NOVPUB"The Royal Banner is here, that alone inspires the Samurai to fight forward, to live and die by the sword!"
The King watched the booklet, silently tallying the casualty numbers of each Samurai battalion, and thought to himself in a low voice.
"At the beginning of the war, Iskali’s advance went smoothly. After June, the battles became increasingly difficult. With the enemy’s Royal Banner arriving in August, the front lines could no longer progress—it was like a repeat of history!"
Aweit smiled faintly, the past drifting away with the wind. Now, he finally controlled the immense power of the Alliance, the party with absolute advantage.
"Two thousand Samurai of military nobility’s Battle Group, thirty thousand Royal Family Samurai, thirteen thousand Militia from the southern City-States. The Southern Army had a total of forty-five thousand Samurai! After the autumn harvest, twenty thousand Militia were conscripted to the front lines to build siege engines and Archery platforms. Forty thousand Militia transported food and built successive fortifications, securing the supply lines as solid as the towering Husko Volcano!"
"Even more importantly, with the divine war’s call, the support of the Elder and the High Priest, and the joining of Great Nobility eager for their own fiefs! The Samurai could sustain higher casualties while always maintaining high morale. Even though we’ve already lost six thousand Samurai and eight thousand Militia, the Alliance will continue the war until the final victory!"
"With the support of new-style weaponry, the casualties in assaulting the fortresses will remain at an acceptable ratio. How much longer can the Tarasco Kingdom now withstand?"
At that thought, the King finally looked westward, gazing at the barely visible Tarasco Royal Banner, and smiled faintly.
At that time, Aweit was still unaware of the Northern Route Army’s situation, nor had he heard of that grand naval battle. He was planning the battle operations in the south, dealing with countless mundane affairs, and also contemplating surprise attacks through the waterways.
Not until several days later did the Messenger from the Lake Capital City arrive in haste. The King rose in shock, asking aloud.
"A great victory in the naval battle?!"
"Yes. In the battle at Lake Yuriria, the Tarasco Naval Forces ceased to exist; the Lerma River up and down is all owned by the Alliance!"
"Truly such a great victory?"
Aweit repeated, disbelieving. He well knew the might of Tarasco’s Naval Forces and the hundred-year legacy of the "Crocodile" family."
"The Naval Commander personally narrated it in the Capital City! Your Highness fought bravely and commanded the battle while wounded by arrows, and the new incendiary Fire Arrows worked wonders!"
"Xiulote was wounded? How serious is the injury?"
A twinge of rare concern showed on the King’s face.
"It is said to be nothing serious. His Highness has already led the troops southward, surrounding the Rivermouth fortress!"
Hearing this, Aweit’s expression relaxed, and he then laughed heartily, feeling utterly exhilarated.
"Excellent, most excellent! My young eagle has finally grown, flapping its pitch-black wings, soaring in the vast skies! The land around the lake, the City of the Hummingbird, will belong to the Alliance!"
Together with the King’s laughter, many Nobles bowed to offer congratulations. The Samurai showed longing and admiration, thinking of the Prince in the north and the victorious future. In the shadows of the throne, only the silent Intelligence Officer remained.
Several hundred miles away in the East, a real young eagle flapped its wings for the first time. It circled in the sky for a moment, looking down on the magnificent Lake Capital City for the first time with a proud "yoohoo" call. Moments later, the small golden eagle swooped down, returning to the King’s palace, landing on the shoulder of the girl in white.
Little Aviloztli "yoohooed" again with delight. It cocked its head, glanced at the various Herbs in the girl’s hands, uninterested in the strangely scented plants. Then, the little golden eagle tilted its neck, rubbing the girl’s cheek with its soft down feathers, its eagle face showing innate pride.
"That’s great. Little Aviloztli, you’ve finally learned to fly!"
Alisa’s eyes curved in a smile, she set down the Herbs she was mixing, and reached out to scoop the delightfully chirping eagle into her arms. The eagle did not resist, instead snuggling into the girl’s embrace, occasionally continuing to cry out joyfully.
"Alright, alright. I know you are very capable! Just as capable as Xiulote!... He, he has just won a great victory in the North. Little Aviloztli, you fly so fast, when can you help me go take a look at him?"
The girl in white gently stroked the carved bird’s small head and turned to look in the northwest direction. Longing flew like a bird, crossing thousands of waters and mountains, wondering when it would reach him and quietly fall into his heart.
In the nearby Temple District, the High Priest showed a smile, exuding rare ease. The Northern Route Army had pressed all the military forces of the Holy City lineage and also deployed half of the Temple Guards, immense pressure that had him restless night after night. At this moment, he gathered the elders of the Priesthood’s twelve groups and members of the Royal Family supporting the Northern Route Army for a hearty feast in the magnificent Priest Grand Hall.
"May the Chief Divine bless the devout King, promising the ultimate victory! Honorable Elders, esteemed Nobility, let us raise our glasses together to celebrate the great victory of the Northern Route Army!"
After delivering the profound toast, the High Priest looked around at everyone with a smile, waiting for their public endorsement.
"Chief Divine bless, and to the King, congratulations!" This was the Elder Priest siding with the King.
"Chief Divine bless, and to His Highness, congratulations!" This was the Elder Priest leaning towards His Highness.
"Chief Divine bless, and to the King, congratulations!" Those were the fickle fence-sitters.
"Chief Divine bless, and to the current King, congratulations, as well as to the future King!" These were the true members of the Royal Family lineage. 𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝒐𝙢
The sounds of congratulations gradually drifted away, coming to the ship fleet by Lake Texcoco. The Naval Commander Annatri stood proudly at the prow, with the new banner of the commander flying behind her. On the banner, a Long River rushed westward, and several characters were inscribed on the East, precisely "the source of the Lerma River"!
The female Samurai waved her hand, parting from the tall and thin quartermaster, Begire. Then she swung the Spear Flag again, and shouted loudly.
"Naval Forces, set sail! Head to Xilotepec City!"
More than a hundred large boats and several hundred small boats then started moving slowly. They were filled with food, heading to the important town in the North to join the promised reinforcements of half a year.
Within the palace of the former Otomi Divine Descendant in the important northern town, General Jaguar Osellor paced back and forth silently with his hands behind his back. On him was the aura of a recent battle in the North, seemingly carrying an indelible scent of blood.
The Northern general pondered for a long time before he finally sighed softly.
"Since the water battle is won, the siege is just a matter of time, His Highness’s great momentum is already established! Considering the situation... the Northern Route Army lacks siege troops and has no risk of major battle losses... Rushing there now is reasonable and justifiable. Both branches of the Royal Family would then have an account to settle!"
Upon this thought, Osellor finally called out loudly.
"Guards at my side, go call the Messenger of the Northern Route Army to come, to discuss the matter of reinforcements!"
The wind traveled a thousand miles, passing through the shaking world, and once more returned to the Rivermouth of the Lerma River, only to see a solemn and grim scene.
The morning light fell on the sturdy Rivermouth Fortress, illuminating tired Samurais and Militia on the ramparts, along with a new "Crocodile" banner. Atop the walls were signs of damage and burning, and a silent stillness pervaded. Only when food transporters climbed to the top were sparse greetings suddenly heard.
Outside the Rivermouth Fortress, defensive wooden barricades were riddled with breaches, the moat to the East had been partially filled in, and scattered earth platforms were erected outside the southern walls. The new siege camp built by the Mexica Army had already tightly surrounded the Eastern and Southern land.
Within the vast siege camp, Mexica Samurais prepared for another day’s battle, laborers began repairing damaged shield carts, Craftsmen replaced parts of small catapults, and Gunpowder Craftsmen carefully made flammable Paper Fireballs. Siege preparations unfolded methodically, with the Mexica legion holding an absolute tactical initiative, without concern for attacks from the Defending Army.
Some time later, wisps of cooking smoke gradually rose. The camp was filled with the bustling noise of boiling commotion, and the aroma of food wafted through the air. It was the pre-battle breakfast, not intended to fully satiate the Samurais.
In the middle of the camp, Xiulote erected the Black Wolf’s banner, standing on the Marshal’s high platform. He gazed at the stone walls, recalling recent battles, and stood in solemn contemplation without a word.
