NOVPUBSoon after they finished their prayers and meals, the people returned to the fields in their respective units. They kept busy until the sun had set.
On these busy days, ample provisions, families settled in camps, oppressed legions, guiding priests, and the nearness of the Alliance officers - all of these together maintained the stability of the garrison forces and gradually won the hearts of the surrendered armies.
The same scene played out in dozens of villages across the Lake Region. Tens of thousands of villagers busied themselves in the fields and prayed in front of altars. With the crops’ bountiful harvest, their wandering spirits could finally find peace. The three gods they prayed to quietly morphed into the common Sun God, and slowly converted into the sole Chief Divine.
Forty li southwest of Ihuatzio City, at the base of Qinganbate Mountains, lies the Lake Region’s most remote village. Villagers stopped in the fields, watching the newborn sun, looking over the golden fields with plain joy on their faces.
"Blessed by the three gods! To think we could have such a good harvest this year!"
"Ah, may the Sun God bless us! This year has truly been tough! First, there were multiple draft and grain conscriptions, and the warriors from the Capital were ferocious as tigers, leaving nothing for planting. Then the troops passed through, killing all around, with warriors everywhere along the Great Lake shores, even tainting the lake waters red. After both these events, half of our village perished..."
"Yes, the village priest said that this year was marked by disaster, with the sun falling from the sky, and the moon ruling over the land. If the Moon Goddess wants you dead, it’s fate. You can escape by day, but not by night; no family can avoid it..."
"No, the village priest has recently changed his statement! He said that this year is when the old sun sets and a new sun rises. The Mexica people have changed the heavens, and the new king is the Sun, Black Wolf, Feathered Serpent, and Divine Eagle..."
"Oh, the Mexica! The Mexica destroyed the Kingdom, and the Mexica killed the nobility. Unexpectedly, it was the Mexica who then distributed seeds, strictly ordering us to cultivate; they also provided food to help us survive the famine..."
"The priest says that the new king is also our king, from the Prepetcha..."
The villagers’ discussion was full of imagination. They were filled with reverence for myths and their animosity towards the Alliance faded. Suddenly, one of the villagers softly exclaimed,
"The Mexica legion! The Black Wolf King!"
In an instant, everyone became silent. Rows of Mexica warriors appeared at the end of the field, followed by a tall banner of the Black Wolf. Soon, the villagers, both respectful and alarmed, knelt down on the ground, saluting the banner from a distance.
Beneath the banner, dressed in fine clothes, Xiulote observed the fields along the way. With a satisfied smile, he glanced at the villagers who were saluting spontaneously, feeling a wave of emotion.
"Looking all around, this year’s crop is good! The sunlight and moisture are quite suitable, and the cultivation strong. The corn was planted late this season; there’s still two weeks until the mid-October harvest. Once autumn harvest is completed, the fief’s food shortages will no longer be pressing, and people’s hearts will truly settle down. The Kingdom’s rule will no longer be like eggs accumulated on a stone."
"Your Highness, how can one accumulate eggs on a stone? Are they to be roasted for eating?"
Upon hearing this, the Head Warrior was stunned. Then, he jested,
"The legion uses force to pile up stones, and the king ignites wisdom to start a fire. Carefully roasting for a year, people’s hearts get thoroughly cooked... Of course, this also cannot be separated from the influence of knowledgeable elders. Your Highness, over the past few months, Chief Jatili did a great job gathering a group of elite from the Prepetcha. They go everywhere extolling your valor, greatly influencing the populace."
"Hmm, Chief Jatili has done well! Bertade, do not worry. They are the most opportune group of people, without any force in their hands, always standing by the side of the strongest. We need to selectively accept them, providing the Prepetcha elites with a pathway for advancement."
Xiulote, with a confident smile, spoke assuredly.
"Soon, I will emulate the old systems of the Alliance, establishing community military schools across the regions, and building a new priest school in the Capital. I will provide the Prepetcha people with two additional pathways for advancement. Only by fostering a firm and reliable core, unifying more flag-waving peripheries, can our strength burn incessantly like the flames among pine forests!"
Hearing this, Bertade nodded respectfully, his eyes filled with profound admiration. Around him, a thousand personal guards armed with longbows formed a tight formation. They protected the safety of the king and left a solemn trace on the field ridges.
"Ezpan, the copper mine is just ahead, right?"
Xiulote, smiling, turned his head to look at the great general, born a miner.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Ezpan bowed his head in salute. He looked around at the familiar scenery, filled with deep emotion.
"Your Highness, this lake is Lake Zirahuen. From here, follow the stream westward uphill, cross these several hills, and you will reach Qinganbate Mountain. The Kingdom’s largest copper mine sits just below it!"
"In the local language, Qinganbate means the mountain of mild climate. There are also two archaeological sites on the mountain: one is a Teotihuacan-style tomb and the other is an ancient, abandoned human sacrifice arena. It is said that an ancient Divine Descendant was sacrificed here, buried at this spot. His Divine Power seeped into the earth, creating the vein-speckled gilt copper mine!"
Hearing this, Xiulote tiptoed, gazing at the distant mountains. Flecks of light flashed momentarily, faintly showing speckled golden hues! After gazing for a moment, the king burst into hearty laughter.
"Excellent, order the entire army to hasten their pace! I can hardly wait!"
