NOVPUBHummingbird-like red sandalwood slowly burned, its eyes sparkling with red sparks. The sun-like white jade incense burner gradually warmed, dispersing wafts of profound fragrance. Within the commander-in-chief’s tent, every general pondered solemnly, their expressions grave as if enveloped by divine power.
Upon hearing Natali declare his stance, Xiulote nodded in satisfaction. The devoutly spiritual Divine Blessing Legion was like an exceptionally sharp obsidian dagger. Supported by their faith, they could launch fearless and powerful attacks but were also prone to breaking. These blessed warriors had already lost a thousand men, yet the remaining warriors still had stable morale and could participate in fierce field battles and sieges.
As the military council reached this point, all generals, having reported on their troops, stood by waiting with hands tied at their sides. Only Bertade, who was wounded and recovering, left the longbowmen temporarily without a leader. Xiulote personally commanded five hundred Jaguar warriors, one thousand longbow trusted aides, and one thousand five hundred royal longbow warriors, totaling three thousand elite troops. These elites, always following the Black Wolf’s banner, were used cautiously and could be considered the marshal’s personal army.
The young commander looked around, the current status of every unit of the Mexica Northern Army was now clear. Afterwards, he focused his thoughts, mentally calculating the overall troop strength and grain supplies.
The Northern Wooden Fort along with the Otapan Legion was struck off. Rivermouth Fortress had five thousand five hundred warriors defending the city, nearly five thousand naval forces. Huayamo Fortress gathered the main force of the Northern Army, consisting of twelve thousand battle-ready warriors, eight thousand spear legions, and also longbow hunters, Otomi militia, various Canine Descendants, and Tarasco prisoners, totaling over twelve thousand militia.
In this calculation, there were over thirty thousand troops on Huayamo’s front line, of which twenty thousand were trustworthy elites!
The army’s logistics originated from the northern Rivermouth, with food first transported by water to the southernmost shore of Cuitzeo Lake, then transferred overland. The entire grain route needed about four days, not considered long. The legions had successively captured two key fortresses, seizing a large amount of grain from the Tarasco people. Now, the front line’s stored food could sustain thirty thousand people for two months. With the dry season still lasting three months, the fortress’s food consumption was minimal, and the quantity of stored food was equally within a safe range!
Thinking this far, Xiulote threw open the tent’s curtain. In the fresh breeze, he looked again toward the south, his eyes filled with a burning desire, his chest filled with vigorous spirit.
"Tarasco’s capital, the flourishing Qinchongcan City, lies just a hundred miles to the south! I want to lead the army southward, besiege the enemy’s capital city, and cut off the Tarasco Royal Army’s grain route! With one battle, we shall decide the fate of the land, is there any objection from the generals?"
Upon these words, Toltec was the first to step out, loudly exclaiming.
"Your Highness, I, Black Wolf Toltec, wish to be the vanguard for the great army!"
Natali followed a beat later, also solemnly responding.
"Praise the Chief Divine, to die for the divine! The Divine Blessing Legion wishes to be the vanguard!"
Balda opened his mouth, but remembered that His Highness had arranged for him to defend the fortress. He paused for a moment before speaking softly.
"Your Highness, the royal warriors are most elite; Balda wishes to be the vanguard!"
Xiulote laughed out loud. He waited a moment, but the calls for battle ceased there, and his three most trusted generals remained silent. The young commander turned to look at them, Master Olosh wore a worried expression, old General Etalik stroked his chin, and Monkey Kuluka had a flickering gaze. All three were simultaneously pondering something.
After a moment, it was Olosh, who had the closest relationship and most special position, who first spoke.
"Your Highness, when the great army moves south, how many people should be left to guard Huayamo Fortress?"
Xiulote already had a plan, and he said with a smile.
"Two to three thousand warriors, three to four thousand militia, enough to defend!" 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
"Chapala Legion is currently in Saka, just a week’s distance from here. They have a force of thirty thousand, I estimate a third of them are battle-ready warriors. If they organize and attack, surround the fortress, cutting off our army’s grain route, what then?" Olosh asked worryingly.
"That’s exactly what I want them to do! Thirty thousand Chapala Legion, if they hide in Saka and defend, our army for the moment really has no way against them... I will leave the new style wooden cannons at Huayamo Fortress to assist in defense. As long as they come here, bogging down at the fortress, I will lead the great army back and completely crush them in one fell swoop!"
"If they remain cautious and only send troops to harass, repeatedly attacking our grain route, what then?"
"The fortress’s grain route is only a few days long, we can strive to maintain it. The Tarasco royal legion to the south has even more troops, less stored grain! They are fighting with the Alliance’s main forces in the south, the battleground is already scorched earth, logistics completely dependent on the Lake Region. Just cut off the grain route at Patzcuari for one to two months, and the southern Tarasco Royal Army will inevitably crumble without a fight! By then, the southern Alliance’s main forces can break through the solid fortress group in one stroke, and the Tarasco people will have no danger left to defend, and the world will hence be settled!"
Xiulote was confident. He had long pondered this, and this was the fastest plan! Qinchongcan City was difficult to conquer, but its defending army was also unable to battle. Just by encircling without attacking, then cutting off the grain transport a few dozen miles to the southeast at Patzcuari...by the fourth month, both western expeditionary forces could meet in Tarasco’s capital, conducting the final siege!
Hearing this, Olosh was momentarily speechless. After a long silence, Etalik slowly opened his mouth, asking in a deep voice.
"Your Highness, if Tarasco’s King Su’angua abandons the southern fortresses and directly leads his legions back, what then should our army do?"
Xiulote laughed heartily. With a smile full of mirth, he said.
