sacrificed himself and his tribe, and surely, in dying in battle, he'll go to the beautiful Divine Kingdom!..."
Chuchut Chieftain's eyebrows raised upon hearing the praises of the ritual robe man, remaining silent. Throughout this escape, the so-called glory of All Gods and the priests' majesty, had mostly dissipated. Compared to the weak Totonac gods, the Aztec's war god wielding thunderbolt appeared much stronger.
"Alright! With Coyote City burned, we can leave now! Return to Hidden Serpent Holy City, report to the priesthood there, recount our achievements..."
The ritual robe man, after a burst of excitement, calmed his emotions. Then, looking thoughtful, he stroked his chin, pondering briefly, and softly asked.
"Chuchut, after the fall of Coyote City... did any of Hidden Serpent City's priests escape?"
"Hidden Serpent City's priests? Papu Priest, the Aztec legion arrived quickly. Only you foresaw danger in advance, leading us secretly away. The Hidden Serpent City's priests were determined to defend the city-state, boosting morale, just like grass mice caught in a trap, not a single one escaped!... However, some might be hiding among the surrendering tribes, awaiting the Aztec legion to pass and then fleeing back to the Holy City..."
"Ha! Hiding among the surrendering tribes and waiting to flee back to the Holy City later? Impossible, they won't survive!"
Upon hearing this, Papu Priest laughed heartily. He was somewhat pleased and even slightly smug.
"Those fools from Hidden Serpent City, with eyes on their foreheads, have no idea of the Mexica's power! I escaped all the way from Feathered Serpent City, undergone so many dangers, how could I be the 'grass mouse' of their words? I have carefully studied the Mexica's tactics, and observed different commanders' characteristics!..."
"The Black Wolf Commander is the most brutal, never relenting. Following the Black Wolf Army's habits, after the city falls, they will certainly change the allegiance of the surrendered tribes through blood oaths, conducting thorough searches and executing the most stubborn resistors! With Coyote City burning the food, this search will undoubtedly be the most severe ever!...Ha-ha! Those Hidden Serpent priests can't hide, they're doomed no doubt!"
Upon hearing this, Chuchut Chieftain shivered within. He recalled a distant view of outside Coyote City, seemingly all tribes were driven out, and faint cries carried far. The fate of tens of thousands of the Coyote Tribe required no inquiry to know. In the past two years, following Papu Priest, the tribe migrated eastward. Each time, they timely avoided the Mexica advance, even escaping the bloody battles around Golden Bay City...
With this thought, Chuchut lowered his eyes, sincerely respecting the former Feathered Serpent Priest before him more. He licked his dry lips, cautiously asked.
"Papu Priest, what about the next steps? Directly along the coast, row back to Hidden Serpent Holy City? Or first visit Stone Carved City, to remind the noble chiefs and priests there..."
"Chuchut, Coyote City is finished, the western battle is as it is! The Mexica can't cross a two hundred li jungle to attack Stone Carved City without food... Going there isn't worthwhile, we might even be detained and lose the credit for burning the city..."
Papu Priest stroked his chin, pondered slightly, then made a decision.
"We'll go directly, row back to Hidden Serpent Holy City! First check the Snake Lake Tribe you settled outside the city, then report to the priesthood in the city! At this moment, the elder priests surely need good news, to boost the morale of the tribes!..."
"Ha-ha! Those fools from Hidden Serpent unfortunate people are all dead. Even if the elder priests are unwilling, this rare achievement can only be left to us!..."
"Great then! I'll immediately inform the tribe's warriors, prepare overnight, and set out early tomorrow!"
Upon hearing the return plan, Chuchut Chieftain nodded repeatedly, ready to turn and leave. But Papu Priest reached out again, grabbed his arm, and solemnly said.
"Chuchut, don't rush! You saw the Mexica's legion from afar, what do you think of them?"
"...Uh? What do I think? They're as fierce as always, very imposing, seeming fearless..."
"What I mean is, do you think the eastern tribes' warriors can withstand the Mexica army?"
Upon hearing this question, Chuchut Chieftain instantly fell silent. Pressing his lips, frowning, he spoke hesitantly after quite a while.
"Papu, Hidden Serpent Holy City is four hundred li through the jungle from here!...With such a distance, and such difficult terrain, Aztec's army can't possibly turn into hummingbirds and directly fly over, can they?"
"Oh? They can't fly over, but they can fight one by one through city-states and villages along the woods. Golden Bay City has fallen, over twenty thousand eastern allied forces are gone! The major tribes of the East have lost more than half of their chieftains and warriors leading troops. This cannot be restored in a few years, nor will the Mexica give them so much time..."
Papu Priest's expression was elusive, his eyes flickering with a special meaning. Yet the night was deep, even with Chuchut Chieftain's keen vision, he couldn't fully discern it. He could only clearly hear Papu Priest's profound words.
"Moreover, the Mexica have ships, very long and large ships! With a fleet, marching along the sea, four hundred li of challenging jungle poses no obstacle... Chuchut, do you remember? A year or two ago, a Mexica fleet mixed with Maya merchants, carrying many gemstones, sailed towards the eastern Maya tribes..."
"And now, this fleet that went east has returned!..."