NOVPUB"Before departure, the Marshal slashed his palm to swear an oath! He would tenaciously defend the fortress to the death, until the provisions were entirely depleted, until the very last soldier, vowing to share fate with the Rivermouth Fortress!"
Jinjinni carefully observed the Envoy for a while and nodded slightly before falling into deep thought.
According to the King’s orders before he left, Jinjinni had sent ten thousand Militia from the Lake Region to the north a month ago, five thousand to the Rivermouth Fortress and to the Northern Stronghold each. These urgently conscripted ordinary Militia were not adept at open-field warfare but could be used for defending the city. The Mexica siege troops numbered just over twenty thousand. With the robustness of the Rivermouth Fortress, one thousand five hundred Samurai and thirteen thousand Militia should at least be able to hold out for half a year!
The problem now was that the north was extremely lacking in Samurai, losing the ability to sortie from the city. The connections between different defensive lines were left for the Mexica to cut off. Each fortress fighting its own battle would only lead to the fall of each one by one.
Based on his thirty years of experience in directing wars, to defend the cities over the long term, there must be a force to defend the countryside! Only with a capable Samurai legion ready to sortie and attack the enemy’s weak points at any time, could they prevent the enemy siege from advancing smoothly. Now, with the Rivermouth Fortress unable to provide support, the only option was to support the weak northern line of strongholds.
With this in mind, Jinjinni waved his sleeve and pointed at the Envoy.
"Take this down."
The Envoy opened his mouth, wishing to say something more on behalf of the Marshal. The guards had already quickly stepped forward and taken the Northern Envoy away.
Afterward, the Chief Minister closed his eyes and furrowed his brow while fiddling with his fingers inside his sleeve to calculate.
"Since my last discussion of military affairs with His Majesty, the Lake Region has conscripted thirty thousand more Militia. Ten thousand to the northern line, twenty thousand to the southern line. Since the war began, the Lake Region has contributed a hundred thousand able-bodied men to the war effort, nearly half of whom have already died in battle!"
Thinking this, Jinjinni shook all over. With less than a million people at the heart of the Kingdom’s rule in the Lake Region, such a proportion of able-bodied men conscripted was nearly catastrophic for agricultural production. At this rate of consumption, two whole generations were being erased, along with the Kingdom’s future!
What made Jinjinni even more desperate was that he had only three thousand Samurai at hand, and he still needed to further conscript able-bodied men to maintain the situation in the north and south.
The long wind blew into the magnificent Palace of Wind, driving a mournful toll of wind chimes, like the ominous sound of a nation’s demise. The Chief Minister’s fingers trembled violently, and he could no longer continue calculating. After a long moment, he finally opened his eyes abruptly, revealing a cold and intimidating gaze, and hoarsely shouted.
"Conscript all able-bodied men of the Lake Region, those of Nobility who resist shall die! Those fourteen years old and above, below fifty, who are taller than half the length of a Spear, all shall be enlisted in the military! Conscript the robust farmwives, those who can wield a Spear, all shall be enlisted in the military!"
"Deploy a thousand Samurai to support the strongholds of the north, be vigilant in harassing the Mexica Northern Army!"
"Send Envoys to the west, to console the Chapala Legion! Promise a fiefdom to the ’Feather’ family Prince, to quickly reorganize and come to the aid!"
"Send Envoys to the south, to the mountain state of Weytamo, and order them to support from the north, also promising a Prince’s fiefdom!"
"Send Divine Descendant Envoys together with the Tlaxcala envoys, to escort the Predecessor Monarch’s princesses to the East, to immediately complete the alliance through marriage!"
"Send Divine Descendant Envoys to urge the southern Tecos Tribe. The Kingdom has agreed to their conditions for autonomy, but they must send more Samurai or Militia. The Tribes will be granted noble titles based on the number of troops provided, with the one who contributes the most being named Prince of Tecos, a rank above all others. The Royal Family will also grant princesses and noble daughters in marriage to the Prince of Tecos!"
"Dispatch the Envoy discreetly, inform His Majesty on the southern front!"
Following the Chief Minister’s command, the guards scattered to fulfill their orders. Soon, in the august hall of the Royal Palace, only the aged statesman in ornate attire remained, his expression solemn, his silence imposing.
Jinjinni was motionless for a moment, then slowly removed the Feather Crown from his head, revealing a full head of white hair. He looked up at the ancient murals on the ceiling. The Hummingbird of his family accompanied by the Royal Eagle, and thirty years had flown by in the beating of their wings.
"Your Majesty, I have served the Royal Family for thirty years. Should we emerge victorious in this battle, I shall use my life to be accountable for today’s decision!"
A gentle breeze scattered the elder’s white hair which no longer held the stern dignity of before. Then the breeze travelled a thousand miles, and a new round of running Envoys once again started from the Capital City.
The Envoy of the Capital City dashed out from the city gates. He saw thousands of conscripted Samurai, soon to drain the last of the Lake Region’s manpower as they spread out to eighty-one villages. He then sped southward, passing halfway harvested fragrant fields, and catching up with a large troupe of laborers transporting grain. All along the way, he saw nothing but exhausted and numb faces. He crossed the last of the supporting Lake Region Militia, men without Leather Armor and armed only with Stone Spears. Soon, the fields before him lay desolate again, for he had reached the frontier of the Xitaqualo state.
Without hesitation, he passed the sparse rear camps, heading for the Stone Fort where the Royal Banner flew. He ignored the calls from patrolling Samurai, entering the sturdy stone citadel. He passed the ill-disciplined Barbarian mercenaries, walked by the Formations of the Long Spear Legions, pausing only briefly on the fortress’s drill ground. There were hundreds of bowmen getting accustomed to the massive Mexica Longbows, the sound of Feathered Arrows piercing the air like the roar of a fierce beast.
The Envoy lowered his head, continuing to move stealthily. He walked calmly past the neatly arranged Samurai, silently surveying the stern-faced Nnobility, finally approaching the Imperial Guards who wielded great axes, finding a Guard Captain adorned in Feathers.
"A letter from the Capital City, the Moon Goddess blesses us."
The Envoy from the Capital City spoke gravely.
The Guard Captain’s expression tightened. The Moon Goddess, a symbol of death, was surely no good news! He nodded slightly and turned away. Moments later, the Guard Captain returned without a word, leading the Envoy to a side hall where the august King awaited.
Then, the Guard Captain turned and walked away. He had not gone far from the side hall when he heard the King’s angry muffled roar.
"Damn!"
That was followed by the crashing sound of metal on stone. Hearing the noise, the Guard Captain’s heart skipped a beat. He dared not look back and quickened his pace, hurrying away from the danger.
Within the stone house at the back, the buzzing of Bronze and the clinking of Gold Ornaments could be heard rolling on the stone floor. King Su’angua, clad in military attire and wearing an ornate Bronze Leather Armor, donned a Copper Helmet with an eagle and Feathers, as majestic as the embodiment of a Heavenly Divine. At that moment, his eyes filled with murderous intent, glaring at the Envoy prostrate on the ground.
After a long silence, the King’s expression softened, and he began to speak slowly.
"You are not to blame, it’s not you who should die! The ’Hummingbird’ Chief’s actions have been prudent; I will endorse his orders afterwards. You may leave!"
Only then did the Envoy climb to his feet and retreat.
With no one else in the side hall, the young King yanked out the Bronze Axe and severed the wooden table before him with one strike. After pondering for a moment, he took the Bronze Axe with him as he made his way to the highest Watchtower.
