Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

The night was deep, the moon high in the sky. The cool, ethereal lunar radiance fell from the open roof of the Totonac hut, directly onto the faces of the two individuals inside. Under this ghostly moonlight, their expressions were somewhat heavy, with a hint of obscurity.

"All Gods! The Aztecs have a fleet, returning from the East?"

Upon hearing the words of the Feathered Serpent Priest, Chuchute the Chieftain was startled, a blank expression on his face. About a year ago, he vaguely remembered the Mexica fleet that passed by along the coast. But the Snake Lake Tribe was always poor; trading in gemstones and such had nothing to do with a destitute chieftain like him. What he distinctly remembered was standing far off by the seaside, watching those long, sail-equipped ships, even larger than the Maya merchant oar-sail ships!

"Papu Priest, when did this happen? The tribe hasn't heard any news...?..."

"Of course, you haven't heard any news, not even in Hidden Serpent City. This information, I inferred just recently!"

Papu Priest stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with cunning, his face also wearing a sly smile.

"Before coming to the frontline at Coyote City, I traveled with a few priests from Hidden Serpent City. They came from various tribes in the city and chatted about the conditions near the City-State, mentioning affordable and exquisite gemstones, along with a newly appearing group of Maya merchants. This group of merchants had been in the market outside the city for over a month, selling gemstones discreetly, seemingly purchasing considerable amounts of food..."

"Subsequently, a priest showed off a newly bought gemstone with pride. As I borrowed it for a look... Ha! It was clearly a Lake Gem from the Mexica Alliance! These foolish people from Hidden Serpent City couldn't recognize it, but I, having dwelt in Feathered Serpent City for so long and seen so many Lake Gem merchants, recognized it immediately!..."

"Ah? A Maya merchant group selling Lake Gems?"

Chuchute the Chieftain scratched his head, puzzled, and asked.

"Papu Priest, the Mayans typically sell gemstones. Their merchant groups come and go, selling all sorts of goods. Right now, selling Lake Gems in Hidden Serpent City isn't anything unusual, right?"

"Ha! It's indeed normal for Maya merchants to sell gemstones. But these cunning long-headed monkeys are always penny-wise and silver-tongued, capable of selling shells at gemstone prices! Yet now, they're discreetly selling Lake Gems at the price of shells and lingered for over a month, buying an excess of food for their merchant fleet..."

At this point, Papu Priest squinted his eyes, lips curled up as if he smelled something foul like a serpent.

"This group of Maya merchants, indulging in money-losing ventures, surely spells trouble! I remember vividly, when the Mexica fleet docked at Feathered Serpent Ancient City, it coincided with a long-awaited Maya merchant fleet gathering there! Subsequently, the Mexica fleet departed first, followed by the Maya fleet, both heading to the East one after the other..."

"I have a hunch, if we capture the Maya merchants outside Hidden Serpent City, strictly interrogate them... We might uncover a hidden giant pumpkin hidden behind the vines!..."

"Ah! If we could capture the Aztec fleet, kill their samurais, capture their leader... In the current troubled situation, it would be quite a triumph across the tribes, certainly to be rewarded heavily by the priesthood of the Holy City!"

Hearing this, Chuchute the Chieftain licked his lips, eyes gleaming with greed and a ruthless killing intent. Yet, moments later, he reluctantly tugged at his hair, softly questioning.

"Papu Priest, these are all speculations... What if we detained the Maya merchants and found they were unrelated to the Aztecs?"

"Ha! What does it matter if we detain the wrong ones? Dead men can't speak! Just a few Maya merchants, quietly transacting in the market outside the city, either have something to hide or lack backing..."

At this, Papu Priest's lips curled up with a disdainful smile. Despite losing his status in Feathered Serpent City, he retained enough experience and insight to grasp the true power dynamics within a City-State.

"Chuchute, as long as you use the guise of colluding with the Aztecs to sell Lake Gems to detain these merchants... Whether they're actually colluding, depends solely on what we decide to say! Even if there's nothing wrong, once they fall into our hands, something wrong will appear! At that point, sacrifice them as offerings, confiscate all their gemstone wealth, and present a portion to the priesthood in the city, securing a decent achievement!"

"Moreover, my intuition tells me, behind this group of Maya merchants... There might be a truly significant catch!"

"Haha! Papu Priest, you've got brains! Spot on! Once we return and report the Coyote City achievement, we'll rally the tribal warriors, find that group of Maya merchants, and strike immediately!"

Hearing the Feathered Serpent Priest's words, Chuchute the Chieftain grinned broadly, nodding in agreement. Those who could sell gemstones were great merchants, having an abundance of wealth in hand. If you seize a bit, it's the kind of wealth that makes the entire Snake Lake Tribe envious!

Although the Totonac people had always valued commerce and protected visiting merchants, what times are we in now? The allied forces have suffered repeated defeats, the tribes have fallen one after another, and even the Holy City is trembling with worry. Fear and hatred towards the Aztecs persistently growth in the hearts of the priests, noble chiefs, and warriors. In these challenging times, as long as you confirm they're selling Lake Gems, a charge of collusion with the enemy can be used to openly usurp their wealth! And in the current climate, disposing of a few Maya merchants without a backing hardly counts for much!

Thinking of the gemstones soon to be confiscated, Chuchute the Chieftain laughed heartily. Then he suddenly furrowed his brows, quietly asking.

"Papu Priest, if these merchants are indeed backed by an Aztec fleet... With the scale of that fleet then, there could be two to three hundred elite samurais! Such force, even if all the warriors of the Snake Lake Tribe united, might not be able to withstand them!..."

"Chuchute, you need not worry! If we truly uncover something, discovering the Mexica fleet... I will promptly report to the priesthood of Hidden Serpent City, request a contingent of warriors and naval forces for expedition, and personally lead the campaign..."

Papu Priest stroked his chin, his gaze deep and mysterious, quietly sighed.

"And this is what I most hope for!"

"...I understand!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Chut thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

"Papu, are you suggesting that under the guise of a campaign, we can legitimately withdraw from the western front lines? With such a mandate, we wouldn't have to risk being surrounded and killed by the Aztec army, tirelessly rushing around the western regions..."

"No! Witness All Gods! Chu Chut, you haven't grasped my idea... Leaving the western front lines is only one reason for my plan..."

Papu Priest shook his head. His expression was subtle, and he glanced at the cold moon above, unconsciously lowering his voice.

"What I truly want is a retreat for us, and for your tribe, a way out!..."

"What? A retreat? We've already retreated to Hidden Serpent City, where else can we go? Could it be..."

Hearing this, Chu Chut paused slightly. He cautiously looked around and asked in a low voice.

"Papu, are you talking about... the Mexica?"

"Ha! The Mexica? Chu Chut, I would like that... but the Mexica, who tolerate surrendering Samurai and tribespeople, how could they tolerate us? Tolerate a tribal Chieftain and a former high Feathered Serpent Priest?"

Papu Priest laughed quietly, inexplicably sighing. Then, he reached out, kindly patted Chu Chut on the shoulder, and spoke in a serious tone.

"The retreat I want to find is still in the East! Whether it's the Rainforest Tribe further east or the distant Maya Tribes, as long as we can avoid the Mexica's forces, as long as we hold the tribe and the Force in our hands, there will definitely be a place for us to stay!"

"What I want are ships and people! By using the search for the Mexica fleet as a reason, strive to get a batch of ships and warriors from the Priesthood! And if we can truly find the Mexica people and seize their longships... I will also apply to the Priesthood to let your tribe take on the task of replicating the longships!"

"What? Replicating the longships? We can do it?"

Chu Chut Chieftain blinked. Although he didn't quite understand Papu Priest's idea, he clearly knew that the other's mind was definitely more clever than his. And at the moment, the two of them were tied to the same vine, and neither could leave the other.

"Exactly! Hidden Serpent Holy City wants to last longer, not with the Jungle villages on land, but with the coastal fleet navy!"

Papu Priest squinted his eyes again, a gleam of insight flashing in them.

"The over four hundred miles of Jungle on land are an insurmountable natural barrier. No matter how capable the Mexica are, relying on the land route to sustain a ten-thousand-strong army all the way to Hidden Serpent City is absolutely difficult! But the sea route of over four hundred miles requires only ten days of sailing and can transport large amounts of food... This is the crucial lifeline for Hidden Serpent City!"

"In the face of life and death, the Priesthood in the Holy City, though corrupt, would not overlook this fact! So, a large-scale shipbuilding effort, replicating the Mayans' Oar-sail Ship, even imitating the Mexica's longship, is imperative!..."

"And we must do everything possible to get involved, seize this opportunity! Because only with ships can there be a retreat for us!... No matter where this retreat may be in the East, or in the West by chance..."

The moonlight was misty, as Papu Priest spoke, his voice gradually became low, ultimately silent. He raised his head, watching the sinking moon in the West, and also gazing at the deep night sky of the East. The night's expanse was boundless, the tide of the era surged forth. And the unknown path ahead was like the darkness before dawn, no one could see it clearly, nor knew where the destination lay.

"Feathered Serpent Divine protect... Moon God protect... Sun God protect... War God protect!... I wish to do everything in my power to struggle in the tide, looking for all the opportunities and the dawn..."

"Praise Feathered Serpent Divine! Praise Sun God! All Gods watch over us and will definitely protect us!"

Chu Chut Chieftain grasped the amulet, loudly singing praises. At this moment, the piety on his face was much more than that of the Feathered Serpent Priest opposite.

"Yes! We are devoted to All Gods, All Gods will surely protect us!"

Papu Priest nodded, his face blooming with a confident smile, leaving a few final instructions.

"Inform the warriors to pack up supplies, bring weapons, and set off on time tomorrow!"

"Also, in the name of Hidden Serpent City's Priest, inform the White Sand Village's elder: The brutal Aztecs are coming, and will sacrifice all the men in the village! Let him lead the tribespeople to evacuate with us tomorrow!"

"If he doesn't want to leave, kill him! Set the village on fire, conscript able-bodied men and take them away!..."

"Alright! We'll heed your command! All Gods protect!..."

The moon sank in the West, moonlight like water, reflecting on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, also flashing in on some recessed sand pits and water pools. Some small silver fish swam in the narrow water pools, searching for a chance to escape. And when the surging tide came, engulfing the White Sand on the shore, how many clever fish could successfully swim away?...

The sea did not answer, it silently raised waves, uninterested in answers. The moon also didn't speak; it was waiting for the sun to bring new dawn, illuminating the new seaside lands.