Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1522 - 1064: Seaside Affairs, I Entrust Them All to You! (Extra for Alliance Hierarch "BirdZ")

In front of the long-gone King, Head Warrior Bertade contemplated for a moment and then nodded quietly.

"So, what you want from me is, when governing the Totonac tribes and dealing with the Zoque tribes, to use more of the Great Lake and rainwater of the jungle, rather than the volcanoes and flames of the highland?...​"

"Haha! Bertade, you always grasp things instantly!"

Xiulote laughed heartily, affectionately patting the solid shoulder of Head Warrior Bertade. That familiar and reassuring feeling was just like it was more than ten years ago.

"With the protection of the Chief Divine! Of course, volcanoes and flames are necessary, but with Black Wolf and his legion, that's enough! But to soak into these seaside and jungle tribes, really requires some political wisdom and means! This kind of patient and meticulous work, Black Wolf can't do, although Snake Woman Miyava can, I don't trust to leave it to her…​"

"Well, Miyava is smart and knowledgeable about the legends and customs of the Totonac tribes. She is capable of unifying the Totonac Seaside Alliance. However, she cannot understand the Mexica tribes and the Lake tribes, and she has too strong a personal ambition. Thus, what she would create would only be an alliance of the Totonac, rather than a Gelatin People Alliance of shared ancestry among the tribes…​"

"So, as witnessed by the Chief Divine! Bertade, after I leave, I've entrusted all major seaside affairs to you! You are the kingdom's marshal among the tribes of the Eastern Sea, overseeing all seaside military and political expeditions, fiscal affairs, and trade, with the highest decision-making power!…​"

"And Miyava's authority, beneath yours, is limited to the administration and finance of the Seaside Alliance… Hm, you can provide her with a sufficiently well-off life, and my firstborn daughter Light Snake should receive the best education. Choose several teachers, let the wise ones from the Mexica, Prepetcha, and Totonac guide her!… As for the military, Miyava is not allowed to interfere with the Coastal Legion! But if she clandestinely manages to organize some tribal militia, get some Priestess escorts, and seeks for her own sense of security, I have tacitly allowed her to do so…​"

"However, remember! Under no circumstances should Miyava be allowed to interfere with the selection of the Seaside Alliance's priesthood, or the compilation of the Olmec Holy City's ancestral epic and the Gelatin People's rituals! These two long-term tasks are crucial to winning the hearts of the people and must not deviate in the wrong direction… If necessary, I permit you to deploy the Imperials to dispose of any envoys she dispatches, even to purge her confidants!…​"

"...Yes! Your Highness! I will maintain the balance properly and look after your eldest daughter!…​"

Upon hearing this, Head Warrior Bertade's heart shuddered, and he humbly bowed his head in agreement. Not wanting to say too much on such sensitive matters, he returned to the previous topic.

"With the Chief Divine's protection! The kingdom now controls the Totonac Seacoast, and Black Wolf has conquered Red Lake Town, taking control of the last ancient city, La Venta. At present, the kingdom fully occupies the four ancient Olmec cities, thoroughly inheriting the Olmec ancestors' heritage and legitimacy…​"

"Your Highness, we not only have the rights to compile the ancestral epics of the Gelatin People, but we also have the oldest interpretation rights to the faith of the Chief Divine! And relying on the ancient Holy City of the Olmec Era, on those mural paintings and carvings from the Second Epoch, the kingdom's priesthood can actually achieve a lot…​"

"Even, the kingdom's priests can redefine the primordial mythology of the Chief Divine, making the Chief Divine of the Mexica people, become the Chief Divine of all Gelatin People under heaven, thus more aligning with the faith identification of all tribes under heaven, creating a true divinity!…​"

"Hmm! Bertade, what you say, I've thought about carefully too… Only, it's not the right time yet!… The Chief Divine of the Mexica cannot yet become the Chief Divine of the Gelatin People…​"

Upon hearing this proposal, Xiulote nodded slightly. There was a moment of hesitation in his eyes, but he quickly shook his head.

"As witnessed by the Chief Divine! To re-discuss the primordial mythology, to shape a Chief Divine for the Gelatin People… is to directly seize the highest divine authority, thoroughly tearing apart the facade with the High Priesthood of the Capital City!… And as it stands, the highest divine authority of the alliance is actually in the hands of God King Avit, who has firmly controlled the High Priesthood of the Lake Capital City…​"

"Bertade, I need to communicate frankly with Avit, to rebuild mutual trust! And I am returning to the capital city this time precisely to use myself as a hostage to alleviate the tensions between us… How could I provoke further discord with him at such a time?... Hm? I understand now! You're advising me in a roundabout way, advising me not to go back?​"

"As witnessed by the Chief Divine! Your Highness, you plan to return to the Capital City, facing the King alone… I am very worried! Those rumors in the Capital City, I've heard them during the siege at Cloud Serpent Mountain City…​"

Head Warrior Bertade pursed his lips, showing an unmistakable look of concern on his face. If he had known things would develop to today's situation, it would've been better to have Avit and Tizoc both "perish in war" during the Dual Kings' usurpation battle. Then, have Your Highness marry Princess Alisa, inheriting Avit's claim to the throne…​

But truly, if that were the case, Chief Priest Quetzal would undoubtedly invite the elders to choose a new alliance King and great spokesman. And the alliance would be unable to muster all its forces to win the most challenging Tarasco western expedition. And Your Highness couldn't have acquired the fief among the Lake, secured the stable copper mines, and from there, expand majestically… It would probably end up like the predecessor monarch's son, Montezuma II, gradually building strength, enduring long hardships and waiting…​"

"Bertade, this is something already decided. Ecatl advised for a long time, and I reproached him quite a bit… You must not persuade anymore!​"

Xiulote gently smiled, patting Bertade's shoulder once more, patiently explaining.

"As witnessed by the Chief Divine! Although I've been delaying, not returning to the Lake Capital City, my intention has never changed. I just want to handle these jungle tribes well, stabilize the intricate inland jungle terrain, so that you and Black Wolf can fully focus on the eastern expedition against the Maya! And now with the New Year festival concluded, with the jungle tribes' conversion and gathering, considered smooth… Delay at most till early February, and I will begin my slow journey westward with the Imperial Guards. By mid-March, once Yilian safely gives birth, and I arrange the final placements, I can return to the Mexica Alliance without worries!​"

The evening breeze blew softly, Xiulote with a distant look, exposing his true thoughts, his hidden strategies and contestations. Then, he pondered a while and reallocated the divisions of the Imperial Guard Legion.

"With the Chief Divine's blessing! I've recently thought carefully about it, the Seaside Alliance stretches a thousand miles, and the Maya coast extends another two thousand miles. Similarly, Cuba Snake Island stretches two thousand miles, and changes in the Eastern Sea will quickly ensue…​"

"The Maya coast the kingdom needs to conquer is very long, and time is tight! Although Black Wolf's main forces in the Maya expedition will be the loyal Totonac Warriors, the surrendered Zoque Tribes and the Putun Barbarian Tribe… the reliable main body of the kingdom's dominion must still be strengthened as much as possible!…​"

"As witnessed by the Chief Divine! Bertade, you are the one I trust the most, who understands my strategies and ambition the best!… I have decided, from the eight thousand in the Imperial Guard Legion, to leave six thousand for you! All the Mexica Warriors, the vast majority of the Prepetcha Warriors, I will leave them to you, to suppress the seaside tribes, to handle any turmoil…​"

"And I myself, only need to bring along two tribal vanguard battalions, with two thousand warriors from various tribes, to return to the Lake Capital City! Even if I bring more Imperial Guards, facing tens of thousands of Royal Warriors has no meaning, and would only unnecessarily alarm Avit… But the task with you is the real burden! The great matter that will change the world, is happening this year. And those distant White-skinned Demons will also emerge from the Eastern Sea… May the Chief Divine bless us, bless all Gelatin People under heaven!…​"