The sunset hangs obliquely, falling into the clouds over the sea, reflecting layers of colorful haze. Tikalo stared blankly at the sky, as if seeing a three-thousand-year Maya epic unfolding in the sea of clouds, overflowing with colors.
Sunlight falls on the edge of the clouds, reflecting a golden outline, that is the splendor of the Golden Age. The light penetrates the clouds, revealing a deep red glow, that is the prosperity of the revival of Mayapan. When the light sinks into the depths, only pitch-black chasms remain, that is the darkness and despair of the destruction of the Kokom Family!
Now, the divine descendant child who was once desperate and a thousand miles from ho has grown up and even grown old. Yet the hope he has been bitterly pursuing for forty years remains so dim, like a dark moon without light.
"This world will not have another hero Kokom blessed by the Divine."
Tikalo pursed his lips, hiding all his emotions deep within, transforming them into reckless hatred and courage.
"Mortals cannot pray for fate. They can only set aside everything, recklessly reaching for the hem of that fate... even if the price is death!"
The moist wind from the sea blows, stirring people’s hems and hair. Everyone on the flagship is imrsed in the story of the Eastern Maya, unable to extricate themselves for a long ti. The golden age ca and ended, heroes of divine lineage ca and went, great kingdoms were founded and died. But now, on the lowlands of the Eastern Maya, only fragnted clans and chieftains remain.
"Of course, for alliances and kingdoms with ambition in the world, this is not necessarily a bad thing!"
Priest Tomate pondered for a mont, his eyes gleaming. He looked at the Maya rchants who would soon restore their composure and asked in a deep voice.
"Tikalo, you said the Xiu Family attacked and killed the Kokom Royal Family, causing the fall of the Mayapan Kingdom. But how could such a vast kingdom be destroyed so easily? Did the generals of Mayapan not retaliate against the Xiu Family? Such a grave cri as attacking the royal family, what benefit could it bring to the Xiu Family?...What exactly is the situation in the Eastern Maya lowlands now?"
Hearing this succession of questions, Tikalo showed a thoughtful expression. It was not surprising; the priests and generals of the kingdom all had ambitious designs. A fragnted Maya would surely be like alluring honey, attracting the covetous gaze of bears, as long as... that bear was close enough to reach.
"The vast Mayapan Kingdom was actually composed of a city-state alliance ford by hundreds of city-states scattered throughout Yucatan and the lowlands. Each Maya city-state was near a water source and spread across a land of seven hundred miles. In the difficult jungle paths, communication wasn’t convenient, and the marching of large samurai teams was also hard. The majority of city-states in the alliance were self-governed by local divine descendant families. The immortal Mayapan was universally revered by the various states as their overlord! The divine Kokom royal family enjoyed the title of ’King of the Maya,’ serving as the bond maintaining the entire alliance!"
Tikalo had once lost sleep for many nights over the demise of Mayapan, earnestly contemplating for many years. At this mont, he spoke calmly, with the deanor of a sage.
"The Xiu Family from Uxmal was the most powerful city-state leader family near the Mayapan Capital City, controlling several large city-states and more than ten small villages. They gradually shifted their ruling focus from Uxmal to Mani two hundred years ago. This city-state was only fifty miles from Mayapan! With their revered bloodline and their imnse strength, they participated heavily in the politics of the kingdom, being one of the most influential noble families in Mayapan... In other words, they were like the City of Texcoco once had been in relation to Tloquiditlan!"
Upon hearing this, Priest Tomate seed to co to a realization. So, this rebellious Xiu Family was indeed an influential prince close to the Capital City! Such strong rebels with malicious intent so close at hand were truly impossible to guard against, the only option was to strike proactively!
For the Maya people, they revered divine bloodlines passed down for thousands of years, with an almost unchanging hierarchy. They maintained extrely strict noble and humble ranks and possessed a far stronger nobility than even the alliance.
Many divine descendant families with a thousand-year lineage had very nurous family mbers, often controlling more than one city-state and simultaneously managing the divine authority and military power of the city-state. Therefore, the political structure among the Maya was the developnt of clan politics to the extre, forming oligarchic or autocratic clan chieftains.
"The conflict between the Xiu Family and the Kokom Royal Family has a long history, with twists and turns that even go back to the Golden Age, the enmity between Divine Capital and Snake City. After the establishnt of Mayapan, the Kokom royal family continuously expanded and centralized power. As the de facto divine descendant family closest to the Capital City, the Xiu Family had lost the most benefits. Although the Xiu Family outwardly showed respect and compliance, even intermarrying with the royal family for several generations, their dissatisfaction had always been brewing... It’s a pity! There wasn’t a ruthless elder in Mayapan to prematurely eliminate this hidden group of vipers!"
"The Xiu Family launched a surprise attack on Mayapan, killing the Kokom Royal Family and burning the Capital City. The entire city-state alliance thus lost its cohesive bond. With cumberso jungle marches, unless there was coordination from city-states along the way to provide food and civilians, the conquering army couldn’t proceed far. The royal family’s fall was so swift; within ten days, the blood of over a thousand divine descendants and tens of thousands of commoners stained the Capital City, turning the great ball field into a blood lake! Under the brutal massacre by the Xiu Family, no esteed Kokom prince could escape the Capital City to call for help from the states..."
Tikalo lowered his gaze, suppressing a sowhat choked voice. He bit his lip fiercely and then calmly continued.
"Therefore, in this sudden rebellion, besides the enemy- of-the-Xiu-Family, the similarly neighboring Canul Family to Mayapan, no other clan’s reinforcents arrived in ti. The royal family was completely annihilated, and the military leaders of the alliance dispersed all over. Losing their revered overlord, they based themselves on clans, seized territory as kings, and fought among themselves... Henceforth, the entire Mayapan Kingdom, from the eastern seaside to the western seaside, from the northern coast to the southern lowlands, split into sixteen assorted, differingly strong clan chieftaincies!"
"Sixteen clan chieftaincies?"
Priest Tomate stroked his chin, contemplating this fragnted situation. So, among these chieftaincies, who was an enemy of the kingdom, who was a friend, or who was a temporarily alignable ally... Priest Tomate pondered slightly and then focused on Tikalo, asking seriously.
"Among these sixteen states, which clans are the strongest? Where on the Yucatan Peninsula do they occupy, and how many samurai do they command?"
Upon hearing this, Puap nodded heavily, speaking with a murderous aura.
"Yes! That Xiu Family and their Heavenly Serpent Bloodline, where exactly are they, and how many samurai do they have?"
"With the fall of Mayapan, the kingdom split into sixteen clans and sixteen states. The most powerful four clans are all concentrated in the northern part of Yucatan, where water is ample and the population is large. These four clans also dominate mariti trade on the Yucatan Peninsula, controlling the route to Feathered Serpent Long Island, possessing the most astounding wealth!"
Tikal’s face was smiling, his words leisurely. He understood what His Highness Xiulote valued and knew what to say to entice the priests and Samurais of the Kingdom of the Lake.
"Along the coast of the peninsula from west to east, the four regions are: On the far west side of the peninsula, the third most powerful, Ah Canul clan based in Kapok City (Calkini); the central-west part of the peninsula, based in Mani City, occupying the Mayapan kingdom’s territory, the most powerful Xiu Family; the central-east part of the peninsula, based in White Eagle City (Zaci), the second most powerful, with many vassals, the Kapul Family; and the far eastern side of the peninsula, centered around the holy land of Cozul Yan Island, controlling the Feathered Serpent’s Long Island sea route, the Ekab Alliance."
"The Ekab Alliance, controls Feathered Serpent Long Island’s sea route?"
Upon hearing this, Chief God Priest Tomate was sowhat puzzled.
"Tikalo, the other three are clan chiefdoms, why is this Ekab an alliance?"
"Respected Chief God Priest, because the Ekab Alliance is ford by multiple families under the call of Yan Island in the holy land. Within the alliance, every family city-state’s status is equal under the gaze of the Rain God."
"Equal status among the alliance? In such a structure... who makes decisions in major affairs?"
"Ha! Respected Chief God Priest, the status of each city-state is equal, but the holy land of Yan Island, which worships the Rain God, is naturally more equal than others!"
Tikalo’s lips curled into a smile, carrying a hint of mockery.
"So, in major affairs, it is naturally the priest leader of the holy land who makes the decisions!"
Upon hearing this, Chief God Priest Tomate pondered for a mont, slowly nodded, seeming to understand.
"... The strength of the Xiu Family is the most powerful?"
Puap’s expression showed uncertainty. After a mont, he steeled his heart and pursued further.
"Tikalo, how many Samurais exactly do these families have, how many civilians do they control?"
"I am just an ordinary Mayan rchant, how could I know the secrets of these clans?"
Hearing this anticipated question, the Mayan rchant blinked and replied with a smile.
"However, considering the prosperity of the Lowland Maya, plus the northern Yucatan Peninsula, and the forr lands of the Mayapan kingdom, there must be at least one and a half million people!"
"One and a half million people! If thirty can form one Samurai, wouldn’t that an at least fifty thousand Samurais?!"
Upon hearing this, Puap was stunned. Such a large population was already close to the peak of the Kingdom of the Lake. And the Eastern Maya Lowland was about three thousand miles away from the xica Alliance, making it difficult to dispatch large forces!
"Fortunately, the large Mayapan has disintegrated, splitting into clan chiefdoms... In this case, even if one were to kill a noble Divine Descendant, one could escape to other chiefdoms."
Puap’s expression changed, hints of murderous intent flickering.
"Heavenly Serpent Divine Blood can lift the Divine Eagle Curse!..."
The sunset fell, transforming into golden red hues on the horizon, catching the gaze of everyone, like a future full of unpredictability. Compared to the Maya clans and chiefdoms, the kingdom’s exploratory fleet’s strength was still not worth ntioning.
However, the kingdom fleet was rely a preliminary probe. Behind the kingdom fleet stood the powerful highland eagle, alongside the ambitious, divinely inspired Highness! Undoubtedly, it was a force capable of influencing the Yucatan Peninsula. And the attitude towards the various Maya clans upon first encounter was determined by those on the flagship!
The old militia Chiwaco had always watched coldly in silence. Only at this mont did he, with an icy face, gaze at Tikalo, and coldly asked.
"Tikalo, you cunning fox without fur, you’re quite the scher! You’ve said so much, but I only have one question... Who exactly are you?"
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