August was the peak of the rainy season. The deities had opened the passage between the Heavenly River and the human world, and the heavy rain poured down from the sky.
From the Great Temple at Lake Texcoco to the House of Wind by Lake Patzcuaro, the vast lands were engulfed in continuous wind and rain. The soft mud was filled with rainwater, and the blue stone walls were slick with wetness, making all fighting difficult, hence it gradually ceased.
With the sky full of wind and rain, Xiulote, dressed in a plain robe, stood on the watchtower of the wooden fort, looking east towards the Lerma River, waiting for the returning fleet. As far as he could see, the curtain of rain was continuous, the nearby river water rose incessantly, and the river surface widened. The river then surged westward, tumultuous with waves.
The heavy rain limited visibility. The Young Commander did not know how long he had stood until the first vague black spot appeared before his eyes, followed by a second, a third... Hundreds of boats came downstream, with Samurais braving the rain at the prows. He finally showed a smile and hurried down from the watchtower.
Soon, preparations were made on the riverbank pier, and the huge fleet slowly docked, allowing the samurais to disembark one after another.
Xiulote had already changed into a dignified commander’s war clothes and, flanked by guards, greeted the arriving legions.
Annatri, carrying a long spear, leaped down from the ornate great boat. She strode up to the Young Commander, bowed her head, and greeted him earnestly.
"Your Highness, a thousand Temple Guards, three thousand Royal Warriors, four thousand Holy City Legion members, and food for twenty thousand people for three months have arrived on time as scheduled!"
Xiulote solemnly reciprocated the greeting.
"Annatri, the rain is so heavy, you have had a tough journey! It has also been very difficult for the warriors to march in the rain for several days. The wooden fort has prepared a banquet, dry clothes, and barracks. The reinforcements can now go and rest, and the sailors can also take turns ashore!"
Next, Xiulote stepped forward two paces towards the commanders of the various reinforcements. He first exchanged greetings with the honored nobility, Tepopolo. The Young Commander glanced curiously at Tepopolo. Despite the hot and moist weather, the other party still wore a wet leather hat tightly covering his forehead.
"Your Highness, I sustained a minor injury on my forehead, please forgive me for not taking-off my hat to greet you."
Tepopolo awkwardly explained.
The Young Commander nodded his head and didn’t inquire in detail in front of everyone. Tepopolo breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, Xiulote looked towards his father, Xiuxoke, who had a smile on his face and a gentle gaze. The smile was out of joy from not seeing each other for a long time, and his gaze deeply concealed care.
They looked at each other for a moment, suppressing their excited emotions, and bowed their heads in greeting at the same time. Then, Xiulote also exchanged a greeting with his teacher, Olosh. Viewing the dignified young man, Olosh grinned, his expression full of immense joy and relief.
The welcome banquet was formal yet simple. There were no grand dances or music at the banquet, and the generals did not indulge in excessive drinking. The camp prepared roasted deer meat, roasted rabbit meat, corn cakes, black bean paste, a few cups of freshly made cocoa drinks, and finally, delicious fish soup made from freshly caught fish.
Xiulote covertly supervised. The fresh fish was boiled in water, then clean fine salt and Mexican Sichuan pepper were added to expel the cold. Then, the fish soup simmered in a ceramic pot for a long time until the clear broth turned creamy white, with the meat separated from the bones, giving off an enticing aroma.
Everyone finished a bowl of fish soup, feeling its exceptional freshness and breaking into a sweat. The group praised the chef’s skills and then moved on to the main topic. The various reinforcements reported the detailed situation of their troops, Bertade described the situation at the northern wooden fort and an estimate of Tarasco’s military strength in the south. Eventually, Xiulote set the strategy, ordered the various units to scatter and garrison, to tightly hold their positions, and patiently await the opportunity for battle.
As dusk fell, the banquet ended, and the commanders went back to their camps. As the Naval Commander, Annatri needed to return to the great boat to rest. She followed her ancestors’ traditions, seldom leaving the fleet, and did not interact with the nobility of the Alliance.
Xiulote thought for a moment, a smile spreading across his face. He ordered Bertade to see the Naval Commander off. During the banquet, he had heard Annatri’s bold words and also learned about the origin of the scar on Tepopolo’s forehead, and at this moment, a subtle idea had formed in his mind.
Having received the Commander’s military order, the weathered Head Warrior silently watched the young man for a moment before bowing his head to accept the command.
As he stepped out of the tent, the wind and rain came at them. Annatri stood tall and slightly tilted her head, looking at the Head Warrior with interest. After a moment, she simply greeted him and then asked loudly.
"Bertade, it’s been a month since we met. I just heard that you killed forty Tarasco warriors in battle, and His Highness named you the Chief Eagle Warrior and even caused the Sun God to manifest a divine celestial phenomenon. Now, rumors in the army say you are the bravest warrior of the Northern Route Army. I wonder when you are free, could we have a match?"
The Head Warrior calmly looked at Annatri. He did not speak, only returned the greeting.
Annatri frowned slightly. After thinking for a moment, she headed towards the river and the fleet, striding forward. The Head Warrior lagged one step behind, also steadily following her. The female warrior covertly observed his footsteps and listened to the rhythm of his breathing. Then, she accelerated, running like a cheetah on the soft mud, quickly leaving the wooden fort behind.
Bertade still walked with a steady pace, his breathing not disturbed, always maintaining a one-step distance.
After observing for a moment, Annatri abruptly stopped and stood firmly.
"You must have a match with me, otherwise, I will just stand here and not leave!"