""The King’s western conquest to annihilate nations and eastern campaign against his arch-enemy has yielded remarkable prestige, with his fame sung throughout the land. With prestige and military achievements, he can inherit the great Montezuma’s unfinished endeavors... The Eagle Warrior Battalion is soon to be expanded, and the elite and hereditary nobility from each core city-state are being stringently required to send important members to join."
Xiulote fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding. When the Monarch’s authority was sufficient, he could summon the nobility of all ranks and the honored progeny to form a guard around him, thereby strengthening his control over every faction. Such measures were often accompanied by corresponding measures of centralization... Thinking of this, the young King spoke in a grave voice.
"Father, does the King intend to integrate the Alliance, centralizing military power? If you go to the Capital City, what will happen to the Holy City of Teotihuacan?"
"Hmm. According to your grandfather’s message, the Priesthood and the Royal Family will send representatives to stay within two hundred li of each core state around the Capital City. The central core of the Alliance will further reduce the private forces of the Great Nobility in the Texcoco Lake District and take control of some military power of the city-states, as well as important financial rights."
Xiuxoke laughed heartily.
"As a condition for your being granted lands in the lake, I will take the initiative to hand over control of the Holy City back to the central core of the Alliance. And the Fiefs of Tepopolo and Iskali, which were granted to me, will also be surrendered... This measure is also supported by the elders and the High Priesthood and is key for further reforms. Your grandfather says that now is the perfect time!"
Xiulote looked at his father’s smile, his heart filled with myriad emotions, which were expressed only through a soft nod.
After the western campaign, the King’s prestige reached its zenith, establishing authority in the hearts of the Samurai. The military forces of the states had suffered greatly, and the transfer of the powerful Great Nobility outwards presented an opportunity for further centralization!
The powers of the Alliance were roughly divided into three parts: the monarch’s power, the clan’s power, and the divine power. The current direction of reforms was the combination of monarch’s power with divine power, suppressing the scattered clan power of the city-states, and establishing a strong and sacred Royal Family central authority. Herein, the elders oversaw the big picture, the King pushed forward with specifics, the High Priesthood reduced resistance in different regions, and everything progressed according to the plan for centralization.
"After receiving your grandfather’s message, I thought for a long time and convened with the camp captains of the legion. There have been some changes to the subsequent arrangements."
Xiuxoke’s expression became solemn. He looked at the calm young King and spoke earnestly.
"The Holy City Legion lost nearly half of its warriors during the western campaign. Even with the restored wounded, there are now just over two thousand two hundred Samurai. Most of them are the most loyal direct followers of our faction, and I do not wish to treat them unfairly. I am about to transfer to the Capital City, and a hundred will come with me... As for the remaining warriors, I hear you are assigning lands and titles according to military merits..."
"Excellent! Let them come, I will not treat them unfairly!"
Xiulote showed a sincere smile. The Kingdom of the Lake had vast territories and significant room for expansion. He was in need of reliable direct line Samurai.
"Father, how many Holy City warriors are willing to stay here?"
"One thousand five hundred warriors, among them over fifty are Jaguar Warriors of commoner origin."
"Good! Grant every Jaguar Warrior of the Holy City lands according to the standards of nobility through military merit, 800 mu each!"
Xiulote agreed without hesitation. Jaguar Warriors were rare elites anywhere, owning their own land and families. The Holy City Legion still had more than one hundred and fifty Jaguar Warriors left, with only a third choosing to stay.
"Promote fifty from among the seasoned warriors, totaling one hundred military nobility to be enfeoffed. From the remaining warriors, enfeoff four hundred seasoned warriors, granting each 240 mu; enfeoff one thousand third-level warriors, granting each 100 mu. As for the second-level hereditary nobility, promote all three Warrior Camp Chiefs, granting each 2400 mu!"
The young King promised generously. This enfeoffment was nearly 300,000 mu of land, and the gap for servitude increased by another 15,000 people. Afterwards, he thought for a moment and looked towards the robust Jaguar Warrior Olosh.
"Olosh, Teacher, where do you plan to go?"
Olosh was always hearty, yet now he sighed, a rare occurrence.
"I originally planned to accompany your father. We’ve been old comrades for over twenty years! But your father insisted on persuading me to stay behind... Yet on his own, his martial arts are not that great, and once, someone broke his ribs with a single blow, and he was laid flat for several months..."
Xiuxoke’s complexion became embarrassed, and he coughed softly.
"Cough, that was years ago... A formidable general like Tepake, within the fifty or sixty years since the Alliance was established, he was the only one. Besides, my trip to the Capital City this time is probably just to enjoy the good life. Even if I wanted to go into battle or encounter danger, it would be difficult!...
Olosh, with your martial skills, what’s the use of staying by my side? It would be better to stay with Xiulote. Then, I could also be at ease. Haven’t we already agreed on this?..."
Olosh sighed again, nodding helplessly.
"Right... you are correct... as you say!"
Xiulote lowered his eyes slightly, filled with emotion.
What is a real father? This is a real father! Handling logistics throughout the western campaign, arranging supply lines, caring for the wounded. Unobtrusive and unassuming, he managed everything perfectly; leading a legion of four thousand into the harshest battles, with half dying in battle. Then persuading the remaining warriors to stay behind and entrusting them to his most trusted Great General; willing to give up his own rights for his son’s nation-building enfeoffment, going to the Capital City of the Lake to assume a sinecure, acting as a hostage... Such treatment is rare even for one’s own children!