NOVPUBOspai shook his head, his tone calm, tinged with faint mockery.
"Kukuna, you have already proven with your own achievements, the Wooden Fort on the North Coast is indefensible. The Kingdom’s control over it is just a pointless depletion of troops. Moreover, our primary task now is to defeat the Mexica vanguard, to prevent the enemy from gathering in greater numbers! As for the promises made at this time, of course, they should be decided upon after the war is over."
Kukuna pondered the proposal, feeling it somewhat feasible. The commander’s willingness to dispatch troops seemed even more resolute. He quickly pointed his finger at the small Mexica boats in front of the water gate, shouting loudly.
"Commander, look, there is the Mexica Longbow!"
Ospai was slightly startled. He turned his head, his eyes widened, observing the Mexica boat carefully. The gaze of the round-faced nobility passed over the young boy on the bow, resting on the tall, quiet, weathered samurai, then moved to the huge longbow behind him.
"To have such a Greatbow? I wonder what kind of power it holds!"
Based on the height of the samurai and the length of the boat, Ospai gestured with his fingers. Then, he looked again at the most conspicuous weathered samurai, his eyes gleaming.
"This samurai’s posture is steady, standing on the rocking boat, unmoving. He must be a warrior skilled in martial arts! Dressed as a commoner, without a family crest, he seems not to be nobility, but can be persuaded to defect. Leather armor, greatbow, well-equipped, demeanor strong, he is likely a commoner-born Warrior Camp Chief!"
The round-faced nobility showed a belligerent excitement. His robust body suddenly stood up, striding forth, leaving a casual yet commanding order.
"Kukuna, secure the water gate, I will be right back! It has been months since I’ve fought, and today I shall properly exercise my limbs, capturing this samurai. It’s also a good opportunity to ask about the situation on the North Coast and see what this longbow can really do!"
Bertade stood alert at the center of the small boat. He carefully guarded against Cuitzeo Lake and Lerma River, on the lookout for any approaching Tarasco fleet. Should the enemy’s naval forces come within two kilometers, he would not hesitate to take his highness back.
Xiulote glanced at the top of the fortress, where a round-faced warrior suddenly stood up, looked down momentarily, then disappeared from view. The Young Commander paid no heed and continued to observe the water gate more than fifty meters away.
The water gate was quite large, about seven or eight meters wide, and about three or four meters high. Below it was a water channel, also seven or eight meters wide, allowing two three-meter-wide outrigger canoes to exit side by side. This channel extended forward, its connection to the fortress unclear, as was the nature of its internal defense. Indeed, this water gate was a broad passage for troops...
As Xiulote pondered, suddenly, he heard the "creak, creak" sound of wood friction. The Young Commander was momentarily startled as the usually closed water gate suddenly flung open! Hundreds of enemies, aboard their boats, surged out. The warriors from Tarasco waved their weapons, their faces filled with murderous intent.
The first dozen small boats shot forth like arrows, reaching them in the blink of an eye. Each was loaded with two sailors, six warriors, their gleaming Copper Spears already raised, ready to thrust. Following them were two side-by-side large boats, each carrying ten sailors, thirty warriors. One of the large boats was particularly ornate, with a platform adorned with a crocodile head built on top, where a robust, round-faced warrior sat, his Spear Flag directly aimed at His Highness’s boat.
Bertade turned pale with shock. He reacted the fastest, pressing His Highness down onto the small boat, and turned his head to shout urgently to the rowing guards.
"Go, let’s go!"
