Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1481 - 1031: Northern Nomads—Decisiveness, Ferocity, and Cunning!

After a moment of thought, Zuwaro bowed his head, respectfully saluting the Shaman grandmother and his future wife’s grandmother.

"May the Chief Divine bless us! The ancient bloodline of the Jiao People meets again at the end of the Western Sea. Indeed, it is time for merging once more!"

"Hmm... the Chieftain of the Sea Tribe, the sacred wedding must be announced to all tribes, so let it be set for half a month later! Summon all the warriors of the Sea Tribe to the warm Winter Camp, to host it together with the Hot Spring Mountain Tribe. I will also invite the other surrounding Mountain Tribes..."

"Good! Esteemed grandmother! The Mountain Tribe accepting us to winter at the warm Winter Camp... thanks to the Ancestors, thanks to you!..."

Observing Zuwaro’s demeanor, Grandmother Mulu, the Mountain Mother, nodded with satisfaction. Leaning on her Deer Bone Staff, her eyes flickered as she decided to speak more deeply. Thus, the grandmother affectionately took Zuwaro, standing by the edge of the altar, pointing to the north of the mountains as she seriously instructed him.

"Chieftain of the Sea Tribe, my child! Regardless of how your Sea Tribe survives... the Rokube in the North are our common enemy!..."

"Guided by the Ancestors! Under the witness of the Ancestor Spirit, we have sworn a blood oath of alliance, making us trusted allies. I can decide for the Mountain Tribe to grant you the port land at the foot of the Divine Mountain, to help you endure the winter, even assisting you in obtaining horses, reindeer, and dogs... But in exchange, as an ally obligation, you must also truly participate in the Mountain Tribe’s battle against the Rokube!..."

"Ah! Esteemed grandmother, thank you for your generosity! Uh... under the Chief Divine’s witness! I will dispatch the Warriors of the Kingdom to help the Hot Spring Mountain Tribe fend off the Rokube invasion!..."

"No, my child, it’s not about defense, it is not about guarding. As witnessed by the Ancestors, on these reindeer-herding snow plains, we do not need to guard, nor can we guard!..."

"Uh... do you mean? Is it... to take the initiative?!"

"Hmm..."

Grandmother Mulu the Mountain Mother smiled, a wise sheen glinting in her eyes as she calmly asked.

"Chieftain of the Sea Tribe, my child, you have ninety warriors but only one large ship... without deer herds, unable to fish in winter, even if you have firestones for warmth... your food surely isn’t enough to last through the half-year-long winter, right!..."

Hearing the grandmother’s perceptive inquiry, Exploration Captain Zuwaro startled, lowered his eyes, and slightly nodded.

The Great Snow Wolf carried food for only two months when it crossed the westernmost islands... and now more than half a month has passed, leaving little food remaining. The warriors and sailors left by the bay must rely on difficult ice fishing to replenish food supply... In fact, the lack of food on the longship is a primary reason for Zuwaro’s proactive visit!

"Uh... under the Chief Divine’s witness! Esteemed grandmother, we can trade salt and weapons with the Mountain Tribe for some food!..."

"Haha! My child, with only one ship, how much salt and how many weapons can you carry? In these man-eating snow plains, how can you manage without weapons? Moreover, the Mountain Tribe’s food is also limited; every winter, there are elders who starve to death... therefore, to solve the food problem, you must... Moreover, for you to open the westward trade route with the Horse Tribes beyond the west, it is necessary to also..." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Grandmother Mulu the Mountain Mother shook her head, pointing north once again. This time, she smiled with neither warmth nor mirth, her aged eyes quivering with the chill and desolation of winter snow.

"Northward, north of the Peninsula, ten days’ journey by reindeer, one thousand two hundred miles away... is the largest tribe of the Rokube that migrated south to the Peninsula, the Deer Moss River Tribe! It is the greatest threat to our Hot Spring Mountain Tribe, and indeed all Mountain Tribes..."

"Chieftain of the Sea Tribe, my child, if we devour them together... their tribe’s reindeer, herdsmen, women, and children will enable your Sea Tribe to survive the winter, establish the rudiments of your tribe and truly establish a foothold! Devouring them also opens the trade route westward to the Horse Tribes, gaining four-legged riding beasts, horses... and even beyond the Horse Tribes further south, acquiring four-legged livestock, cattle, and sheep!..."

"Ah? Chief Divine! Reindeer herds and population, establishing a foundation on the Peninsula! Four-legged riding beasts, horses? Four-legged livestock? Cattle? Sheep?..."

Hearing this, Exploration Captain Zuwaro pursed his lips, a murderous intent gradually rising in his heart. Unlike Scholar Mikki, he was born with a blood of adventure, having a more adaptable baseline, never hesitating to employ force and confrontation!

"One thousand two hundred miles away, one thousand two hundred miles away... the Deer Moss River Tribe? Grandmother, how many people do they have, and how many warriors can they muster?"

"Hmm... the Deer Moss River Tribe, the largest Rokube on the Peninsula, migrated here over ten years ago. Their population slightly exceeds our Hot Spring Mountain Tribe, boasting nine hundred people, a full three hundred able-bodied men, tens of thousands of reindeer! If they have time to request aid, they can muster scattered support, dozens to a hundred, from other northern Rokube tribes..."

"Ah! Three hundred warriors? Support from other tribes? With such strength, can we swallow them whole?... "

"As witnessed by the Ancestors! We must swallow them whole, defeating the entire tribe at once! Once they’re annihilated, the captured men, women, and tens of thousands of reindeer can be allotted to your Sea Tribe first!..."

Grandmother Mulu the Mountain Mother’s expression turned sombre, her voice likewise haunting. In the far north wind, she extended her aged, rough hand, affectionately caressing Zuwaro’s youthful face. She then smiled benevolently, like an old reindeer of the Far North Snow Plains, whispering softly in Zuwaro’s ear.

"Chieftain of the Sea Tribe, my child! The one thousand two hundred miles distance, rushing on a reindeer sled urgently, actually requires just eight days... so, I have an Ancestor Spirit-inspired idea, very favorable to our expedition, which you should be willing to agree to..."

"Ah? Eight days? Chief Divine! Driving a reindeer sled, rushing one hundred fifty miles per day?!"

"Yes, if heedless of deer herd loss, it can be even faster... Half a month from now is your wedding to my granddaughter. We can gather the surrounding Mountain Tribes under the pretense of the wedding, and send envoys to inform the northern Rokube tribes... Then, the Hot Spring Mountain Tribe can send one hundred sixty hunters and warriors, your Sea Tribe eighty warriors, and I will conscript eighty warriors from the attending tribal envoys... making three hundred warriors in total!"

"May the Chief Divine bless us! Gathering three hundred warriors? And then attacking the nine hundred-strong Deer Moss River Tribe?"

"Yes, not a frontal assault, but a surprise attack like a mountain eagle! When a mountain eagle hunts a snow rabbit, it strikes suddenly, with all its strength, in a pounce and attack! Furthermore, the Deer Moss River Tribe, strongest Rokube in the Peninsula’s north, revered as ’Deer Head’ by all tribes... we must conceive ways to increase victory chances!"

Grandmother Mulu the Mountain Mother gazed northward, a gradually formidable sternness revealing itself on her aged visage. In this moment, she resembled an eagle swirling the skies of the Divine Mountain, seizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity after more than ten years of patience and endurance!

"As blessed by the Ancestors! These past ten plus years, I’ve restrained the tribes, avoiding clashes with the Deer Moss River Tribe... Even if alerted by our gathering warriors under the guise of a wedding... During this season, as winter snow descends and tribal conflicts ebb, they won’t remain overly cautious!..."

"Then, my child! On your wedding day... the warriors of the Mountain Tribe and Sea Tribe assemble, riding reindeer sleds, for consecutive days charging north, across the entire Peninsula, for a surprise attack on the Deer Moss River Tribe!"

"What! On my wedding day, after deceiving the Peninsula tribes... raiding the Deer Moss River Tribe?!"

"Exactly! As witnessed by the Ancestors, it’s the most opportune moment! In early winter, when tribal skirmishes wane, before the harsh cold waves barring down, before the enemy’s preparedness, launching an all-out assault!!... Haha! Slaughter them!..."

Grandmother Mulu the Mountain Mother grinned, bloody lips curving, her laughter genuine from the heart, her voice hoarse and piercing, akin to a night owl’s cry. Following, she benevolently extended her palm, rumpling the stunned face of Zuwaro, the young Sea Tribe leader who, for the first time, truly sensed the decisive, fierce, and cunning nature of the Far North nomadic tribes!

"Chieftain of the Sea Tribe, my child! Once the most powerful Rokube is extinguished, the Sea Tribe shall gain an independent territory and reindeer herds, numerous men and women, establishing fame on the Peninsula, and unblocking passage to obtain horses, cattle, and sheep!..."

"May the Ancestor Spirit bless us! The head of the Deer Moss River Chieftain as your wedding’s supreme and most needed sacrifices! Hahaha!..."