Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1704 - 1214: An Increasingly Dangerous Conversation—What Exactly Happened? (2)

"Hmm... Teacher, the Western Army faces treacherous paths and difficult roads. After conquering Xianggou City, we can let Marshal Casal settle and reassure the various tribes, and have cousin Montezuma continue southward to conquer the Mistek Coast! It is said that the coastal lands of the Mistek people are rich in resources, with gold, silver, jade, and shells - an excellent wealthy fief... Once the cousin conquers the coast, he can be stationed here to reward military achievements!"

"Oh? You're saying to give the wealthy southern coast to the young Montezuma and leave the impoverished northern mountain valleys to you and Alisa's children? ... Well, although the coast is a bit far, it truly is a prosperous place, worthy of his hard work to conquer southward!..."

Aweit's eyes gleamed as he looked at the respectful Xiulote, nodding in admiration. This suggestion is indeed wise, understanding the essence of personnel in political struggles!

First, designate the strategic areas in the northern Mistek region and keep them within the royal family's control under Aweit's lineage. Then, have Montezuma II lead the royal family branch southward, distributed in the wealthy coast, suppress the distant Mistec tribes, and completely separate them from the central authority, Quetzalcoatl... Achieving a stable restrictive balance within the royal family, and between the royal central and local nobility.

Politics of the Mexica Alliance in this era is still in the royal clan feudal era, similar to the early emergence of tribes like Xiongnu, Khitan, Mongolia, and Jurchen on the prairie, lacking the reinforcement of patriarchal legality.

Central America lacks ox carts and horse carriages, has no thorough paths, and the terrain is mostly mountains and forests, resulting in very low communication efficiency! Under these circumstances, the area that the Mexica Alliance can directly control is very limited, only within the hundreds of miles around Lake Texcoco. All peripheral territories have to be handed over to royal kinship to suppress local nobles and tribes. Once the royal power weakens, tribes and vassals will rebel!

Thus, the alliance's center, like the Celestial Empire's Emperor, has to prevent the royal kinship from growing too strong and threatening the central main branch on the one hand, and prevent the kinship from being too weak to resist threats from various tribes and nobles on the other! "A child can't be a Great Khan." Similarly, the alliance's central "Great Khan" must strictly guard against too outstanding successors, while ensuring the presence of excellent, capable adult successors to take over immediately in case of unforeseen sudden death, preventing the powerful tribal alliance from immediately scattering or falling into the hands of more distant nobles...

Historically, after Aweit was assassinated, power fell into the hands of Montezuma II from the Asar Lineage. But Montezuma II couldn't hold onto it, triggering rebellion among southern cloud vassals and Vastec people, eventually leading to internal division and civil war within the royal family, resulting in the foolish move of introducing the "Feathered Serpent White-skinned Divine Envoy."

This complex alliance political situation is precisely why Aweit made every effort and used various threats to summon back Xiulote while strictly ensuring his safety, even continuing to rely on him and promise power in the future. In essence, the Aztec Alliance is a tribal alliance based on royal family feuds, not a centralized Celestial Empire!

In this thriving tribal alliance, the stable transmission of imperial power does not exist, and in Aweit's centralization reform, it's just beginning to emerge. This supreme imperial power hasn't taken shape, so there's no question of usurpation of power, let alone a structured patriarchal succession.

If Aweit were suddenly assassinated now and Xiuhua hadn't grown up, Xiulote would struggle to fully assume control of the Mexica Alliance. He would surely have to face a royal civil war against the Asar Lineage, Aweit's youngest son's line, and other royal branches, local nobles, sweeping through city-states one by one!

After all, so many power-lost city-state nobles harbor resentment toward the centralization and reallocation by the alliance center, long waiting for internal chaos to bid their interests. They will only lean toward the Mexica Royal Family faction offering a higher price. Yet such autonomous compromise isn't what Xiulote is willing to pay. His current support for Aweit is to endorse the Mexica Alliance's centralization reform and external expansion, suppressing internal contradictions within the alliance, transforming it into a genuine Feudal Empire...

"Chief Divine's protection! Xiulote, this vast world, you should have more children with Alisa! Especially brave boys, so I can appoint them to conquered tribes as Mexica-blooded princes!..."

Aweit's expression turned wistful as he rarely displayed his inner thoughts with a sigh. His grandfather Montezuma was a formidable conqueror who survived and conquered many female chiefs, leaving behind a vast Asar royal lineage. Only he and the early deceased Tizoc had few children, with just two or three possessing sufficient status and talent for appointment. And now, he is over forty...

"My student, my son-in-law! Now my little Chimalpahin is still a minor, continuing my lineage depends on you and Alisa! I've trekked north and south, conquering various tribes, unwilling to grant undue favor to nephews born of my brother... Like siring Xiuhua, give me a few remarkable 'Pachi'..."

Upon hearing this promise from his father-in-law, Xiulote pursed his lips, glanced at Aweit's solemn expression, and bowed respectfully, revealing his hair.

At this moment, Xiulote understood. Though Aweit likely said these words with the intention to win his heart, ensuring his loyalty, it was indeed Aweit's true feelings. Even though Aweit had once broken his promises to Xiulote, regarding the appointment of Alisa's sons and their own grandchildren, he was genuinely sincere!

In the Mexica's perception, there's fundamentally no distinction between "grandson" and "grandchild," and even the difference in gender inheritance rights is minimal. In Navajo, "grandson" and "grandchild" are both "ixhuixhuiuh," and a grandfather's most cherished grandson is "Pachi." (pachin).

For Aweit, Alisa, Chimalpahin, and Cuauhtemoc's three children will undoubtedly receive substantial appointments. Meanwhile, the alliance's greatest power, the royal authority central of Lake Texcoco District, would be passed through his most-loved eldest daughter to his grandchild Xiuhua, whom he personally nurtured! Just like his most revered maternal grandfather, Montezuma I, who passed royal authority through his mother to his two brothers who successively ascended the throne, ultimately reached him! These three sibling-kings are all Montezuma I's grandchildren!

"Xiulote, my student! In this world, so-called loyalty is something that's hard to predict, hard to grasp, hard to rely on... The more you experience, the less you believe in so-called loyalty, caring only about whether a person is trustworthy in that moment, that situation..."

Facing the bowing Xiulote, Aweit smiled faintly. But this time, he didn't extend his hand to grasp the student's hair, emphasizing their lord-and-servant relationship... Instead, he cordially raised Xiulote himself, holding onto his arm.

In theory, this meeting already covered all formal matters and should be casually concluded. Yet Aweit chatted deeper, expressing more inner thoughts. This was unusual and strange, and a dangerous sign...

"My good student, have another drink with me! How do you find this wine?..."

"Ah!... It's fruit-scented with a touch of sourness, quite unique, leaving a long aftertaste!..."

"Hmm, Xiulote, this is actually plum wine... You once told me a story that I still remember clearly and appreciate very much!..."

"Warm plum wine? A story I told? Ah! It's boiled wine..."

Hearing this, sweat began forming on Xiulote's forehead. Though he didn't know why, he sensed something was certainly amiss. But what exactly was wrong?