Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1455 - 1008: The Scholar’s Nautical Journal—Pioneering the Western Sea Coast, the Cedar Shaman’s Choice
"At latitude 34 degrees north, the narrow coastal stretch and mountain valley of the Chumash people is where the Kingdom’s Three Hills Port is located. When the support fleet arrived, Keyuan and Kejie were surprised to find that this rivermouth valley port had not been reported as having 200 people, but had swelled to over 800! It was obvious that this supply port was on the verge of establishing itself from a village to a town. And the First Level Priest Kebao, who was presiding over the port, would surely be promoted to Second Level..."
"Praise the Chief Divine! Priest Kebao, with just fifty Samurai, had initially established the Kingdom’s order among the narrow, hundred-mile radius valley around the rivermouth. The Chumash tribes, originally loose and primitive with only dozens of people, accepted the faith of the Chief Divine and migrated to the vicinity of the port to cultivate rudimentary fields. Undoubtedly, the Kingdom’s development here is a form of the Chief Divine’s guidance! These Chumash people’s simple and blank minds, after converting to the Chief Divine’s faith, became extraordinarily devout. They diligently followed the teachings of the Priest and Assistant Priest, learned the agricultural techniques of the Kingdom, and planted the potatoes brought by the Kingdom. After witnessing for the first time the abundant harvest of food last autumn, their faith strengthened as a form of reciprocation!..."
"The support fleet resupplied with some food at Three Hills Port, unloaded a batch of Bronze Weapons and tools, and even some iron farming implements. Priest Kebao, along with a few young Assistant Priests of Chumash descent, requested that the support fleet leave some craftsmen capable of shipbuilding. He wanted to develop a fishing industry for this tribal gathering port. Additionally, he wanted a few elite Scouts to further explore between the Western Mountain and the Northeastern upstream Northern Land tribes..."
"Keyuan and Kejie expressed support and left behind dozens of Kingdom’s Warriors and sailors, supplementing with some tribal sailors from the Chumash people. If the surrounding mountains and upper river of the Great River consist of tribes of only dozens of people, then the scale of the Three Hills Port can clearly be expanded further! In fact, the Kingdom’s Priests had long discovered that the smaller and looser the Northern Tribes, and the less grain they produced, the easier it was to spread the faith of the Chief Divine and for them to be absorbed and assimilated by the Kingdom!"
"At latitude 35 degrees north lies the Oak Tribe of the Salinan, and at 36 degrees north, the coastal tribes of the Costanoan. Keyuan and Kejie told me that between Three Hills Port and West Mountain Port, this one thousand-mile, plantable, humid coastline seems to have been preliminarily designated by Your Majesty as a place of exile... The Kingdom will likely exile the Noble Chief Heads and noble warriors of tribes who lose their lands after a Divine War here! After all, this seven-thousand-mile long Western Sea coast is vast and desolate, filled with dense forests. To develop this coastline, manpower must be acquired as much as possible, especially those with farming and construction skills..."
The skies darkened with a crimson glow, and clouds drifted amidst the fog. Witnessing this, Scholar Mikki and Exploration Captain Zuwaro exchanged glances, their thoughts somewhat unsettled.
"Zuwaro, I’m a bit worried... If the Kingdom banishes those Southern Tribe’s noble warriors to the Western coast, it will definitely trigger conflict with the local tribes!..."
"Chief Divine Witness! Mikki, there’s no need to overthink. This type of tribal conflict is entirely controllable. The Southern Tribes exiled to the Northern Land can bring better farming techniques, cultivate more corn and potato fields, and sustain more people! The exiled nobles, having a small population, can only gradually expand by intermarrying, annexing, and assimilating the local small tribes. After all, whether the Northern or Southern tribes, they are all descendants of the Yellow-skinned Jiao people, and their integration proceeds swiftly... The exiled nobles and warriors can also bring more advanced building and manufacturing techniques, establishing towns that make this barbarously vast Western sea coast truly develop!..."
Hearing this, Scholar Mikki remained silent for a long time before lowering his head and whispering "hmm." He quietly resolved to establish a clear order and rules for the colonization, exile, and development of the Western coast, for tribal intermarriage, annexation, and assimilation, and eventually integrate them into the Kingdom’s doctrine!
"At latitude 38 degrees north, in the vast Golden Bay, stands the Kingdom’s most important port on the Western coast, the ever-expanding West Mountain Port! The entire port has already housed 1,300 people, a third of whom are warriors and sailors from the Kingdom or the Southern tribes, while the remaining two-thirds are converted members from the Miwock, Costanoan, and Yokut peoples. In recruiting local tribes for the Kingdom, the assistance and influence of the Cedar Shaman have been quite crucial. The North Bay Tribe, with a population scale exceeding ten thousand, has become the Kingdom’s most powerful tribal ally on the entire Western coast!..."
"Chief Divine Witness! West Mountain Port has cultivated numerous potatoes on the plain and hills by the lake, with last year producing a decent yield as well. Although the Kingdom’s potatoes are small in size, they are not picky about their soil, growing well on the hills. As soon as the Northern tribes received this crop, they all became fond of it. Among all the tribes, the Cedar Shaman’s North Bay Tribe, occupying the Bird-cat River Valley (Napa Valley), has the largest area planted with potatoes! Their agricultural conditions are superb, with high potato yields that caused the Kingdom’s Preaching Priests sent there to be constantly amazed!..."
"Praise the Chief Divine! Besides agricultural development, a small shipyard has been established in West Mountain Port. This simple shipyard currently can only build Twin-hulled War Canoes and slightly larger fishing boats. It cannot yet construct Oar-sailed Longships, but it has sufficient craftsmen and materials to repair longships! Here, Keyuan and Kejie saw many Mivok carpenters and shipwrights, all coming from the North Bay Tribe. The North Bay Tribe even dispatched many young nobles to West Mountain Port to learn the Kingdom’s script, calendar, and the ’Book of Ama Colley’"
"Chief Divine Bless! The rapid development of the North Bay Tribe and their longing for the Chief Divine’s glory far exceed our imagination! Under the guidance of the Cedar Shaman, the Mivok’s North Bay Tribe, in encountering the Kingdom’s foothold at West Mountain Port, is akin to a bean finding corn. They intimately entwine with the Kingdom’s port, learning everything introduced by the Kingdom, and constantly obtaining support and strength for growth and progress!..."
The islands drift into the White Sea, with a long wind coming from the ice fields. Scholar Mikki pursed his lips, recalling the wise and knowledgeable Cedar Shaman, his expression complex. He pondered for a moment, staring at the contemplative Exploration Captain Zuwaro, and spoke lowly.
"Zuwaro, the second batch of the Kingdom’s massive support fleet reached West Mountain Port, and the Cedar Shaman immediately sent a greeting Envoy. Not long after, he personally traveled to West Mountain Port, engaging in a long conversation with Second Level Priest Keyuan!..."
"Hmm? Mikki, could it be that Priest Keyuan’s stationing at West Mountain Port is related to the Cedar Shaman?..."
"Very likely! No, it’s certain!"
Scholar Mikki affirmatively nodded his head. After thinking for a moment, he spoke in a serious tone.
"Chief Divine Bless! The Cedar Shaman has already become proficient in conversing with the fleet’s Priests in Navajo, even able to recite most portions of the ’Book of Ama Colley’. He is in good health and very curious about the Southern Kingdom... According to Kejie’s accounts, the Cedar Shaman intends to sit on the returning longship and visit Your Majesty in the Kingdom of the Lake! He wishes to formally convert to the Chief Divine there... and Priest Keyuan is very eager to make it happen, as it would be his first impressive achievement after reaching the Western sea coast of the Northern Continent!..."
"What! In just one year, the Cedar Shaman learned Navajo and the Kingdom’s script and understood the ’Book of Ama Colley’?!"
Upon hearing this, Exploration Captain Zuwaro was taken aback. He was astonished by the Cedar Shaman’s linguistic talent and, on the other hand, amazed at his keen sensitivity and willingness to change.
"Oh Chief Divine! If the Cedar Shaman truly arrives at the Kingdom, meets with Your Majesty, and performs the blood oath to convert to the Chief Divine’s faith... then as the most prestigious and first tribal shaman to convert on the Northern Continent, Your Majesty will certainly not skimp on rewards, and might even directly promote him to a glorious Fourth Level Priest!"
"Indeed! If so, the powerful North Bay Tribe could fully join the Kingdom of the Lake as an independent Fief... and the entire fate of the Miwoke Tribes could undergo a major turning point! The Kingdom might not even need to use any force to integrate the tribes along the Golden Bay into the Kingdom’s order, establishing a model for peaceful assimilation for all tribes... Chief Divine Bless, may your radiance shine amid the Western sea coast’s mountains!"
