Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 588 - 286: Entering the City, Crisis!
The cold days had passed, and the rainy season was not yet upon them. Below Ototpan Mountain City, a splendid spring scene unfolded. Vibrant flowers bloomed under the sunlight, their faint fragrance spreading in the warm breeze, uplifting everyone’s spirits. Colorful butterflies danced among the flowers, and spirited hummingbirds darted through the trees, drawing distant gazes.
His Highness Xiulote stood on a small hill in the military camp. He looked at the gentle spring scenery nearby, a serene smile playing on his lips. With the pleasant breeze, melodious birdsongs filled the air, as if composing a moving melody. He looked up to see flocks of warblers soaring above the mountain city.
It was now April, the time for North American warblers to migrate. These small, grey and white birds traveled from tropical and subtropical jungles northward, migrating long distances to the temperate continental coast. However, this year, due to a cold wave, they were forced to stay here, singing joyously every day, unaware of the dangerous journey ahead.
The warbler is a natural-born songster in nature, capable of producing ten distinct tones with repetitive rhythms and vibratos. Their calls were exceptionally vivid, and their songs unforgettable, symbolizing beauty and good fortune in Central American culture.
"Truly a blessed and auspicious day!"
Watching the jubilant warblers, the king’s face revealed a genuine smile. He was dressed in sturdy bronze medium armor, covered by an elegant High Priest robe, and wore a bronze helmet that partially covered his face, adorned with several tri-colored long feathers, all of which shone brightly in the sunlight, giving him an extraordinary and dashing appearance.
"Your Highness, the envoy from Otapan has arrived in the camp. Five hundred personal army samurai have formed up and are ready to depart at any moment!"
Bertade, dressed in medium armor, stepped forward and reported in a solemn voice.
Xiulote nodded. He waved his hand, signaling for Balda, who stayed behind at the camp.
"Balda, be ready! Follow my previous instructions and stay alert for any messages!"
"I will strictly adhere to your command! Your Highness, go with peace of mind!"
Balda bowed respectfully. Hearing this, Xiulote raised his eyebrows, then turned his gaze back to the front of his personal army, where Black Wolf Torc, in heavy armor, saluted from a distance, and made a gesture indicating readiness. The King smiled and then gave his order in a grave voice.
"Ters, raise the Royal Banner! Bertade, let us proceed!"
Five hundred personal army guards formed a tight formation, guarding the Royal Banner carried by Black Wolf in the center, and marched towards Ototpan Mountain City. Among these personal guards, two hundred were Jaguar warriors clad in heavy bronze armor, and the remaining three hundred were personal guards in medium armor wielding longbows. All were elite samurai selected from the imperial guard, capable of holding their ground for a long time once they formed into formation.
Along the way, the guards were solemnly silent. The only sounds were the clanging of armor and the synchronized steps. In less than half an hour, the King had reached the base of the plateau where the mountain city was situated.
He looked up, seeing the plateau rising forty to fifty meters high, occupying a commanding position in this hilly area. The mountain roads along the way were steep, with large patches of trees and rocks scattered around, hindering the large group’s climb and forming a natural defensive barrier. Only a few paths directly facing the city gates allowed smooth upward progress.
Above the plateau were serpentine stone walls of the city. The walls stood five meters high, with thousands of Ottopan warriors and militiamen holding weapons, stationed tightly along the ramparts. These defending troops had piles of stones, wooden blocks, and clay pots at their disposal, and even boasted hundreds of replicas of Mexica longbows.
Guided by the envoy, the group slowly ascended and soon came within range of the city head’s attack. As the Mexica Wolf Banner drew near, a sudden uproar erupted from the city walls, accompanied by numerous noisy discussions. A group of Otomi warriors shouted loudly, even drawing their bows and javelins.
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Black Wolf Torc, in his heavy armor and longbow, strode to the front. He looked up at the mountain city’s defenses, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead, and he could not help but grip the bone whistle around his neck. No matter how heavy his armor, facing stones rolling down from tens of meters high would have the same consequence.
Fortunately, the chaotic and dangerous uproar did not last long. Several white-robed high priests soon arrived to calm things, and the Otomi warriors on the city walls gradually quieted down. They wore complex expressions, looking at the leading envoy, the troops below, and the approaching Wolf Banner, at a loss for words.
Soon, Torc, slightly out of breath, stood under the city wall. Wearing more than forty pounds of heavy armor and facing the pressure from the city head, he was somewhat tired after leading the way. Black Wolf rested for a few moments and exchanged glances with the city warriors for a while, then, remembering his duty, he returned to Xiulote’s side.
"Your Highness, climbing from the foot of the mountain to the top, if fully equipped and maintaining combat stamina, will take at least a quarter of an hour. All this time, we are under the striking range of the city head!"
Xiulote nodded imperceptibly. The young king, resplendent as a Divine Envoy, stood solemnly outside the city gate. Soon, the heavy wooden gate opened with a loud thud, and then five hundred armored warriors streamed in, raising the Royal Banner high as they passed through the city gate and into the mountain city. Seeing this, the troops on the city walls finally burst into a clamor of low exclamations.
"Blessed by the Primordial God!"
"It’s the Mexica people!"
"The Mexica Highness has entered the city!"
"From the south, the Divine Revelator!..."
"Your Highness Xiulote, your troop is the only foreign army that entered the mountain city within two hundred years."
The High Priest Olte stood at the entrance of the city, personally greeting the King. Dressed in a black and white ceremonial dress of a Chaos Priest with a towering feather crown, his demeanor was poised and solemn. Around him clustered the low-ranking priests and temple warriors guarding him. In this mountain city, the High Priest was one of the two highest positions.
"Such a magnificent city, as long as it is defended properly and united, indeed no human force can conquer it!"
Xiulote calmly observed the city’s defending army, smiling as he praised. The number of Otomi militia in the mountain city was enormous, estimated at over ten thousand. Although their clothing and armor were simple and their bodies lean, their expressions weren’t dull; there was a certain spirit in their eyes, one of guarding their homeland. Such a force might be easily defeated in an outside expedition but exceptionally resilient when defending their home.
"Your Highness, the native dogs cherish their home and would never venture out to harm others. Us Otomi people’s wish is also merely to squat in our homes, living quietly day by day."
"Priest Olte, the trends of this world are like the Long River, rushing forward ceaselessly! With all the tribes at war, where can stability be found? Look at this—this invasion by the Canine Descendants from the south, isn’t it a fight for survival?"
"...Your words, Your Highness, naturally hold great reason. May the spirits bless and perpetuate the sacred cocoa."
"The spirits will favor the will of the King. It is the worldly kings who will bless the cocoa!"
The two men looked at each other briefly, whispering in conversation, their words tinged with unspoken feelings. Five hundred of the King’s personal army shone in copper armor, encircling the King, exuding an indestructible force. Olte’s eyes flickered as he glanced at these expensive and sturdy copper armors. He sighed softly in his heart before continuing to look at the King.
Their tacit exchange didn’t last long, soon interrupted by a burst of urgent voices. Scores of fully armed Otomi Warriors, escorted by a dozen high priests, hurriedly rushed from the center of the mountain city. The leading Chaos Priest Saka, within a hundred steps, let out a furious roar.
"Olte, how dare you let Mexica enter the city!"
"Priest Saka, His Highness Xiulote is a friend to the Otomi and the older brother of General Jiowar. His presence at today’s tribal gathering is an honor for Otapan City!"
"Pah! Olte, you’ve been enchanted by the Evil God, betraying the spirits of chaos!"
Saka strode forward, unceasing, quickly closing to about twenty steps from the crowd. He was about fifty years old, with high cheekbones and thick black hair, solid and strong, clearly formidable and younger than the Old Priest.
"Saka, paranoia has blinded you! The new Kingdom of the Lake in the south is an ally of Otapan City-State!"
The Old Priest straightened his spine and roared, like an old yet persistent marmot.
Saka approached nearer but didn’t continue disputing with the Old Priest. His gaze was fierce, wolf-like; he first scanned the King under the Wolf Banner, then spotted the several hundred armed Mexica warriors, causing his pupils to constrict instantly. The Chaos Priest immediately halted his steps, positioning himself within the guard of the temple warriors. He paused for several breaths, then turned to look at the large group of Otomi Warriors on the city walls, loudly rallying them.
"Otapan Warriors! The Mexica are our enemies! Years ago, they besieged the mountain city, slaughtered tribes in three states, and countless children of the Primordial God were sacrificed, their blood soaking the earth! They stole our food and burned our fields, causing widespread famine to this day! Even this massive invasion by the Canine Descendants is linked to the Mexica!... The Mexica stole our wealth, killed our loved ones, ruined our lives, and now they want to meddle in the Otomi Alliance’s tribal gathering, turning the the Otomi into slaves completely!"
Saka’s resonating voice echoed up and down the city walls, reaching the ears of thousands of Otomi Warriors. With the tribal leaders all in the center for the gathering and mostly lower-level warriors stationed as guards, they resonated with the provocative words, growing more and more noisy.
Seeing this dangerous omen, Olte’s eyes widened. He rushed forward, angrily grabbing Saka’s clothes, loudly scolding.
"By the spirits above! Saka, your words are full of lies! The wars years ago were with King Tizoc, who is already dead! His Highness Xiulote has never been our enemy! On the contrary, the food that saved us during the famine in the mountain city came from his supply! He is our friend!"
"Olte, you are old now! In recent years, under your lead, we Otomi have been like field mice in a cave, skulking and slaughtered at will! Xilotepec City was lost, our legions sent south serve the Mexica for nothing, and even Pamus State has been occupied by the Canine Descendants!... You have lost the courage of your heart, lost the protection of the spirits, no longer fit to lead the Otomi!"
Saka suddenly roared. He pushed the elderly Olte away, extended his hand toward the King at the city gate, and shouted loudly.
"The Primordial God blesses us! Otapan Warriors, show the Mexica our strength! Go forth, attack bravely, capture the Mexica Highness, and make them hand over their weapons, wealth, food, and land!"
