Upon hearing the Chief Minister’s words, King Su’angua looked solemn and skeptical. As a youthful monarch, though not deeply devout, he still found it difficult to fully comprehend matters of the divine.
"In that case, we must still be vigilant and cautious. It seems we should send another contingent of reinforcements to the northern route."
Jinjinni hesitated for a moment before speaking softly.
"Your Majesty, the enemy to the north is not too numerous. The lands on both sides of the Lerma River have been temporarily abandoned, and the kingdom has retreated to fortresses along the rivermouth and the line. In the defenses of Akanbaro State, there are already six thousand samurai and twenty thousand militia stationed. Provided we do not rashly engage in combat, they are sufficient to withstand twenty to thirty thousand Mexica samurai... In half a month, the kingdom can allocate another ten thousand militia to the northern route, but the samurai must wait for support from the Chapala Lake Region."
Su’angua paced back and forth, recalling the kingdom’s military deployments. He had always personally controlled the most crucial military mobilizations.
"With Lake Patzcuaro region as the core, the samurai in the hands of the royal family number twenty-five thousand. Other well-trained spear militia number five thousand, and five thousand reconstructed barbarian mercenaries. Now, with months of fighting, the samurai on both southern and northern fronts have suffered a staggering loss of over three thousand. The capital must retain at least two thousand samurai, leaving only twenty thousand samurai and ten thousand elite militia available for deployment.
In the face of Mexica raids, over twenty thousand militia have fallen, and around fifty thousand have been committed to combat. Militia are being urgently mobilized from all over, with massive conscription of village adults, temporarily setting aside the autumn harvest."
Su’angua bore a bitter smile. He had painstakingly managed for a long time, been undefeated in the conquests of the west and north, yet he still found it difficult to withstand the vast forces from the East. This year’s busy farming season lacked sufficient manpower, and the autumn harvest was bound to be significantly less productive.
"Now, in the northern state of Akanbaro, there are six thousand samurai and twenty thousand militia stationed. In the southern state of Xitaqualo, over ten thousand samurai and thirty thousand militia have been deployed. The remaining three thousand samurai..."
The King pondered for a long time, recalling the kingdom’s topography of the north and the south, before he finally asked.
"What do the marshals of the north and the south say?"
Chief Minister Jinjinni thought for a while and then replied earnestly.
"The latest letter was a report from a week ago. The southern Commander-in-Chief Quiyus said the battle is extremely fierce, with ceaseless combat day and night at the stone forts in the mountains. Mexica forces, counting their longbow warriors by the thousands, have besieged several key forts, attacking them daily. Their archers even approached within sixty paces, shooting under the cover of shields at the castle’s bowmen. They also constructed a roaring wooden beast that hurls huge stones into the stone forts, immediately deciding life and death upon impact."
"Quiyus" means eagle, a sacred hereditary title. Southern Commander-in-Chief Quiyus is the descendant of Tariguri, the first king of the Cazonci, and also King Su’angua’s uncle, a trusted member of the royal family.
A look of confusion and shock reappeared on King Su’angua’s face.
"What is this roaring wooden beast?"
After thinking for a moment, Jinjinni answered.
"It appears to be some kind of siege weapon, reportedly an invention of the ’God of Death’ Xiulote. Quiyus has already dispatched a large number of samurai and militia to harass the Mexica’s rear. However, the enemy’s supply line is not long and they were prepared early, having built several intermediate supply forts. Daily casualties include a hundred samurai from both sides, and double that for the militia."
Su’angua looked exceedingly grave. Since the war had begun, he had seldom heard any good news.
"And the northern commander, Ospai? What does he say?"
Jinjinni slightly smiled and shook his head.
"Naval Forces Legion Commander Marshal Ospai reports the situation is optimistic, facing little pressure. His enemies are few, and the Mexica naval forces have already returned to the east. Now, with a large-scale deployment of our naval forces, the northern enemies are confined within wooden forts. He has requested to redeploy troops from the southern defense line to besiege one or two wooden forts. He also invites you to deploy the grand army to utterly eliminate the Mexica offshoots in the north!"
Hearing of the advantage in the north, Su’angua’s expression slightly relaxed. He shook his head and chuckled softly, rebuking.
"This belligerent crocodile! Tell him, do not redeploy the defense line troops. Our strategy for the north is to wait at ease and hold firmly, not to venture out. The enemies to follow will only increase, and he must hold the rivermouth fort and southern forts resolutely! Furthermore, I have no grand army for him, and it’s of little matter if we temporarily yield the lands along the Lerma River. Let him fully leverage the naval forces’ power and harass the enemy’s supply lines!"
The Chief Minister bowed his head to accept the command, a prudent strategy. He made a note on a wooden board, then continued to watch the king.
Su’angua pondered for a moment and finally made a decision, issuing a loud command.
"The focal point of this war is the south! I will personally lead two thousand Copper-axe Guards, five thousand spear militia, and five thousand barbarian mercenaries to support the southern front! Leave three thousand samurai directly under me in the capital, you assess the situation and arrange accordingly. Likewise, the mobilized militia will primarily support the south, with the north supplemented as needed!"
The king paused for a moment, his face displaying a majestic expression.
"Jinjinni, when can the reinforcements from outside the Lake Region arrive?!"
The Chief Minister bowed slightly.
"The western Chapala Lake Region has mobilized, and all the great nobility there have declared loyalty to the king. However, due to the busy farming season, they have temporarily promised to deploy ten thousand samurai and twenty thousand militia, planning to split them into two groups, transported consecutively by water to the north. The first batch of fifteen thousand reinforcements will arrive within a month, the second batch in two months."
Anger flashed across Su’angua’s face.
"The Chapala Lake Region has a population of over six hundred thousand. The local nobility possess two thousand samurai, and if all able-bodied men are conscripted, they could mobilize up to eighty thousand militiamen! Send an envoy to rebuke them, demanding that the reinforcements be doubled!"