Chapter 830: Acceptance and Compromise, Mexicaization and Localization
In the deep night, the wind rose, making the thin cloth sleeves rustle. The fire basin inside the tent flickered incessantly, casting light and shadow that outlined the curves of those kneeling and mirrored the silent monarch.
Xiulote silently lifted his head, gazing at the night sky of the tent's ceiling, watching the faint moonlight. After a moment, he lowered his eyes and softly spoke.
"Miyava, I have requested a fief from King Aweit. The seaside lands will become the fiefdom of my eldest son, Xiu Hua."
"Your Highness… Your eldest son, born with the divinity of the Chief Divine, will inherit the mighty Mexica Alliance on the Highland!…"
Miyava's eyes flickered, speaking gently yet firmly.
"With his noble status, he will only serve as a bridge between the Alliance and the Kingdom, nominally overseeing the Totonac lands. How could he truly come to the harsh climate of the seaside? Surely, you would never allow the young prince to come here, to the remote wilderness of the lowlands, to the Totonac's Golden Bay City, and experience the sweltering swamps and jungles…"
"And the great King Aweit will certainly keep him in the Lake Capital City, nurturing him as the successor, won't he?… In truth, to King Aweit, the newly born Prince Xiu Hua may be a more satisfactory heir than your mighty self… hehe! I've heard the songs spreading through the Alliance…"
"Miyava…"
Xiulote extended a powerful hand, resting on Miyava's neck. His gaze became dangerous, with an undercurrent of murderous intent.
"Chief Divine's protection for the Alliance! If there are words you do not wish to have the Chief Divine hear, best remain silent."
"As you command! Your Highness…"
Serpent Mother Priestess Miyava trembled all over, humbly prostrated on the carpet. She lowered her head, revealing her smooth and fragile neck, like a submissive wolf to the Wolf King.
"Witness of Ancestors and Chief Divine!… My Lord, I will only obey you, devoting everything for you!…"
"And the thousand-mile seaside, countless tribes loyal to you, tens of hundreds of thousands of Totonac people as well will be like this, loyal only to you!… As long as… you grant us a child with Divine Blood, a sacred promise…"
"A child with Divine Blood… the promise of the Totonac people…"
Upon hearing, Xiulote pursed his lips and again fell silent. He lifted his head, gazing at the seaside moon, as if looking at a distant future. In the Mexica legends, the moon is the opposition to the sun, an embodiment of evil and darkness. However, in the Totonac perception, the moon is the other face of the sun, purer and more sacred. Many differences indeed exist between the Highland and the seaside…
"Chief Divine witness! Miyava, I have already made the Chief Divine's promise to your Totonac tribes!"
"Your Highness, we have heard your promise. But the chieftains, priests, headmen, warriors, even the humble tribespeople… truly find it difficult, in such a short time, to believe your promise, to trust the words of the conqueror…"
Miyava lay on the ground, lifting her head. Her eyes were deep, flashing with an unprecedented hope.
"The powerful Mexica legion can instill fear… but fear is merely the premise of loyalty. The Kingdom's rule is harsh, like fire scorching in cruelty. Currently, the Totonac elites have been frightened enough, they fear your force, willing to obey your orders…
"However, you cannot remain like this!… Because the ignorant tribes are forgetful and changeable… the fear of conquest will eventually dissipate, and tens of thousands of Totonac warriors will grow under your support!… If you wish for the loyalty of the headmen and warriors, wish to firmly control Golden Bay City and its surroundings, even the entire Totonac Coast after the legion departs…"
"Then, you ultimately must give the Totonac people a promise, a hope! And what could be more convincing for the Totonac elites serving you than a Totonac Divine Son in prophecy, a prince with sacred bloodline… believing that they will always have a cooling shade under the sacred kapok tree in the vast seaside lands, just like the moon that differs from the Highland…"
"Ha! The hope of the Totonac people, the moon different from the Highland?… Ultimately, it's compromise and promise with the local elites, accepting the common headmen, lower priests, and official warriors among the Totonac tribes, while maintaining the power balance of the local tribes during Mexica integration…"
Xiulote closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting afar. After witnessing the persistent resistance of the Totonac people and observing the unhappiness and dormancy of the tribes, through multiple dialogues with Miyava, his thoughts gradually clarified.
To establish solid rule in the vast seaside lands, merely relying on one or two stationed Mexica legions, a large inclusion of Totonac elites into the ruling class is necessary.
These elites include lower priests and sages who hold cultural knowledge, warriors of various levels possessing military strength, and headmen and chieftains who have discourse power. To make these Totonac elites genuinely devoted, serve the Kingdom, an acknowledged promise by both parties is indeed needed to build a sturdy mutual trust…
Silence continued in the monarch's tent for a long time until the moon inclined west, disappearing from the tent's open top. Xiulote then lowered his head, gazing at the woman prostrated on the ground, and sighed softly.
"Miyava, rise!"
"Your Highness?"
Miyava blinked and cautiously lifted her head. In the dim firelight, she secretly observed the monarch's expression but saw nothing.
"Chief Divine witness! I can give the Totonac people a promise. However, only the most core group can know…"
"Your Highness!"
The woman's voice was filled with excitement and joy. The monarch's voice was calm and distant. His eyes were deep, gazing at the woman at his feet, and he spoke indifferently.
"Miyava, I have many choices, it may not be you."
"Ah this? Your Highness?…"
"Convince me."
Miyava licked her lips, her body gently trembling. She crawled beside Xiulote, pressed close to him like a docile cat.
"Your Highness, my loyalty and reverence to you will surpass everyone…"
"Any more?"
"Your Highness, I control the Temple of the Feathered Serpent and understand each tribe's Priest! I can make all the Feathered Serpent Priests of the Golden Bay Tribes convert to the Chief Divine and serve devotedly!"
Upon hearing this, Xiulote raised his eyebrows. He looked at the submissive yet ambitious woman and said meaningfully.
"Miyava, the kingdom indeed needs a group of Totonac Priests converted to the Chief Divine... However, I don't want you to continue your priesthood. The divine authority at the seaside must be assigned to the Kingdom Priest I designate! And the only position you can compete for is overseeing administration, managing the 'Farmer Chief' of each tribe..."
Upon hearing this, Miyava bit her lip and bowed her head in thought for a while. When she raised her head again, her eyes burned with bright desire, as if she had made a complete gamble.
"Your Highness, please believe me! My abilities surpass any other woman! No daughter of the Divine Descendant of the Totonac can compare to me... I understand tribal traditions and customs, and I can see through those surrendered chieftains and leaders! I will identify them, execute those secretly opposing, intimidate the wavering, and select the loyal ones..."
"I am willing to become your most diligent 'Farmer Chief,' guarding the vast fields at the seaside for you. While carefully nurturing the seeds, I will also weave a strong and intricate hunting net to capture the defiant short-tailed cats in the seaside jungle!..."
"Oh?... Farmer and Hunter..."
Upon hearing these words, Xiulote looked amused as he watched the anxious Miyava before him. He lifted the corner of his mouth and once again extended his large hand, caressing the woman's slender neck. The woman also submissively lay beneath him, resting her head on his leg, gazing up at his lightly red eyes.
"Miyava, starting tomorrow, you may leave this tent and return to Golden Bay City..."
"Your Highness?!"
"I will give you the opportunity to show me your abilities."
Xiulote lifted the corner of his mouth, displaying a gentle demeanor as he issued a royal decree.
"In Golden Bay City, the nephew of the Great Sun Chief, Yilwei, is very restless. But I don't want the legion to enter the city and initiate another large-scale purge and slaughter... So you will return and use the manpower of the Golden Bay Tribes to capture him and offer him as a sacrifice to the Chief Divine with your own hands."
"Sacrifice Yilwei? Praise the Chief Divine!"
Upon hearing this command, Miyava's eyes lit up, like a cat catching the scent of prey, raising its tail excitedly.
"Your Highness, I will obey you! I will definitely accomplish this for you!"
"Mm."
Xiulote nodded, gently caressing Miyava's beautiful and confident face. This task should not be difficult for Miyava. And if the woman proves her ability...
"From the seaside lands, choose a 'Farmer Chief' from each Totonac tribe to establish an administrative team, integrating the elite of the surrendered tribes... Indeed, there is no more suitable candidate than her... But if the administrative authority is given to her, then the divine authority and military power must be strictly separated..."
Xiulote pondered for a moment, organizing the power structure at the seaside. Meanwhile, Miyava cautiously tested, slowly probing and serving the master who decided life and death... Moments later, Xiulote raised his eyebrows, watching the alluring woman writhing in his embrace, observing her charming flushed face, and spoke softly.
"Miyava, I remember... the Great Sun Chief Qiqini died by your hand and his Head Warrior's collaboration?"
"Ah? Yes... Yes, Your Highness..."
Upon hearing this sudden inquiry, Miyava's body trembled, her heart clenched tightly.
"Your Highness, the true cause of Qiqini's death... is actually unknown in the tribes... The Golden Bay Tribes will follow my orders. Those rumors recently circulated, I can easily erase as soon as I return to Golden Bay City..."
"Mm... I know, you have always been very clever. This time, you came to the camp, allowing Yilwei to roam the city, waiting for him to make mistakes, leading him to his death..."
"Uh... Your Highness... I..."
Xiulote pondered silently, simply watching the woman's evasive gaze, sensing her clear trembling. Moments later, he forcefully embraced the woman, also pressing her fiercely against him.
"Qiqini's Head Warrior, his name is Qiyan... isn't it? He's now also your Head Warrior. Recently, he seems quite worried about you, bribing the warriors of the kingdom several times for information..."
"Your... Your Highness?... I... don't understand your meaning..."
Miyava's whole body tensed, her trembling intensifying. Xiulote clearly sensed everything, his body suddenly shivering, deeply inhaled.
"Miyava, you understand my meaning. Your body is very tense, but also very honest... You have made your choice, so from now on, you no longer belong to yourself..."
"Yes... Yes... Your Highness. My body and spirit will only belong to you!... I swear to All Gods and Ancestors!"
"Good! Remember your vow, cherish your life!..."
Xiulote gently nodded, gazing at the woman in his arms, delving into her soul in an unprecedented way.
"The death of the Great Sun Chief needs a result that truly satisfies all tribes. Head Warrior Qiyan is a suitable sacrifice, to bear all responsibility... Go! After sacrificing Yilwei, I want to see you personally sacrifice this person!"
"Ah? Your Highness!... I... personally sacrifice..."
"Mm?"
"Yes... Yes! I obey you! I obey you! Ah! Mighty Your Highness... Ah!"
The dim firelight flickered, the night wind whispered. In Miyava's eyes, a gentle light shimmered, and a peculiar blush appeared on her face. Soon after, the candlelight extinguished, the wind intensified, and moonlight vanished into the clouds. Faint clouds rose from the horizon, enveloping the camp at Golden Bay City. The rainy season of May was about to arrive, and sowing was imminent...