Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1565 - 1105: Divine Mountain Worship and the Scholar’s Promise of Gold Mountain!
The Alaskan coast in July is lush with long grasses, pink with new branches of shallow trees, and a sea of summer flowers in all shades of violet and red. Vibrant and colorful flocks of birds freely soar and dance between the sky and distant mountains. Groups of large and small deer and prairie dogs leap vivaciously between pine forests and mountain fields. Meanwhile, countless dense schools of salmon and herring gather at the river mouth and lakes, diligently swimming upstream...
From the sky to the mountain forests and then to the near sea, everywhere is filled with abundant grasses and trees, blooming flower seas, and birds, beasts, and fish teeming with life, breeding and frolicking to their heart's content. And when the Kingdom's ocean-shielding ship sailed past the eternally unmelting iceberg and approached the midsummer Alaskan coast, they witnessed such a vibrant, flourishing, and captivating scene that left a lasting impression.
"The Chief Divine bless! Summer is the gift of the Chief Divine, who descends from the towering Heavenly God Ancestor Peak to bestow ample food upon countless tribes and suspend the ever-lasting sun high in the sky!"...
The noon sunlight fell on the deck of the ocean-shielding ship, and the Northern horizon's Divine Changbai Mountain also became clearly visible to everyone. Seeing this 2,500-meter seaside mountain, the Kingdom's warriors and the tribal sailors prostrated themselves on the deck, praying toward the northern Divine Mountain.
"Praise the Supreme Main God! Praise the sacred white mountain ice peak!"...
"Oh!… Praise the East Sea Main God… Praise that… Great White Head Mountain!"...
Seeing the prostrating and praying crowd, Sail Maker Park Sun-pan and Shipwright Kim Sun-su exchanged a glance and submissively lay down on the deck, praying toward the northern ice mountain. These peculiar Gummy People Tribal Group seemed particularly reverent of high mountains. And this towering ice mountain was already the third "White Divine Mountain" they'd encountered since leaving Divine Land Port.
According to the Lord Priests, these three thousand-meter-high white Divine Mountains from west to east represent the Chief Divine's guidance. They are named "Divine High White Mountain," "Divine Great White Mountain," and "Divine Changbai Mountain." And to the east of these three Divine Mountains, there's a silhouette of the true Divine Peak hiding behind the mountain range—it's the place where the Chief Divine descends from the supreme Divine Mountain, called "Heavenly God Ancestor Peak." Its height allows it to be seen a thousand li away.
"Oh Chief Divine! The Gummy People Tribal Group truly worship the white high mountains, just like the Jurchens of the northern wildlands… This towering white Divine Mountain seems about the same height as the Bei Yue White Mountain in Hamgyeongbuk-do… As for what Great White Head Mountain, claimed to be visible a thousand li away? Seems like a quite remarkable place!"...
Thinking this, Sail Maker Park Sun-pan scratched his head. He had never seen a six- or seven-thousand-meter high mountain from the sea, so he couldn't imagine what that "Heavenly God Ancestor's Great White Head Mountain" was like in its grandeur and height!
During the Lee Dynasty of Korea, though there was a tradition of mountain sacrificial rites, its scale and influence were not significant. The "Bei Yue White Mountain" officially consecrated by the Lee Dynasty was Korea's second highest peak in later generations—the 2,500-meter-tall Guanmao Peak. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
And even seeing the Chinese characters "Changbai Mountain," the two Korean craftsmen felt no stir in their hearts. Because, in later generations, the "Holy Mountain" Changbai Mountain of Korea was, at this time, only a dangerous and wilderness area inhabited by Jurchen Barbarians, not within the Li's Chaoxian Kingdom, and never existed in Korean folklore.
Conversely, the name "Changbai Mountain" originates from the Jin Dynasty's Jurchen Tribes. In the Jurchen mythologies, this is a revered "Divine Mountain," possessing a Mana-powerful Changbai Mountain God...
"Ah! Supreme Asama God! Truly the towering Immortal White Mountain!… Eh! This mountain emits smoke? Is it a living volcano?… Ah! It's indeed extremely magnificent and gorgeous! Just like… just like the immortal Tri-Peak on the Mandragora painting of Asama Grand Shrine… Hmm? The Immortal Mount Fuji!"...
Just a couple of steps away, Monk Soldier Watanabe Masumi also widened his eyes, kneeling on the deck. He gazed at the northern white Divine Mountain, speechless for a long time, as his eyes gradually moistened. At that moment, he remembered his distant homeland eight thousand li away, remembered the mythical Immortal Divine Mountain, and remembered the majestic Mount Fuji he had personally climbed and witnessed...
"When I leave Tago-no-ura, looking up, I can see the true white robes must be falling snow on Fuji's high peak… (田子の浦ゆうちいでてみれば真白にぞふじの高嶺に雪は降りける)"
Amidst the pious prayers of numerous Gummy People Tribal Group, Monk Soldier Watanabe Masumi lowered his head, his eyes drooping. Unable to hold back the tide in his heart, he recited a short poem about the falling snow on Mount Fuji from the Man'yōshū.
During the Muromachi Era, Wa People earnest in their faith in Divine Buddha, also revered mountain and river spirits. Among all mountains, the worship of the Immortal Mountain, Mount Fuji, is the most enduring and renowned. Surrounding the 3,800-meter-high Mount Fuji, the Wa People built Asama Shrine, spreading tales of the Supreme Asama God and Goddess Ko-no-hana-sakuya-hime.
As for Watanabe Masumi himself, he had personally visited the Miho-no-matsubara, witnessing the unforgettable Fuji Eight Peaks. He had even visited Mount Fuji Hongū Asama Taisha, seen the Mandragora paintings engraved with Tri-Peak Gods...
At this moment, Monk Soldier Watanabe thought about the unknown path ahead, the unknown return home, the endless ten thousand-li voyage. He thought of the ups and downs of his fate along this journey and finally couldn't help shedding tears, reciting another short poem from the Man'yōshū, which speaks of Nara's Osan autumn.
"In Osan the autumn mood dyes the red forest, the call of deer cries out in sorrow. I pause, empty with emotion, to whom could I express this silent heart?… (奥山に紅葉踏みわけ鳴く鹿の声きく時ぞ秋は悲しき)..."
"Oh oh! This vast sea sky, this endless voyage, this country of the Gummy People Tribal Group, is so, so far away, just like the endless death journey of the Sanzu River!… Oh, the autumn leaves of Osan! Which one among them falls for me, this wandering traveler? The falling snow of the Immortal Mountain! I fear I may never see it again in my life!… Oh oh! Oh!"
"Praise the Supreme Main God! He watches us from the towering Divine Mountain, safeguarding our return! Praise Our God, Huitzilopochtli!"...
On the ocean-shielding ship, the fervent prayer continued for a quarter before gradually subsiding in the collective fervent shouts of the Chief Divine's name. To the Wa Country and Korean people aboard, this towering white volcano symbolized the departure from their homeland, possibly to never be seen again. But to the various sailors aboard, the appearance of this Divine Mountain signified that the tribes and homeland they hailed from were close at hand.
For the Kingdom's warriors aboard the ship, having crossed the unsupported, ethereal vastness of the Divine Revelation Archipelago and now reaching the Far North Coast along the Northern Continent means a safe and stable route, with ever-increasing supplies along the way. On this twenty-thousand-mile return journey, the most difficult segment is finally behind us!…
"Chief Divine protect us, everyone put in more effort, adjust the sails, and let's speed up the ship! Once we reach the Divine Great Whale Port, we'll replenish supplies and enjoy a hearty bowl of hot meat soup!…"
After the prayers finished, Scholar Mikki turned around, surveyed the crowd's excited expressions, and offered encouragement, finally dispersing everyone. Then, his gaze shifted, noticing a translator from the Wa tribes sitting in the corner with a bowed head, and he walked over. He observed the person's tearful expression for a while, puzzledly questioning.
"Hmm? Chief Divine witness! Watanabe the Translator, why are your eyes red with tear stains? Have you… cried?…"
"Ah! Ah, um… Lord Priest!… I… I… I just saw the Divine Mountain, thought of the Chief Divine's glory, remembered my fate's… protection… cried out of excitement and joy!…"
Upon hearing the question, Monk Soldier Watanabe Masumi hurriedly wiped his tears, then raised his head and replied with a forced smile in stuttering Mexica Language.
"Chief Divine witness! I have never been so far… so far to the Eastern Sea!… and never imagined… that beyond this Eastern Sea's ten thousand miles, there could be such a large, fertile continent!…"
"Chief Divine bless us! I thought I was merely going to a distant Far North Sea to collect some furs and valuable goods… I didn't expect to endure the winter and storms, to experience the Ice Sea and archipelagos… finally drifting thousands of miles eastward, arriving somewhere unknown, somewhere never heard of in the Eastern Sea… truly… truly incredible, unimaginable even in dreams… bless the Divine!!…"
"Haha! Chief Divine bless us! He has always protected you too!…"
"Yes, yes! You are right!… Chief Divine bless us!… He really… has blessed me!…"
Scholar Mikki blinked, his mouth slightly curling, sincerely prayed a sentence, and Monk Soldier Watanabe hurriedly followed in prayer. Actually, Mikki could discern Watanabe's thoughts but chose not to reveal.
Among so many captives, Translator Watanabe is the only one proficient in both Wa tribal and Korean tribal languages, able to write Divine Revelation Text, and has even made an effort to learn some Mexica Language—such a linguistic talent. This important figure, a bridge in communicating among tribes, is valued and must be appeased and given preferential treatment by both Zuwaro and him…
"Chief Divine! As the sea ship sails further east, these captives' morale seems to have steadily declined… how can we uplift these captives, boost their spirits?… Hmm, His Majesty's Divine Revelation… Got it!…"
Scholar Mikki pondered for a moment, then suddenly revealed a kind smile on his face. He reached out, touching the stubble on Monk Soldier Watanabe's head, and asked with a gentle smile.
"Watanabe, have you seen Gold Mountain?…"
"Huh? What?… Lord Priest? You said what? A golden mountain?…"
"I'm talking about a mountain of gold, a mountain filled with gold mines!…"
"Ah! What! Gold? A mountain of gold?!… Chief Divine! I've… I've never seen…"
"Hmm, further ahead, you'll see it!… The Kingdom's Gold Mountain, plentiful and frequent… is very beautiful, an expanse of golden, shimmering mountains, hills, and streams!…"
Scholar Mikki's expression was kind, while smiling, comforting, and making a breathtaking promise.
"Chief Divine bless us! If all goes well, after two more ports, we'll reach Jinxi Port. This is the farthest north and the most easily visible hundred-mile Gold Mountain along the route… Hmm, you tribes of the New Continent love gold the most, right? When we arrive, I'll give each of you craftsmen and sailors a bamboo basket…"
"Chief Divine witness! I'll give you a day to rest by the Gold Mountain… then, however many gold stones you can fill… will be yours!…"
"Haha! What a joke? Of course, it's true!… Watanabe, this is my promise and the Kingdom's promise to you! That Gold Mountain is so vast, what's a mere thousand pounds of gold stones! Never mind just ten people, even a hundred, a thousand people couldn't even take a hair off that Gold Mountain rabbit's tail!…"
"Go on, spread this good news among the craftsmen and sailors on the ship, invigorate them, let them sail faster… the real Gold Mountain is just within reach!…"
