Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"Sailing along the coast, three thousand and two hundred li, equivalent to sailing from the Capital Region of the Ming Dynasty to Quanzhou!... And if it's only three hundred and twenty li, then the Warriors of the Kingdom will set out to attack in an instant..."

Xiulote sighed in his heart. Such a distant mileage, with the Kingdom's current level of navigation, it would be difficult to conduct large-scale trade or send troops for conquest in the short term. However, the bay of Lower California has outer islands that provide shelter, making the waters calm; even a double-hulled canoe can manage to travel back and forth. Thus, small scale exchanges between the North and South are still possible.

Of course, when the kingdom's merchant ships head north, there is also a third original purpose, which is to bring back guano rock from the sea islands. The previous samples brought back by the old militia were too few, making it difficult to understand either in the attempts to make saltpeter or in enriching the fields.

"The islands of Lower California receive very little rainfall, and the guano rock on the islands should be a mixture of calcium phosphate and nitrate. The technology of making saltpeter from guano rock may take several years to explore. But grinding it and adding it to the fields is quite easy. If we could create sand ships like those of the Celestial Empire, to transport three or four hundred tons in one trip... added to the fields, it would mean tangible food! With enough fertilizer, given the climate of Central America, the Milpa can be productive like the Chinampa and yield three harvests a year or even more!"

Xiulote looked at the sea chart of the Northwest, contemplating for a moment, feeling restless inside. He then glanced toward the unknown South, thinking of the bird guano in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, which is an almost endless wealth.

"No, for the future Empire, endless food is more important than endless gold and silver! And all this must come from the sea, from the vast North-South Continent!"

Upon reaching this thought, Xiulote lowered his gaze, a thought flashing in his mind. To break through in maritime technology, he has to passively wait. Then, he once again read Black Wolf's letter, soon reaching the end.

"Your Highness, the Kingdom Legion in the East is recruiting and providing food to the Tlaxcala Tribes in the mountains, also spreading the faith of the Chief Divine. But last year, many tribes fled to the lands of the Totonac, absorbed by those Great Tribes, big villages, and even City-States. The Totonac in the East took many Tlaxcala tribes as agricultural slaves. Even the nearby Five Mountains City sent out large groups of Totonac Warriors to block our Kingdom Legion's recruitment and attack our squads! The Guajili Warriors are very angry..."

"Hmm?"

Seeing this, Xiulote paused slightly, showing surprise.

"The mighty alliance of the Four States of Tlaxcala was destroyed under the alliance's eastern campaign. Now, six Mexica legions in the North and South are gathered in the Tlaxcala Valley, and the Totonac in the East dare to provoke the alliance at this time?"

Thinking this, Xiulote pondered for a moment, curling his lips. He continued to read, unsurprised by the following content.

"Your Highness, your loyal Black Wolf requests. The Totonac villages in the East provoked the alliance, provoked the Kingdom, offended the Chief Divine... They blocked the Kingdom's recruitment of Tlaxcala people, and they have many able-bodied men. Their warriors have fought with the legion's scouts several times, killing dozens of Kingdom Warriors!... I sincerely request your permission to deploy the entire legion to severely punish these daring Totonac!"

Seeing the Totonac already in combat with the alliance, Xiulote frowned and cursed under his breath.

"Oh, you warmongering Black Wolf!... When you return, I will punish you by making you copy the Chief Divine's 'Book of Ama Colley' ten times!"

Then, Xiulote's expression changed, thinking about the pros and cons. Soon, his gaze became sharp and resolute, his strong ambition jumping in his chest, carrying the desire to dominate and plunder, always yearning for further growth and strength.

"The King instructed me to besiege the city. This prolonged siege may continue for a long time, perhaps until the next autumn harvest. The alliance's food supply is not plenty, and transportation takes a toll. Last year, the great army gathered a lot by cultivating the land, so it's unnecessary to entrust all critical logistics to others."

"This year can continue cultivating the land. But in these two months, only ten thousand old and weak Tlaxcala have been recruited. Outside the barracks of Water Valley City, there are fifty thousand acres of ripe fields, enough to sustain a hundred thousand people cultivating!"

"The Totonac have already offended the alliance and are battling the Kingdom Legion. Regardless of the cause, to maintain the alliance's dignity, they must be beaten into seeking peace!... Moreover, the Kingdom needs population! More population, more agricultural slaves, to feed more warriors, which means a stronger army!"

After pondering, Xiulote finally made up his mind. He has fully recognized that the military group he established is a pure war machine.

For such a united and rapidly expanding military group, it needs to continuously plunder ample nutrients from the soil of all tribes. Maintaining a peaceful and stable relationship with the Totonac does not hold much significance. Instead, within the framework of the Mexica Alliance, attacking, plundering, and annexing at will is the fastest way to grow stronger!

"Black Wolf, the Totonac have offended the Chief Divine, I permit you to inflict severe punishment on them! I will also write to King Aweit, reporting details of the Totonac..."

Xiulote picked up the pen, dipped it in blue ink, and wrote a letter that seemed to be tinged with red.

"There are three months left until this year's spring planting. The Kingdom needs the population to cultivate, and also needs women to give birth. The Guajili Legion can act freely, but do not engage in unnecessary killing!... White Snake Hill City has no ability to break out. I will send eight thousand 'Yu Yan' legion to help you transport captives and protect the flank. As for the Five Mountains City that took the initiative to send troops..."

Writing here, Xiulote paused slightly. His gaze flickered as he coldly wrote the last sentence.

"You first send people to scout the city's population and defenses. The Kingdom's fleet has just brought a new batch of gunpowder and Clay Tribulus. The high city walls and steep terrain of Cloud Serpent Mountain City and White Snake Hill City are not conducive to the power of cannons... If the time is right, I will dispatch the Imperial Guard Legion's Artillery Camp to go to the Five Mountains City..."

The rainy season in Central America is too prolonged, and the rainfall in the Tlaxcala Valley is too much, the moisture in the air is overly rich. The gunpowder carried by the Southern Army last year mostly became ineffective after the long rainy season. Similarly, during the rainy season, the Kingdom's gunpowder production also halted, everything must await the end of the rain.

Until yesterday, the latest batch of gunpowder was finally painstakingly transported under the Tree Snake City by the Kingdom's fleet. Along with the gunpowder came a letter from the Vice Director of the Divine Revelation Place, Talaya.

Thinking of the lonely figure standing there, Xiulote pressed his lips lightly, not knowing what he was thinking. A moment later, he finally reached out, unfolding the letter with a faint floral scent.

The letter had a flower pattern like the sun, and inside it were two flowers of mimosa. In this era, mimosa is considered a spiritual plant because it moves when touched. In legends, the soul of a maiden is sealed in the grass and can only be seen by the one who misses her when the flower blooms.

As a Priest, Xiulote naturally knew this legend. He lowered his gaze, with a complex expression, reading the distant maiden's correspondence.

"To my Sun God... Victorious in the Eastern Campaign, your loyal... servant, kneels in celebration for you and prays for you to the Chief Divine!... According to your decree, the Kingdom's Gunpowder Bureau has discovered several bat caves and started refining saltpeter from the bat dung in these caves. The Kingdom's gunpowder production has increased once again. Every month outside of the rainy season, more than ten thousand pounds can be produced... The new batch of gunpowder weapons will arrive with this letter and the same quantity will be shipped every month before the heavy rains of June..."

Holding the letter and smelling its faint scent, Xiulote's heart inexplicably softened. Talaya has been responsible for the Divine Revelation Place for him, working diligently, overseeing the research and production of gunpowder, and four years have passed in a blink... After a moment, Xiulote steadied his mind and continued to read on. However, he quickly became sharp-eyed, suddenly standing up!

"...Blessed by the Chief Divine! The rain of the rainy season is the enlightenment of the Chief Divine, the transport along the river brought a new discovery... My lord, after hard exploration, I finally found a way to double the power of gunpowder!"