Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1703 - 1214: An Increasingly Dangerous Conversation—What Is Really Happening?
"The division of the Land Amidst the Clouds? My and Alisa's child?..."
As the sun descends, a Flying Eagle sweeps over the mountain forests of Mistec, observing the rolling hills and valleys, emitting a distant cry. Despite the clamorous camps of the Samurai, the soaring call of the eagle resonates between heaven and earth, stirring a longing in the heart. Amidst the fading eagle cries, Xiulote straightens his back, shifting from a relaxed half-crossed leg position to a formal kneeling posture, his face expressing solemnity.
"Chief Divine bears witness! This is essentially an exchange between Aweit and me, a more explicit binding of interests. Alisa's child, my son, his grandson, is the common interest point between us, a contract to ensure I stand by his side. He aims to maintain the authority of the Alliance Royal Family while balancing the various branches within, using my lineage from the Holy City Royal Family to counterbalance or even suppress the predecessor monarch of the Asar lineage! This is an orderly struggle to maintain stability within the alliance, where he won't personally intervene but act as a biased referee, letting me struggle and compromise with the Asar lineage..."
"For the long-term planning of royal power stability, Aweit needs to find the right people, in the right positions, doing the right things, encountering the right opponents. Such intricate arrangements must not only consider the current situation of the alliance but also the past and future, laying down foundations equally beneficial over time... The right people must be right not only today but also in the future, at least not hindering the power of the Divine King, just like everyone he has arranged today..."
Thoughts swirling, Xiulote bows his head in contemplation, then looks at the map on the table, needing time to think. Meanwhile, Aweit smiles and gestures to his trusted aide, who brings forward two ceramic cups and a ceramic pot. A mild aroma of wine wafts through the tent.
"Hmm? Drinking wine before dusk?"
Seeing this, Xiulote sniffs in curiosity but quickly pours two cups of wine. Aweit raises his cup in salute, takes a sip with a smile. Xiulote also drinks two sips, his brow furrowing slightly before quickly calming down.
"Strange... This wine is sour? Seems to have added sour fruit, still warm... A warm sour fruit wine?..."
The two drink in silence, Xiulote not bothering to ponder more, only reflecting on Aweit's personnel arrangements.
"Today there are four personnel arrangements... Ecatl presides over affairs, Hua Diaochirto presides over military affairs, the two coordinate and counterbalance each other, responsible for the garrison of Divine Stone City Valley. Aweit first tests me, then drags me into the water, using the kingdom's garrison backbone to achieve the garrison goals. Similarly, this is an opportunity for the commoner-born trusted aide, Chilto, to accumulate merit, learn military affairs, and advance further within the alliance's army... Maybe this also includes attempts to woo Ecatl..."
"And letting Quetzalcoatl from the Asar lineage apprentice under me, learning divine divination and pursuing the path of a priest, is preparation for not granting him the fiefdom of a royal prince. On one hand, it's reserving royal-born high priest backbone within the High Priesthood to balance with Elder Priests from other backgrounds, strengthening royal direct divine authority. On the other hand, it suppresses the fief area of the predecessor monarch Asar lineage within the royal family, preventing this strongest royal branch from growing too powerful, threatening Aweit's main royal lineage..."
"Lastly, Aweit mentioned the division of the Land Amidst the Clouds. My second child with Alisa may very well become the Prince of the Land Amidst the Clouds... Initially promised as the territory for the Asar lineage, for Montezuma II's fief, now it's to be split into two large portions. Given the current situation, if Alisa bears a boy, he will inevitably be granted a portion of the fief in the Land Amidst the Clouds, possibly the majority, thus explicitly competing with the Asar lineage!..."
Contemplating deeply, Xiulote looks down at the map, concealing the changes in his expression. His wife Alisa is already nine months pregnant, which genuinely concerns him. Calculating the days, it aligns perfectly with the month of last year's Goddess of Spring festival, during which daily indulgences led to the conception. For the forthcoming child...
"For the fiefdom of this child, I must wholeheartedly stand by Aweit's side to suppress the royal princes of the Asar lineage, especially Montezuma II! And Monte II's younger brother Quetzalcoatl, who is both my Silver Raven wife's brother-in-law and will apprentice under me to learn the ways of a priest... This is a longstanding plan laid in advance, allowing me to either successfully divide the Asar brothers or fail to influence Quetzalcoatl, being restrained by the two!..."
Xiulote finishes his tea, exhaling a long breath. Only then does he turn, respectfully inquiring.
"Teacher, cousin Montezuma II, currently with the Western Army, leads the Royal Legion under Marshal Casal?"
"Indeed! Marshal Casal was promoted during the Asar period by the Predecessor Monarch. He continued his service through the Tizoc period, later swore allegiance to me, achieving great merit during the eastern campaign against the Telascalans, able to lead a grand army in foreign expeditions..."
Aweit's smile remains calm, stopping at that, and Xiulote's heart immediately comprehends. The main force of the Western Army is both one of the foundations of the Mexican Royal Family and the Royal Warrior force inclined towards the Asar lineage. In a rough analogy, it resembles the 'Two White Banners' during the early Qing dynasty. To outsiders, Casal is a reliable royal general in warfare, but internally he isn't a true confidant of Aweit's lineage, so every time after a major battle, his military command is withdrawn.
