The candlelight shone brightly, the King’s Great Hall adorned with gold and silver decorations; the bonfire roared fiercely, the divine mural above aglow with dazzling, flowing colors.
The doors of the Great Hall were tightly shut, only two men and a retainer within. All around them was silence, an air of solemnity. Aweit’s gaze lifted slightly, watching the mural at the palace’s zenith.
The Sun God, the War God, the Mexica Guardian God Huitzilopochtli was in the center of the sky, his head adorned with sunlight-like spread feathers, his hands holding a javelin that radiated lightning, looking down upon dozens of Subordinate Gods and thousands of citizens. And to His lower left, sporting a black wolf’s head, a long red tongue protruding loyally, was the God of Death, Xiulotel, protecting the rise of the sun.
Beyond, there was the Rain Divine Tlaloc, the original Sun, Tezcatlipoca, the gods of day and night, Ometeotl, the God of the Hunt Mixcoatl, the Fire God Huitzilopochtli...
Within this ceiling mural, the order of the Subordinate Gods was intentionally designed, seemingly laden with deep meaning. And among these Subordinate Gods, conspicuously absent was the widely worshiped Feathered Serpent Divine Quetzal, obviously a recent addition following the religious reform.
Aweit gazed at the divine mural on the ceiling, lost in thought. The Chief Divine’s light shone in all directions, and no matter how valiantly or famously the God of Death fought, he remained a loyal Subordinate God, forever guarding the rise of the sun, never showing the slightest defiance. And the abode of the God of Death in the desolate and distant West posed no threat to the Throne of the Gods. The power of the God of Death could not compare to the Chief Divine who ruled over the world...
Many unforgettable memories surfaced chaotically, like a scroll painted by the divines themselves. The scroll came to life for a moment, only to fade one by one, taking with it certain propositions from the nearby ministers.
After a moment, Aweit’s heart finally reached clarity. He smiled confidently, lifted the Divine Staff, and rose from his throne like a Jaguar.
"Praise the Chief Divine! Xiulote, my student, in these three years, you have subdued the three states of Otomi, launched a northern campaign against the Guajili Canine Descendants, headed south to change the feudal divisions, waged wars against the Tecos Tribe... Even in the Lake Capital City, seven hundred li away, I have continually heard good news of you! I look on with pride as you grow day by day, and now, you stand before me, as majestic as a soaring eagle, freely gliding across the vast sky!"
Aweit’s words were filled with genuine joy. He strode down calmly and powerfully, coming beside Xiulote. He reached out his hand, tousled the young man’s hair naturally, and affectionately helped him up.
"Xiulote, my child, stand up! You needn’t be so formal in front of me."
Upon hearing this, Xiulote stood up, his smile gentle, gazing at the King’s face.
"There’s no one else in the Great Hall, just call me teacher!"
Aweit’s brow lifted, interrupting Xiulote. Then he laughed heartily, giving his student a firm embrace.
"Ha ha, you’re just a bit taller than me now!"
Touched by the King’s affection, Xiulote felt moved. He bowed his head in respect. Then, Aweit turned and returned to his throne. Xiulote followed suit, standing by the throne.
"Xiulote, how is the situation in the Kingdom of the Lake?"
"By the grace of the Chief Divine, all is relatively smooth!"
Xiulote paused thoughtfully, then replied with a smile.
"Whether it’s the Otomi from the north or the Tekos from the south, both have sent envoys to submit to the Alliance, offering tributes at the appointed times each year. The Chapala Lake Region, to the west, plagued by attacks from the Guamal Canine Descendants, can hardly fend for themselves, let alone mount an offense to the east... However, the kingdom is newly established with shallow foundations. There’s a lack of manpower internally, and consecutive military campaigns have created a bit of a shortfall in food supplies..."
"Manpower and food supplies... I’ll think of a solution for you."
Aweit nodded calmly. Then, he took out a large map from beneath his throne and unrolled it before Xiulote.
"After the autumn harvest, the Alliance will mobilize a great army to launch a divine campaign, waging war against the Tlaxcalans, to destroy the eternal enemy in the East!"
Flames of determination blazed in the King’s calm eyes.
"The core of the Tlaxcala Alliance is in the Tlaxcala Valley, two to three hundred li to the East! The Alliance will mobilize one hundred thousand Samurai, split into southern and northern routes, advancing eastward to destroy any enemy that dares to stand in their way!"
"What, mobilize one hundred thousand Samurai?!"
Shock rippled through Xiulote’s mind at this news. Supporting one hundred thousand Samurai from the back lines would require an equal number of Militia to maintain logistics and secure the rearguard. With a population of three to four million in the Alliance’s main body, mobilizing more than two hundred thousand able-bodied men was indeed a massive undertaking!
Naturally, such a conscription ratio was possible because the logistics supply lines were only two to three hundred li long. If the Alliance’s territory expanded again, and they waged war a thousand li away against the Zapotecs, the number of troops that could be deployed would be halved.
"Indeed! Fifty thousand Samurai directly under the Royal Family, fifty thousand Samurai from the vassal states of the Four States. The Tlaxcalans, adept in warfare and battling for a century, can mobilize forty to fifty thousand Samurai and nearly a hundred thousand Militia. Even more crucially, they have built many mountain cities difficult to assault, necessitating large forces to siege. In this war, the Alliance does not want tributes or submission, only the complete annihilation of the Tlaxcala Alliance!"
Aweit’s expression was stern as he dictated the fate of millions. The Alliance had quietly prepared for three years, just to eradicate their ancient foe in one fell swoop. He looked into Xiulote’s eyes and said in a deep voice.
"Scouts have confirmed that our ancient foe, the Tlaxcalans, have secret alliances with the Totonacs from the East, the Mistecs from the South, and the Zapotecs. Once the Alliance heads east, these three tribes might send troops to assist... Xiulote, my Prince, if food is supplied by the Alliance, how many Samurai can your fief in the Kingdom of the Lake deploy?"