"Hmm, the first New Year’s grand ritual since the establishment of the Kingdom, and there are envoys from the Colima Tribes."
Xiulote clearly remembered. Although before the southern expedition, the tributes from the Colima clans were merely symbolic gifts, their ceremonial gestures were meticulously conducted... The Great Chief of Fire River City, Iymar, was likely not an easy opponent. Contemplating this, the King furrowed his brows.
"Ezpan, how is the defense at Fire River City?"
"Your Majesty, according to the Scout’s report, the size of Fire River City is not large, the city walls are over six meters high, roughly equivalent to Apa Fortress. However, the Fire River Plains are surrounded by mountains, and to attack Fire River City, one would need to capture several passes to the northeast or southeast. The most suitable route, is to dispatch troops from the wilderness village to attack the relatively wide southeast pass!"
Xiulote recalled the map of the western mountain regions. Due to the mountain barriers, there were only two routes to attack the Fire River Plains, one was to first head southwest, passing through the wilderness village then turning northwest. The other was to head northwest, delve deep into the western mountains, then turn southwest. Departing from Apa City, the distances of both routes were about five hundred li, mostly mountain roads, an absolute nightmare for logistics.
"Ezpan, how many Samurai do you need to defeat Iymar and break through Fire River City?"
"Your Majesty, with sufficient food supplies, allotting a thousand sturdy Copper Armors, and enough support from the Canine Warriors, I can break the enemy for you!"
Upon hearing the King’s question, Ezpan’s face lit up with excitement, like a hunting dog scenting meat.
"I only need my Spear Legion, along with the Guajili Legion, and we will be able to defeat Iymar, set the Fire River Plains ablaze, and breach Fire River City!"
In mountainous terrain, the Guajili Legion is indispensable. These Canine Light Infantry are incredibly useful, especially proficient in pursuing fleeing enemies.
"Ezpan, I’m not asking you to plunder and leave."
Xiulote shook his head.
"I want you to occupy Fire River City, firmly control the Fire River Plains, and organize thousands of miners to excavate the Colima mines."
"Ah? You want to bring the Fire River Plains under our rule?"
Ezpan hesitated. Capturing a territory required only formidable military power. However, to occupy and rule such a remote mountainous territory required controlling the local population. The difficulties of the two tasks were not on the same level. After thinking it over, Ezpan clenched his teeth hard.
"Your Majesty, I can do it! After conquering the Fire River Plains, first forcibly relocate tens of thousands of Tekos people out of the mountains, then send the Canine Legions to sweep the surrounding two hundred li of mountain villages! Then, each autumn, set fire to the mountains, burning down villages and farms, driving away birds and game. Next, block the mountain passes, forbidding the entry of sea salt..."
"After destroying the guerrilla Tekos tribes in the mountains, relocate tens of thousands of compliant civilians from the Kingdom, mix them with the submissive tribal people, and set up military colonies on the Fire River Plains... Continuing this for a few years, once the faith in the Chief Divine is stabilized, we can control the Fire River Plains!"
Xiulote gazed deeply at Ezpan for a moment, without offering any comment. He pondered for a long while and said blandly.
"Let the envoy from the Colima Tribes come to see me!"
A trusted aide hurried off. In less than half a quarter, a wild Tekos girl, barefoot, wearing an Obsidian necklace, dressed in a bright short robe, appeared before the King. The girl was indeed twenty-eight, with delicate eyebrows and eyes, a high-ridged nose, and slightly pursed lips. Her figure was slender and upright, moving with the agility of a female panther, exuding the vitality of youth and a wild aura. Behind her followed a maid carrying an ornate wooden box.
"Mighty God of Death Great Chief, Colima Tribe’s warrior, Yilian, pays respect to you!"
The girl Yilian kneeled on one knee, saluting the King. Her gaze was curious and untamed, boldly sizing up the King, seemingly evaluating his strength.
Xiulote raised an eyebrow, looked at the wild pretty girl, and spoke calmly.
"You are Iymar’s daughter?"
"Great Chief, Iymar is my father, but I am the warrior Yilian!"
Yilian held her head high, confidently responding.
Hearing the girl’s defiant words, Xiulote smiled, asking with interest.
"What has Iymar sent you here for?"
"Father sent me here as the envoy of the tribes to deliver gifts!"
Yilian took the ornate wooden box from the maid’s hands and handed it to the king’s trusted aide. The aide inspected it briefly before passing the box to the king.
Inside the box, there was a pair of fist-sized jade stones, a necklace made of obsidian, a golden chalice, and two extremely sharp daggers. Spanning five hundred miles east to west and three hundred miles north to south, the Colima Mountain Region is an area with frequent volcanic activity, known for producing jade, obsidian, and gold and silver. The necklace and chalice themselves demonstrated the manufacturing level and forging capabilities of various parts of Colima.
Xiulote’s attention quickly focused on the daggers. These two daggers had a silver-gray color, and they felt cold and hard to the touch, as if they were made of rare iron!
"Great Chief, these are divine weapons passed down by the tribe, gifts from the Fire God! My father, to show his sincerity, especially dedicated these divine weapons to you!"
"Divine weapons passed down..."
Xiulote’s expression became serious.
"Yilian, how common are such divine weapons among the various parts of Colima? How were they made?"
"Great Chief, divine weapons are rare. They are ancient legacies of various tribes, legend has it that they are related to gifts from the Fire God. As for the method of their creation, it has been lost by the tribes for a long time."
Yilian shook her head, answering earnestly.
"Only these two divine weapons exist in the Great Colima Tribe, and today they are all presented to you! They are gifts from the Fire God, thus they must not be in contact with water for extended periods, or they will lose their power."
Xiulote was silent for a moment, speculating. Long ago, the Colima Mountain Region may have had scattered surface iron ore, discovered by the ancestors of the Tekos people and forged into ancestral divine weapons. And when the surface ore was exhausted, the divine weapons were lost... After a while, the King nodded slowly.
"Iymar has been considerate. I will remember his submission."
"Mighty Great Chief, aside from these, my father has also dedicated his most precious gift to you!"
The young lady Yilian spoke boldly, not shyly. She directly removed her robe, revealing her lean and tight body, an abdomen with defined abs, and solid, round thighs.
"Great Chief, my father has sent me to serve you! I can sing for you, dance for you, help you bathe, be by your side for pleasure! But I can also don armor, wield a spear, draw a bow for hunting, protect you, and kill your enemies!"
After speaking, the girl looked earnestly at the king with an intense gaze.
Xiulote was at a loss for words. Memories of Medina flashed across the king’s mind, causing him to sigh. He wasn’t planning to keep the young lady Yilian near him for the time being. However, as the daughter of the Great Chief of Colima, who was a significant hostage in a sense, she could not be simply sent away or assigned at random... After a moment of silence, the king made a decision.
"Yilian, I will not keep you by my side. You will go to the Capital City’s College of Divine Might and study with the priests of the Chief Divine, learning about divine enlightenment!"
"Um, divine enlightenment? School? What is that?"
The wild young lady looked puzzled. In her soul, she had a premonition: this was something more challenging than hunting and fighting.
"That is about writing, chronology, herbs, theology, nature, and the future promised by the Chief Divine!"
Xiulote gave a slight smile and waved his hand to the puzzled young lady.
"Off you go, Yilian! Go and study well!"
Afterwards, the king had Ezpan prepare a return gift for Fire River City. The return gift included a pure gold Hummingbird Sun Amulet, an illustrated version of the "Book of Ama Colley," a brand new bronze sword, and a set of sturdy bronze armor. These were the symbols of the kingdom’s religion, culture, and military power, a message the Great Chief Iymar would understand.
Once all this was arranged, the Royal Banner of the Black Wolf would set off once more. However, before that, Ezpan had his final report to deliver.