Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1701 - 1212: Xiulote’s Proposal, Aweit’s Humorous Remark
Outside the Royal Tent, a squad of Tonsured Guards stood watch, holding axes without moving an inch. Inside the tent, the teacher and student sat opposite each other, both gazing at the unfolded map of the South.
"The greatest challenge of the Southern Expedition... is the vastness of the Mistec territory and the lengthy logistics of the supply routes... especially in the east..."
Aweit pondered, silently calculating in his mind. Beside him, Xiulote maintained a humble demeanor, speaking respectfully and observing rituals with caution. Even when offering important advice, his demeanor and tone were as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Honorable Divine King! As for the supply routes of the Eastern Army, sixty percent starts from the Texcoco Lake District, while forty percent is transported from the garrisons at Water Valley City... From the Lake Capital City, it's a three hundred li journey to Water Valley City. From there, another four hundred li is needed to reach Divine Stone City. In total, the supply route extends seven hundred li, all through the wide highland pathways, suitable for large militia movements, yet without any available waterways..."
"Divine King, you have always paid great attention to supply routes, being a wise and thoughtful divine commander. In the two logistical hubs, Water Valley City and High Mountain City, there are four thousand Royal Warriors stationed in each. Moreover, the Royal Legion is entrusted to the most reliable Chichimiqui as their commander, all to ensure sufficient grain supply and absolute security along the rear!..." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
"Witnessed by the Chief Divine! The Eastern Army is the true main force of the Alliance, with formidable might that terrifies the Mistek people, who dare not engage us in open battle, only defending their cities to delay their defeat. The main army comprises three eight-thousand-strong Royal Legions, three five-thousand-strong City-State Armies, one four-thousand-strong Tonsured Guard, and a two-thousand-strong Lake Army... totaling forty-five thousand troops at the time of expedition, supplemented by an additional ten to twenty thousand auxiliary militia. Despite the siege and fortress assaults along the way, the main army still comprises forty thousand troops, with over ten thousand militia. To support these over fifty thousand men, the logistical transportation involves as many as one hundred thousand militiamen..."
"At present, at Divine Stone City, all the generals are following your arrangements, Divine King, with no one daring to neglect their duties. The logistical supply is stable and orderly, with the grain transported exceeding the army's consumption. Coupled with a batch of grain obtained from Divine Stone City, there's now more than two months' worth of stockpiled supplies... But if we continue southward, breaking through the mountain pass fort, advancing to Cloud Mountain City, and if the Mistek people continue their resistance without recognizing divine might, refusing to yield... the Alliance will need to establish a siege camp, extending the supply route by another three hundred li, also facing the summer and autumn rainy seasons! The additional three hundred li on top of the seven hundred would not merely double the consumption, considering the food needed by the civilians along the way... the actual cost of grain transportation would multiply, likely requiring two hundred thousand able-bodied men to sustain it!"
"Honorable Divine King! A wise person may think a hundred times and still make a small error. A fool examining a thousand times might discover something rare... According to my foolish examination, the Divine Stone City Valley is an excellent garrison site, cultivated by the Mistek people for thousands of years with city-states and fields. As long as the Mountain Pass Fortress is captured, securing both the north and south entrances of the Valley at Divine Stone City and the Mountain Pass Fortress, the one hundred and fifty li Valley in between can be completely sealed off!..."
"May the Chief Divine provide protection! Once the Divine Stone Valley is secured, the tens of thousands of Mistek tribes can be regrouped and settled, leaving a reliable legion to oversee and spur them into diligent farming, catching up with this year's spring plowing... By the harvest in October this year, the Alliance Eastern Army can obtain nearby food supplies, at least reducing the logistical burden by ten thousand militiamen! And if we proceed with the Southern Expedition against the Zapotecs, attacking the distant Oaxaca Valley, this garrisoned site at Divine Stone City will become even more crucial!"
"Hmm... leaving a legion to garrison at Divine Stone City Valley?..."
Aweit patiently listened, his expression becoming solemn, picking up a charcoal pencil to calculate on a wooden board, his eyes gradually shining with insight. Xiulote was right; if we continue southward with fifty thousand troops, besieging Cloud Mountain City would indeed require mobilizing two hundred thousand logistical militiamen! Recruiting these two hundred thousand able-bodied men would greatly affect the Alliance's spring plowing this year, reducing next year's grain production by ten percent.
The Mistek Cloud Mountain City is located at the highest point of the highland, exceptionally fortified as a "mountain city," and it's the ancestral land that the Mistek people have focused on managing. It has never fallen in wars against the Cloud Tribe. This tough nut might need to be assessed like the Otomi Mountain City, Cloud Serpent Mountain City, or White Snake Hill City, and even though the army has heavy siege mortars, who knows how long it would take. Moreover, commanding the army here is not only for capturing Cloud Mountain City or encompassing the Mistek tribes to achieve satisfaction. It's important to know that the southeastern Zapotecs in the never-conquered Oaxaca Valley are closer to the achievements of past Monarchs, now within reach of the Divine King!...
Thus, leaving a legion to garrison at Divine Stone Valley now can not only alleviate the current transportation pressure but also ensure a continuous supply in the future. It is certainly a strategic plan for the future—a brilliant strategy!
"Xiulote, my student, you're absolutely right! The garrison at Divine Stone City is indeed feasible; this is a plan to stabilize the nation, like the roots of the Divine Tree securely planted! I think this garrison should not only be done but should be considered a top priority!"
Upon saying this, Aweit took a deep breath, lowering his eyes in contemplation for a long while. He was a decisive person with very strong execution skills. Given that his expedition goal extended beyond the Mistec's eight hundred li north-south and six hundred li east-west, further attacking the Zapotecs' eight hundred li east-west and three hundred li north-south... this Holy War mobilizing the entire Alliance could not be completed within a year or two! The Alliance's spring plowing must be ensured, and the order of the rear maintained. On the frontline, not only should the Divine Stone City Valley be used for garrisoning, but once the Cloud Mountain City Valley is captured, it should be extensively garrisoned too!
"Xiulote, I intend to leave twenty thousand men to garrison at Divine Stone City Valley and lead only thirty thousand troops southward! There's now two and a half months until May for the spring plowing. With twenty thousand warriors and militiamen, regrouping over a hundred thousand Mistek tribes, they will join in the garrison and farming..."
Aweit gazed deeply at his student, and the student, head lowered, body leaning forward, maintained a formal kneeling posture. At this moment, he felt that his student, honed by him, had finally transformed from a sharp and threatening long spear into a round and safe shield.
"A young spear can wound others, but it can also wound itself. A mature shield is the life of a warrior on the battlefield, an indispensable aid to me... But... is this really a shield?..."
After a moment of reflection, Aweit's thoughts flowed, but nothing showed on his face. With a slight smile, using a teacher's affectionate tone, he laughed and said to Xiulote.
"Xiulote, my student. You've garrisoned at Water Valley City for two years and did very well! Such meticulous garrison work, others may not handle well, but you're the most suitable and experienced... How about this, I'll assign you to manage and be responsible for the twenty thousand men garrisoning at Divine Stone City Valley, along with one thousand Imperial Guards! Meanwhile, I'll lead thirty thousand troops south to attack Cloud Mountain City... What do you think?"
