Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Warrior Lake stretches eighty li north to south and over forty li east to west; it is a Great Lake capable of irrigating hundreds of li of fertile land. The blazing summer sun radiates growth-enabling rays, making both the fields and farmland lush and verdant, with weeds and crops growing haphazardly together.

"What a pity!... Such good land, yet not carefully tended... The weeds are as tall as the crops!…"

The longship anchored by Warrior Lake, finding a camp of the Bosalos, and rested there for a night. The old militia couldn't stay idle, wandering outside the camp to the fields, examining the land that had been planted two months prior, and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

"Fools! Fools! Truly a bunch of wooden-headed fools…"

Priest MeKate, however, did not go down to the land, instead wandering around the camp observing everything. Watching the tribal warriors who had returned from disbandment, each lean and showing signs of long travel, he asked Chipawa in Purepecha dialect.

"Brave Chipawa Warrior Captain, with so many tribal warriors marching on such long military expeditions, who provides the food supply?"

"What? Food for the expedition? Ordinary conscript tribes, just like migrating, bring their own provisions! Of course, the Red Crow Great Tribe provides food for elite teams like our Hundred-man Team. We are direct warriors of the Red Crow Great Tribe, unlike those conscripted tribal warriors!…"

Hearing Priest MeKate's appellation, Chipawa grinned with satisfaction. He lightly patted his fellow's shoulder and replied in a straightforward manner.

"Certainly, some tribes are poor, bringing insufficient food during expeditions, so they can only hunt, fish, and plunder enemies on the way. Thus, they often march for a few days, then stop for a couple of days, slowly as if moving along a migration path… Only our elite Hundred-man Team can travel a hundred li in a day, reaching the north Great River in nearly ten days!…"

"Oh! I see! You all are truly impressive!…"

Priest MeKate's eyes flickered, as if contemplating.

The food carried by the tribal army for expeditions indicates two things. One is that Red Crow Great Tribe's food supply is insufficient to sustain so many direct elite Hundred-man Teams. Another is that various tribes have independent tribal armies, obeying summons but not directly controlled. These two things are essentially one: insufficient food production and loose tribal traditions limit the centralized power of the two Red Crow Chieftains.

"The cassava left by Captain Chi … can double the food production…"

With this thought, Priest MeKate pursed his lips, feeling emotionally conflicted and hard to express. His gaze moved within the Bosalos camp, observing the hastily constructed grass huts, pit dwellings, and the tribespeople accustomed to migration and wandering, his thoughts drifting far.

"Chief Divine! I wonder, if uniting these migrating Wilderness Barbarian Tribes under one banner and gradually settling them down, would be good or bad for the Kingdom…"

Priest MeKate observed for a moment, suddenly seeing something yellow flashing in the hands of a camp warrior. He squinted, inspecting closely, discovering it to be a bronze axe. Scanning the camp, he realized there were actually more than just one of these bronze axes.

"Brave Chipawa Warrior Captain, this tribal camp is so wealthy, they actually have so many bronze axes?"

"What? Wealthy? This ramshackle camp, even rats find it poor… Haha!"

Wilderness Warrior Chipawa scanned around, viewing the shabby, impoverished tribal camp missing even a turkey, and burst into laughter.

"Priest MeKate, the axes in their hands were gifts from the generous Great Chief after pledging allegiance! And such weapons, the craftsmen in Crow City forge a hundred pieces a day!"

"Forging? You possess copper mines?"

"Yes! Right up north, there's a large copper mine one or two hundred li away, with hundreds of mining slaves digging now! Sister Alan claimed the Great Chief chose Crow City due to this copper mine!"

Wilderness Warrior Chipawa scratched his head uncertainly, continuing.

"Seems there's something unique about the northern copper mine, not only yielding copper but also some pigment ores. The Wilderness Tribes up north have been digging for years, always applying the shiny ore dust to their tattoos… but I dislike that color, too flashy; red is still the most sacred! Yes, Sister Alan agrees with that…."

"Early last year, Uncle Kuitong, in charge of forging, discovered that integrating the pigment ore with copper during casting made the newly forged bronze axes and copper spears far more resilient!... Yet Uncle Kuitong always claimed it was incorrect, not hard enough, suggesting adding a silvery soft stone?... Commander Zucata had us search the mountains for months without finding a trace…"

"Chief Divine! How can it be? Damn it! The Red Crow Great Tribe, actually capable of bronze casting?"

Hearing this, Priest MeKate was utterly shocked inside. He maintained a composed demeanor, face still smiling, gently probing.

"Chipawa, who is this Uncle Kuitong? Is he also one of our Purepecha folks?"

"Eh! Haven't I mentioned? When Commander Zucata led us few escape to the Wilderness…"

Wilderness Warrior Chipawa, puzzled, scratched his head, carelessly revealing the background.

"Uncle Kuitong was one of them! He was a royal family craftsman slave of Prince Quiyus, responsible for creating bronze tools, hence named Kuitong. Commander said their warrior squad included those who trained Long Spear Camps, crafted Leather Armor, and forged bronze…all carefully chosen by the Prince, left for the Prince to rise again in the north! Yet unexpectedly, the Prince died en route, while they managed to survive…"

"Damn! Tarasco Royal Family's Prince Quiyus… actually had such preparations?…"

Upon hearing this name long forgotten by the Purepecha people, Priest MeKate squinted, biting his lip subtly. Then, his smile grew even brighter, softly asking.

"Chipawa, you Red Crow Great Tribe are truly remarkable! May I see the bronze axe you've forged?"

"Haha! Of course! Jia Ka, bring the axe!"

Wilderness Warrior Chipawa called out, laughingly gesturing to his axe.

"This one came from Desolate Valley City—an actual bronze axe, so much sharper! Uh... seems you crafted it…"

Priest MeKate examined intently, caressing, scrutinizing the yellow bronze axe in his hand. Upon trying to carve the axe surface twice with his obsidian dagger and testing the blade's sharp edge, he even licked the axe, tasting its flavor.

"Adequately resilient, not sharp enough... slightly soft, slightly astringent... eh? Even a bit sweet?…"

"It was mentioned in Divine Revelation Place… this is… this is…"

Priest MeKate blinked, a shimmer in his eyes before suddenly sparking.

"This is lead!"

"Chief Divine! The northern Copper Mountain yields the shiny pigment ores the Wilderness Tribes smear on their tattoos; could it be galena?"

"Then, the Red Crow Great Tribe forging their weaponry with copper and lead together… are lead bronze weapons?"