Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

The spring rain fell in a downpour, and the storms by the seaside were always more urgent than those on the highland. The cultivated soil had become soft and unrecognizable, while the busy spring plowing continued for nearly a month. When the spring plowing in Golden Bay City ended in late May, 120,000 Totonac tribes had sown over 600,000 acres of farmland. Finally, Xiulote, who personally supervised the farming, could breathe a sigh of relief. The spring plowing had been completed well; once the autumn harvest arrived, the kingdom's food problem in the seaside lands would be easily resolved.

Spring blossomed gloriously by the vast coast. He stepped out of the tent with a woman who walked unsteadily, gazing at the endless coastline and the lush green fields on the plains. At this moment, the bright sunlight broke through the clouds, bringing with it a scorching sensation as if summer had suddenly arrived.

"Spring plowing is finished, and summer approaches… while the peak of the rainy season is also just around the corner!…"

Under the dazzling spring light, Miyava wrapped herself in a broad white robe, holding a roll of paper books. At first glance, she seemed like an assistant priest involved in garrison farming. Her lips curled up, her face radiant like grass bathed in spring rain, appearing nearly drenched.

"Your Highness… all the marriages between the noble ladies have been arranged… After the spring plowing, garrisoning assistant priests everywhere had some leisure, and many have made requests… They wish to proceed further, to approach the light of the Chief Divine, to go to the newly built temple academy in Snake City, and receive the teachings of the Chief Divine Church…"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote raised an eyebrow. He took the booklets from the woman's hand, glanced at them, then calmly closed them. As the western Holy City of the Totonac people, the new city of the slayed serpent always held significant religious status. After the Alliance conquered this Holy City, they rebuilt a brand-new temple of the Chief Divine on the ruins of the Feathered Serpent Temple and established a small temple academy to cultivate native priests in the Totonac land.

If the surrendered Totonac "assistant priests" wished to proceed further, accepting training in the temple academy and officially becoming a priest of the Chief Divine was undoubtedly a clear path to advancement.

"Miyava, the selection of Totonac priests is the responsibility of the coastal Chief Priest Etrius. Hand the rosters over to him; he will naturally make selections after testing the assistant priests on the list!"

Xiulote glanced at Miyava lightly, his eyes carrying a slight sternness. Miyava bowed her head in fear, inwardly cursing the man as cold-hearted before quietly advising.

"Merciful and majestic Your Highness… Chief Priest Etrius wishes to recruit a batch of young priest apprentices, slowly cultivating their devout faith over the traditional five-year education of the Alliance. However, the current situation in the seaside lands…"

"I believe, the kingdom always needs to embrace a group of former priests and sages, providing them a path of advancement… After all, their influence within the tribes still remains in the hearts of many tribespeople. Gaining their support can allow the kingdom's roots of governance to penetrate more deeply…"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote turned his head to look at the cautiously careful Miyava, pondering silently. He understood the intentions of Chief Priest Etrius, who came from the Inquisition, naturally setting high requirements for the devout faith of priests. Therefore, Chief Priest Etrius favored a blank slate, the young Totonac apprentices, to fully impart the faith of the Chief Divine.

The request put forth by Miyava represented the political demands of Totonac elites. Having gained garrisoning assistant priest status and joined the ruling class of the kingdom, these existing Totonac elites demonstrated astounding zeal.

The ability of the 120,000 Totonac tribes to form banner teams and the successful completion of garrison planting around Golden Bay City were inseparable from the dedicated contributions of these local "assistant priests." Having achieved merits, these elites naturally wanted to take further steps, moving upward from the lower echelons of the ruling class.

"The quota for recruiting Totonac priests… young apprentices and garrisoning assistant priests…"

Xiulote rubbed his chin, contemplating seriously. Before Miyava's appearance, he had never received requests from the priests and sages of various tribes. This was not to imply that the Totonac elites lacked political demands or desire for more political power. Rather, being from a conquered people, they had no channel for direct communication with the upper echelons of the kingdom.

Thus, when Miyava appeared by the ruler's side in an implicitly acknowledged position, participating in the politics of the seaside lands… in merely a month's time, a Totonac political faction quickly coalesced around her!

The priests, sages, and chieftains of the various Totonac tribes all flocked to her side. Finally, the native elites had a direct spokesperson within the upper echelons of the kingdom. Regardless of how this spokesperson voiced their concerns, whether in strange settings or joyful times, they ultimately allowed the conduct of the kingdom to be heard by the king.

Politics is the art of compromise. Hearing the voices of native elites, embracing them, and involving them in the governance of the seaside lands was undoubtedly something that could stabilize rule! As for selectively meeting their demands, while also presenting new requests in return, it was a reasonable political exchange…

"The priest quota in the city of the slayed serpent will be split fifty-fifty. Half will cultivate devout young apprentices, and half will cultivate loyal priests and sages. I will inform Chief Priest Etrius to handle it this way in the future…"

After pondering briefly, Xiulote made a decision. He locked eyes with the delighted woman beside him and spoke calmly.

"However, the original priests and sages of each tribe must prove their devoutness upon becoming preaching priests of the Chief Divine! They must venture deep into the jungle, guiding those who have not been incorporated into the banner teams, who only superficially submitted, or who are even detached from the kingdom's rule, the loose inland tribes… Making more Totonac people integrate into the kingdom's governance order!…"

"The kingdom's army has traveled two hundred miles into the southwest jungle, pressing seven to eight thousand tribes in Feather Bird City to surrender and conducting strict conversion blood oaths! However, although the tribes around Feather Bird City have converted to the Chief Divine, the kingdom cannot spare enough priests to manage them, establish banner teams in the jungle, or even organize garrison farming… not to mention the tribes at Soil River City three hundred miles southwest, who have only nominally submitted to the kingdom… These vast, intricate inland areas are where familiar with tribal culture, fluent in various tribal languages, and adapted to jungle climates, native priests can demonstrate their abilities and devout faith!"

"Of course, as long as they perform well, the kingdom will generously reward them. If they can convert medium-sized tribes of a thousand people or great tribes of ten thousand, they can gain promotion to become Second Level city-state priests managing tribes, or even become Third Level Diocese High Priests overseeing an area!"

"Ah? Venturing into the jungle, guiding inland tribes, integrating into kingdom rule?"

Upon hearing this, Miyava's smile froze, exclaiming in surprise. This arduous path of advancement was quite different from what she and the garrisoning "assistant priests" had imagined. She opened her sweet little mouth to say something, but the king pinched her face, letting out only a gentle moan.

"Your Highness!…"

"Miyava, pass on my instructions to them, just as I have expressed…"

Miyava, you've been speaking on behalf of the Totonac tribes a bit too often of late!… You're a smart woman, but you must understand that no matter how those tribal elites praise you, how they flatter or implore… you must always keep your hold over them, make them bow before you, let them become your subjects… I am your ultimate authority!"

Hearing this admonishment, Miyava stood motionless for a long time, her eyes rarely showing some bewilderment, before she finally looked up, her exquisite face visibly blushing, her eyes glistening, as if she had finally seen the view from the top like an ant climbing to a high place. Then, a noticeable blush crept across her beautiful face, her eyes twinkling as she said.

"My lord… you're saying, I should tell them that you…you are my ultimate authority?…"

"Yes."

"You, my lord, are my guardian… my master…"

"Mm…"

"My master… should I bow before you here?…"

"Hmm?! Here?"

Xiulote widened his eyes. The lakeside sparkled in the fields as the personal guard warriors moved away. In the distant expansive fields, the busy spring plowing had ended. The lush greenery spread over the fertile soil where spring birds would soon sing. The reflection on the lake blurred, dissolving in the melody of the bird songs.

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