NOVPUBThe campfire blazed fiercely, driving away the chill of the night, and casting the faces of the generals in a ruddy glow. On these steady faces, there was both the ferocity from after the clash, the uplift from a great victory, and the pleasure from celebrations; mixed with emotions of either obvious closeness or covert distancing.
It was now past the middle of February, and the great army had been campaigning for close to a year. Xiulote led the Northern Army to a series of unending victories. Generals from all over gathered under the banner of the Black Wolf, crowding around His Highness to form a powerful legion. They thrived on collective success and gradually drew closer to each other, forming the beginnings of different factional outlines.
At this moment, with a word from His Highness, the generals all focused their attention and examined the two surrendered Tarasco generals in the great tent.
Ezpan bowed to His Highness, relieving himself of the awkwardness. He stepped forward a few paces, coming to Oorta’s side with a pleased smile and raised his glass in a toast.
"Sky Family Head, I celebrate your joining us! Since childhood, I have heard of the Sky family’s fame, soaring high above the clouds. To meet you here today truly fills me with heartfelt emotion and overwhelming joy!"
Upon hearing this, Oorta showed a smile and respectfully returned the salute. He was still too young, having never lived a lowly life, unable to discern the complex emotions in these words, and sincerely said,
"Thank you for your congratulations, General Ezpan! You are so skilled in battle, may I ask from which glorious family do you hail? I hope we can grow closer and learn much from each other in the future!"
At Oorta’s friendly gesture, Ezpan felt a surge of pleasure mixed with indescribable complexity. Just a few years ago, he was merely an ordinary Militia Captain, as insignificant as grass crouched on the ground. In the Tarasco Kingdom, where bloodlines mattered most, his life was destined to struggle in the mud, never seeing a day of prominence! The Great Nobility of Tarasco, lofty and out of reach like the sky, never deigned to give him a glance. Yet now, the venerable Sky Family Head was bowing before him, smiling and ingratiating!
Ezpan looked towards the respected His Highness, who also smiled warmly back at him. His heart surged with emotions as he faced His Highness once more and bowed deeply from the heart. Then, standing firmly in place, he looked at the young Oorta, straightening his back. The frustrations of over a dozen mundane years suddenly dissipated, and a higher desire blossomed in his heart.
He pondered for a moment, reorganizing his thoughts, and spoke with a calm smile,
"I come from a common family, and it is only by loyally following His Highness that I have attained this glory today. Sky Family Head, following the wise His Highness is the most correct choice in your life! Let us praise the Chief Divine, and extol the brave and wise General Ahonda, who will ascend to the Divine Kingdom of the Chief Divine!"
After that, Ezpan raised his glass with his left hand that had only four fingers, and touched it heavily with Oorta’s, saying with deep meaning,
"Sky Oorta of Chapala, for the sake of our hometown’s roots, I have two pieces of advice for you to consider as guidelines for action. Following the great His Highness is like following the newly risen sun; believing in the supreme Chief Divine is like believing in the encompassing sunlight. Loyalty and devoutness are our only paths, and they are also the shortcuts to the light!"
Oorta paused, looking at the confident and imposing General Ezpan, and at the spine that had straightened without him realizing it, as if he was witnessing grass transform into something grand. After a while, he hurriedly expressed his thanks and downed his drink. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Xiulote observed everything with a smile, nodded, and patted Ezpan’s shoulder. The Mexica legion could conquer the land of Tarasco, but to establish truly effective rule, they must incorporate the local heroes. He would treat everyone as equals to the greatest extent, offering a continuous upward path of integration.
After that, the generals also came up one after another and had a drink with Oorta. In no time, the young Family Head was flushed with alcohol, his mind groggy. His Highness seemed to ask him something, and he answered each question truthfully, until finally collapsing drunk on the carpet.
Xiulote waved his hand, and two guards came forward to take Oorta to rest in a corner. The merit discussion in the great tent continued. The Young Commander summoned the Warrior Camp Chiefs, lavished praise on the Longbow trusted aide, the Royal Family Archers, and the Stirrup Crossbowmen from the Temple Guards. The three thousand Shooting Legion suffered only a couple hundred casualties but rained down tens of thousands of Feathered Arrows. They killed thousands of City-State Warriors and Militia, utterly crushing the enemy’s militia troops at the front!
"Crossbowmen are the Alliance’s strength! However, the expenditure of Arrows is truly astronomical., and the logistical pressure is as heavy as a mountain. The amassed Arrows of several months were all but used up in one battle, leaving barely any remaining. The production cost of these Arrows is even higher than that of Gunpowder Bullets!"
Xiulote pondered thoughtfully, his head aching a little. War is an endless consumption of life and Wealth, rapidly burning away in the Fire of conflict. After this battle, the legion needed to recuperate, the prisoners needed to be trained, and supplies awaited transportation...
"All these myriad tasks, I’ll just leave them to father to handle!"
Thinking of the support from the rear, the Young Commander relaxed and smiled. He beckoned the nobles from the Western City-States closer, and spoke out loud in praise,
"The Western City-State legion crushed the enemy’s outermost Militia, aiding the flanks in their attack, and also made a significant contribution! You’ve proven your valor and your family’s glory! The War God will bless you!"
Hearing His Highness’s commendation, the nobles from the western city-states stood tall and proud, spirits soaring. In this battle, they first encountered the enemy Militia, slaying and capturing many, and then they chased down the enemy’s supplies, seizing a rich cache of booty. The four thousand well-equipped City-State Warriors suffered only four to five hundred casualties, mostly slight wounds.
