Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1723 - 1230: The Divine Monkey’s Anxiety—It’s Not Feathers Flying, but the Heart-Monkey Climbing the Tree...
"May the Chief Divine bless us! Legion Commander, we have conquered Sand Eye City, defeated the last resisting Northern Ticos City-State! After more than two years of conquest, the Ticos tribes on both banks of the Great River have finally been subdued by us!... Should we continue northward to chase the remnant forces of the Feather Prince?"
"..."
The morning sun rose over the East Mountain, casting long shadows westward, reflecting on the isolated West Mountain. The ancient Sand Eye City sat nestled in the basin between the mountains, beside the flowing Sand River, its history stretching back hundreds if not thousands of years.
According to the mythology of the Northern Ticos Divine Descendants, their earliest ancestral deities sprang from the ancient Toltec bloodline, only seeking refuge in the wilderness mountains to escape an apocalyptic divine catastrophe. When the calamity passed, they emerged southward from the Northern Continent, descending from the upper "Great Sand River," emerging from the endless mountains and wilderness to settle in this rare fertile land! Gradually, the tribes expanded southward to both sides of the Lerma River...
As for the Ticos tribes further south, though their language and appearance closely resembled those of the Northern Ticos, they did not possess the revered ancient divine blood and were merely ordinary mortal tribes...
"That's the tale of the Northern Ticos Divine Descendants. But in my view, the tribes of the south and north are one family... They all descend from the wilderness Canine Descendants of the south, just like us!..."
Monkey Kuluka, the Great Chief, wearing a Feather Crown, stood on the battlements of Sand Eye City, gazing north with a thoughtful eye. To the northeast of Sand Eye City lay the vast stretches of mountains, while the northwest opened into expansive valleys. Continuing north along the northwest valley led to the broad coastal plains and the flood plains created by the river.
That river plain and swampy terrain were the domains of numerous small hunting tribes, the shared hunting grounds of the Huichol people and the Northern Ticos, devoid of any large tribal city-states.
Seeing all this clearly, Monkey Kuluka turned his head, making a decision in his heart. His gaze then fell intensely on his trusted Camp Commander beside him. His bright eyes carried a test, reminiscent of the time when His Highness tested him.
"Guzman!" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
"Ah! Legion Commander, what are your orders next?..."
"Under the witness of the Chief Divine! Guzman, this Sand Eye City is the northernmost city-state among the Ticos tribes. Beyond it lies the barren lands of the hunting tribes. Those are the impoverished hunting tribes, unlike the Ticos villages of the south..."
"Similarly, our army's current position is four hundred li from Lake Stone City where we set out, six hundred li from the easternmost Chapala Great Lake, and three hundred li from the nearest midsection of the Lerma River... Three hundred li>, that's quite a distance!"
"Moreover, it's already the beginning of March... Guzman, do you understand what I mean and know the plan for the next step?..."
"Ah! Legion Commander, let me gather my thoughts properly..."
Upon hearing this, Warrior Camp Chief Guzman widened his eyes and focused intently. Dressed in cloth-covered copper armor, wielding a three-meter spear, he stood half a body behind the Legion Commander, yet taller by half a head. After ten years of campaigns, this once young and timid Mexica gold miner had gradually transformed through countless battles into a truly valiant Pike Warrior and became Monkey Kuluka's most trusted confidant from his hometown!
For these ten years, he followed the Monkey, growing from a nervous Pike Militia into a brave warrior in formation. Then, he earned honors in battle, rose to the fearless Warrior Captain, and then promoted to the steadfast blood-fighting Warrior Leader, until now he commands a thousand troops as Warrior Camp Chief. His path mirrors the life trajectories of many Pike Warriors.
From the first spear legion formed a decade ago, to the invincible Great Lake Legion of today, ten years of combat without defeat was all that was required!
"Yes... Legion Commander, I think I understand a bit now!... As you said, war is a calculation; one must meticulously account for all gains and losses, especially logistics and food accumulation..."
"May the Chief Divine bless us! That wasn't me; it was His Majesty who said that!"
"Yes! Praise the Chief Divine, praise Your Majesty!..."
The Warrior Camp Chief Guzman bowed his head, uttering a devout prayer. Then, with a serious expression, he extended his fingers one by one, calculating aloud for the approving Monkey Kuluka to hear.
"The Chief Divine bears witness! Legion Commander, Sand Eye City is indeed the northernmost City-State, and its walls are the lowest. Beyond that point to the north, there are only scattered small Tekos tribes, many of which are still in nomadic migration... Therefore, if we continue northward, it will be difficult to gather the food needed for a large expeditionary force. These tribes have probably already been raided by the Feather Prince, and may have been coerced to flee northward with him as well!..."
"As for the Great Leman River, it is the lifeline for rapid military movement, allowing us to wage campaigns against all tribes along the river. Our Great Lake Legion, as long as we stay within close proximity to the river, can leverage the riverine transport to swiftly deploy large forces, to strike both upstream and downstream... A distance of three hundred li represents ten days of marching for the army, which is also the threshold for timely suppression of rebellion! As long as we remain within three hundred li north or south of the river, those two hundred thousand Great Lake Purpecha upstream, the over two hundred thousand Northern Ticos tribes we conquered in the mid-lower reaches, as well as the forty to fifty thousand Guamal Canine Descendants settled along the river... these newly conquered, yet to be wholly loyal, tumultuous tribes will fear our powerful forces, readily able to reach them, and will not dare to entertain thoughts of rebellion!..."
"And as it is now the beginning of March, only two months are left until the spring plowing in May! This timeframe is insufficient to support us in pursuing the Feather Prince who has disappeared up north... Hence, all things considered, food supply, suppression of the rear, and timing for spring plowing, cannot support our continued northern campaign! Sand Eye City thus marks the end of this expedition, the remnant forces of the Feather Prince can be considered fortunate to have escaped once again. Henceforth, the army must quickly return south to prepare for the spring plowing of May this year!"
After concluding his analysis, the Warrior Camp Chief Guzman widened his eyes, like a student awaiting a teacher's praise, expectantly looking at the Legion Commander. As for Monkey Kuluka, he smiled sincerely and nodded approvingly. He reached out, heavily patted his trusted Guzman on the shoulder, and laughed, "With heartfelt comfort."
"Very good! Guzman, you are commendable!..."
"The location of Sand Eye City is crucial, it is the northern defensive stronghold of the Great River. Here, we must not only guard against the Canine Descendants from the north descending south to raid, but also against the Feather Prince who may return to launch a sneak attack... Only by holding this place do we ensure stable farming along the entire Great River's banks!"
"For such an important town, I can only entrust it to someone reliable, who sees things clearly! Guzman, within the Great Lake Legion, only you meet these conditions! Therefore, I leave this northern stronghold in your hands!"
"Ah? Ah this!... Legion Commander, chief! You intend to leave me here, to oversee a City-State? But, but I am just... a Warrior Camp Chief from a commoner background, I only know how to fight!"
Upon hearing Kuluka's arrangement, Guzman stood frozen in place, face turning pale, once again showing his long-unused nervousness. At this moment, he had full confidence that under the Legion Commander's orders, he could lead a thousand spear warriors to crush thousands of enemy troops! However, leaving him to independently station himself somewhere, responsible for military and political affairs, seemed greatly beyond his experience and ability, causing him to feel uneasy and anxious...
"Haha! Guzman, to secure this place, knowing how to fight is enough! Furthermore, you have commanded warrior camps in garrison farming, having experience in such agricultural settlements... This Sand Eye City, as a northern Military Town, does not need too many or varied tribespeople; I will relocate most of the tribes! You must believe in yourself; as long as you can defend, fight, and engage in garrison farming, that will be wholly sufficient!"
Monkey Kuluka smiled kindly, affectionately hammering his fist against the Warrior Camp Chief, encouraging his trusted compatriot. While his face wore a smile, his heart held a certain melancholy and worry, yet he was helpless. Because, truly, he had no one left in his hands!
As a Legion Commander of common Mexica origin, Monkey did not possess any household retainers, nor any descendants of Purpecha nobility pledged allegiance to him. He kept himself clean, not intermarrying with any great tribes. Currently, his wholly trusted confidants, aside from a few Kingdom Priests and Purpecha Generals, were only the samurai from the spear regiment, only the warriors he personally led!
Yet with such a sparse foundation, Monkey's conquests and expansions were exceedingly rapid, akin to a whale devouring a large fish. In merely a few short years, he pacified the Chapala Great Lake, conquered the Northern Ticos tribes in the mid-to-lower reaches of the Lerma River, further pursued the Feather Prince for six hundred li, driving the latter to the very edge of the Northern Continent!
Thus, facing vast territories comprising a third of the Kingdom of the Lake, his reliable manpower was exceedingly stretched to its limit...
"O Chief Divine! From the Chapala Great Lake to the mouth of the sea, east to west spans six hundred li. From Sand Eye City to Ameca City, north to south stretches four hundred li. Such expansive territories, comprising fully fifty thousand tribespeople from various origins... Can I truly digest and control them steadily?... Do I too have to learn from Qingqiu's frog-raising, like the Poet Balamo, to intermarry with conquered tribes everywhere? Or, like Apal Four-Finger and Miner Ezpan, merge with the Kingdom Priest faction, powerful regional forces, preparing to support the Prince of The Highness... Yet these solutions are like unleashing wild beasts from their cages!"
At this moment, Monkey Kuluka stood atop the low, dilapidated ancient city wall, gazing at the sun gradually rising to the zenith, his heart a tumult of thoughts. After a long time, he let out a low breath, self-mockingly smiling at the sun.
"Oh Prince, dear Prince! This haphazardly assembled Great Lake County of mine, is honestly too mixed and chaotic! I must suppress fifty thousand tribes, yet my Mezica Main Body to rely upon amounts to only four thousand!"
"By the grace of the Chief Divine, my Prince, you must return soon, and return well!... Otherwise, I truly fear being unable to bear it, fear the monkey within me climbing the tree! Finally, either I tread the clan path of Qingqiu, or I embark on Apal's road of support..."
