Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 609 - Three Hundred and Five: Night Talk and Discovery

The night deepened, and faint sounds echoed intermittently between the mountains, resembling the rustling of a long wind through the forest.

Amoxtli was urgent, the survival of his tribe at stake, he had to get answers. He grabbed Ivican’s arm firmly.

"Don’t change the subject! Ivican, whatever arrangements the Red Fox Chieftain has made, he’ll surely inform you red-haired warriors. We have been friends for so many years, you must tell me!"

"Ah! Amoxtli... not all red-haired warriors know the chieftain’s plans..."

Ivican showed a troubled expression, stammering reluctantly.

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"There are indeed other arrangements! What are they exactly? Is the Red Fox Tribe going to withdraw?"

Amoxtli’s expression shifted, but he did not relent, continually pressing his friend.

"Ah! I promised the chieftain I wouldn’t say..."

"Ivican, are you going to just stand by and watch me and Alan go get killed? Tell me, I promise I won’t tell anyone!"

"It won’t happen! All elite red-haired warriors from the tribes will be conscripted and taken away... Ah! Okay, don’t pull at my neckline, I’ll tell you..."

Ivican sighed helplessly and downed his rice wine in one gulp. This meal was truly not worth it. Afterwards, the young red-haired warrior wiped his mouth and looked at his friend.

"During the summit of the three tribes, Chief Otuwa personally promised that after the Red Frog Tribe has held the front for a few days, the Red Fox Tribe will take over. The three major tribes together with their vassals, taking turns at the front of the valley mouth to fight, no one loses out, those replacing go to the rear camp to guard it."

"Tomorrow there will likely be a unified command issued, to rally all ordinary tribe’s red-haired warriors, under the command of the three major tribes to resist the brutal Cactus Tribe; half of other tribal warriors will be drawn to the front line initially, and if the battle intensifies, more will be drawn... And as compensation, men of fighting age from the ordinary tribes can periodically receive a share of food supply from the hands of the three major tribes."

"Ah! These orders..."

Upon hearing this, Amoxtli clenched his fists, his eyes widening. Taking advantage of the pressing force of the Cactus Tribe, the three major Guajili Tribes were beginning to integrate the vassal tribes under their control, gradually seizing the ordinary tribe’s warriors and able-bodied men. Such conscription was nearly equivalent to absorption, completely contrary to the traditions of the wilderness. However, given the current situation, the ordinary tribes had no way to refuse.

Amoxtli pondered hard over the situation. His eyes showed worry and confusion. The senior red-haired warrior began to mutter, gradually raising his voice.

"We avoided the cold snap, emerged from the wilderness of Kolawea less than a year ago, yet everything seems to have changed! Along the way, all we faced were hunger and skirmishes, countless ordinary tribes vanished, their red flags falling into the mud. The traditions of the wilderness are no longer upheld; instead, the large tribes grow stronger and more prosperous! You’ve absorbed more and more able-bodied men, seized more and more warriors. You’ve occupied vast fertile lands never seen before, even owning slaves from the Otomi and their city-states! Now, you even want to absorb us completely!"

"Ah! Amoxtli, what are you rambling about?! Along our journey, we’ve faced cold, hunger, thirst, troublesome Otomi people, fierce Aztec people... To overcome these challenges, we could only band together for warmth! This is the choice of the wilderness!"

"The choice of the wilderness... is the cactus in the rainy season, indifferent to the drought’s perseverance, merely seeking the blossoms of outcome. All tribes are children of the wilderness, and they too will see the day their flowers bloom! As long as they can catch the rainwater in time..."

The old chieftain’s teachings emerged in Amoxtli’s mind. His eyes brightened, as if flames were ignited, seeing the distant flickering light. After a while, as if nothing had changed, he grabbed Ivican once again.

"Ivican, you haven’t finished! These orders will soon be known by everyone. What is it that the Red Fox Chieftain told you not to talk about?"

"Ah!... Amoxtli, you mustn’t tell anyone!"

Ivican clenched the fist-sized piece of venison in his hand, feeling its immense weight. He gritted his teeth and glared at his friend’s face.

"Chief Otuwa ordered us to be prepared! Once the main force of the Red Frog Tribe advances to the front line and clears the Northwestern valley passage they occupy, there will be no obstacles preventing the Red Fox Tribe from leaving at any time! The reinforcements from the Cactus Tribe are on their way north, we must leave the dangerous valley before they block the Northwestern passage. The Red Fox Chieftain has already chosen a new campsite approximately two hundred li to the northwest in the valley, a hill with water resources!"

"What? So the chieftain guessed right! Ivican, then what about the tens of thousands from the Canine Descendants Tribes here?"

Amoxtli was shocked, staring back in response.

"Canine Descendants Tribes... Over these few days, the Red Fox Tribe will massively conscript the warriors from the vassal tribes. A portion of ordinary warriors will be sent to the rear camp to ease the mind of the Red Frog Chieftain. As for the elite red-haired and veteran warriors, they will be swept away along with the tribe!"

"Ah! The chieftain said, the tribe’s food can only support eight thousand able-bodied men, so all the elderly, women, and children are unwanted, and any men who cannot fight as well. The chieftain also said the Aztec people won’t stay in the Northern Land for too long; as long as we have eight thousand warriors, everyone will continue heading south next year, to raid the Otomi people!"

When he had finished, Ivican grabbed his friend’s arm back, his expression sincere.

"Amoxtli, I’ve told you all the chieftain’s plans! Come on, you hurry back, dye Alan’s hair red, and take her with you to join the conscription of the Red Fox Tribe! In this cruel, chaotic Northern wilderness, only the powerful tribes can survive and control everything! Your small broken tribe won’t last much longer... Ah! Amoxtli, with your wisdom and martial arts, as long as you join the Red Fox Tribe, you can definitely become a captain of a hundred men!"

Upon hearing this, Amoxtli’s mind was in turmoil. He looked into his friend’s eyes, unsure of what to say. But the thought of leaving the Red Crow Tribe, which had raised him like a son, and abandoning the elderly chiefather who had treated him as his own child was utterly unbearable. While he hesitated, his ears suddenly twitched slightly.

"Ivican, I think I heard something too! Ah, it sounds like the rustling of leaves, and it’s getting closer...this is...!"

The two seasoned scouts exchanged looks, both seeing disbelief in each other’s eyes. They immediately crouched down and moved slowly toward the source of the sound along the shadows of the ridge.

In the deep darkness of the night, a large shadow moved toward the East, accompanied occasionally by the sound of stepping on branches. The faint moonlight fell on the edge of the moving shadow, illuminating many indistinct figures and flashes of gray-blue.

"Awo! Gray-blue, walking at night without torches, this is..."

Ivican was about to exclaim when Amoxtli suddenly covered his mouth. The two red-haired warriors quietly approached and then silently receded. The footsteps faded, followed by Amoxtli’s voice next to his ear.

"Ivican, it’s the Otomi dogs! If they can walk the mountain roads at night, it must be the local Pamus warriors! Judging by their marching direction, they’re heading toward the valley camp in the East... You must hurry back and report to the Red Fox chieftain. I’ll follow them from here!"

"Yes, they’re moving slowly, it’ll be a while before they reach the valley mouth. Fighting in the dark is utterly chaotic, and the Cactus Tribe outside the valley can hardly respond. I reckon they’ll wait until dawn to launch the raid! After you see the chieftain, have someone notify the camps on the east to prepare their defenses. Then, bring the warriors of the Red Fox Tribe over, and when the day breaks, we’ll jointly strike at the Otomi!"

"Alright, Ivican, you really think things through; I’ll do as you said! Awo! I’ll tell the chieftain that this was all your idea. Let’s share the credit for this victory!"

Ivican, excited like a hunting hound, nodded vigorously. He quickly turned and left, still carrying the deer meat Amoxtli had given him.

"Awo! This meal sure was worth it!"

The moon waned and stars scattered, and the profound darkness shrouded everything. The mountains were veiled in peaceful night colors, and in the valley, only the flickering flames were vaguely visible. Soon, the cold crescent moon set in the west, and a faint morning light began shining in the east. Dawn was about to break, turning the blood from darkness to bright red.

Nobility Ico gazed at the faint light in the east, feeling hopeful for victory. He watched the familiar valley. Behind the valley gates, the camp was built of wood and stone, surrounded by a crude fence. The watchtower’s flag of the Red Frog fluttered unattended, seemingly unguarded.

Seeing this, a rare surge of courage bubbled in Ico’s chest. He shouted loudly,

"Brave Pamus warriors! Charge, kill the despicable Canine dogs, and reclaim our lands!"

"Roar! Kill the Canines!"

The remaining four hundred-plus Pamus warriors roared in unison. Though they were familiar with the mountain paths, they had lost dozens along the way. Yet at that moment, victory seemed tantalizingly close! Ico was the first to raise his War Club, charging toward the camp, closely followed by the four hundred warriors.

"Whistle!...Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"

Amid a sudden and mournful bone horn, hundreds of red-haired warriors suddenly emerged from various parts of the camp and drew their Hunting Bows, releasing sharp Bone Arrows at the charging Otomi Warriors!

"Ah! Ah..."

Ico let out a terrible scream. A Bone Arrow hit him in a vital spot on his face, followed by a second and then a third. The middle-aged nobility, propelled by inertia, charged forward another two steps before toppling into the soil of his homeland. His screams abruptly ended, leaving no last words.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"

A second wave of arrows flew at them head-on, several Pamus warriors screamed as they fell, while the remaining warriors plunged into chaos. Hundreds of ordinary Tribal Warriors, wielding Stone Hammers and Stone Spears, surged from deeper within the camp. Meanwhile, a flag of the Red Fox suddenly erected in the woods at the rear, and thousands of ambushing Canine Warriors charged from all sides!

Keka, wearing a Wolf Robe, stood at the highest point of the camp. He watched the scene unfold before him, grinning broadly.

"Haha! It seems the battle-hardened Cactus Tribe is just as vulnerable!"

Miles away, Black Wolf Torc, clad in Copper Armor, lowered his gaze, waiting personally at the mouth of the valley. Behind him, two thousand assault troops were ready to move. Suddenly, from the valley ahead, the bone horn of the Guajili sounded, and intense sounds of battle drifted over!

Black Wolf’s eyes snapped open, revealing a fierce, wild beast-like gaze. He then swung his command flag and roared forcefully.

"Temple Crossbowmen, close to within a hundred steps, fire continuously, suppress the camp! Vanguard throwing unit, groups of a hundred, ignite the Divine Power Globes a hundred steps away and launch them in a charge!"

"Roar, Vanguard, attack! If you don’t seize the Canine camp, then die trying!"