The Royal Banner of the Black Wolf of the God of Death ca from afar and stood tall in the great camp of Snake Lake Village, rising even higher than the Commander’s Flag of the Black Wolf itself. The cheers from the camp echoed through the skies, so loud that even the Totonac defending army in the military camps over ten miles away could hear it clearly!
"Praise the Chief Divine! Praise His Highness!...."
Upon receiving the scout’s report, the Great Chief of the various clans of Golden Bay, "Great Sun" Qiqini, hurriedly ascended the walls of Golden Bay City, gazing towards the northwest at the Alliance’s camp. Across the vast distance, he could not see the Alliance’s camp or the "Royal Banner" described by the scouts. However, he could see one of the Alliance’s nearest camps a few miles away and hear the heartfelt cheers of thousands of the Kingdom’s Warriors from within.
"The Chief Divine blesses us! His Highness has arrived, this battle will surely be victorious!..."
After listening for a mont, the expression of Great Sun Chief Qiqini grew grave. The heir of the xica Alliance personally coming to battle represented the will of the powerful alliance! This also ant that the diation he had hoped for was no longer possible.
"With the xica Crown Prince personally leading the campaign, he cannot return without significant success! The xica’s assault will likely comnce soon, fiercer than before. Moreover, for the xica to call upon so many reinforcents from Trascal Land... it seems that the once-mighty Tlaxcala Alliance has also been completely annihilated!..."
Thinking of this, the mood of Great Sun Chief Qiqini grew heavier. As the leader of the Western Totonac tribes’ alliance, he far more than the distant Eastern Seaside tribes, understood the terrifying power of the xica Alliance!
"Just a small force of over ten thousand had already caused the Holy Land to fall and the tribes to retreat, not daring to engage in open battle. And now with His Highness of xica personally arriving with elite reinforcents... Ah! If only the xica had not been so brutally sacrificial with divine descendants during the Tlaxcala Divine War... if only they were willing to accept surrender, preserving my tribe and Golden Bay City... I would have long... "
Great Sun Chief Qiqini’s brow furrowed, his mind wavered with hesitation. While staring northwest, he was suddenly drawn back by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching quickly, followed by a loud call from afar.
"Qiqini! Qiqini! The xica just brought a great prince and over ten thousand troops!.... May the ancestors and All Gods protect us!"
As he spoke, the Great Chief Quetzal Coatl of the Hidden Snake City ca striding toward Qiqini. A red copper axe hung at his waist, and two red copper-tipped javelins strapped to his back, ready for combat at a mont’s notice. Upon reaching Qiqini, he extended his robust arm, grasped Qiqini’s shoulder tightly, and repeatedly exclaid.
"Qiqini, our troubles have grown! I’ve sent scouts to spy, and they’ve seen that army, carrying many greatbows and thousands of thick-hide heavy armor, along with mysterious golden bronze beasts! It’s said these are so formidable imperial guards..."
"Many greatbows? Thousands of thick-hide heavy armor? Golden bronze beasts?"
Upon hearing this, Great Sun Chief Qiqini’s face showed surprise, his inner balance swaying intensely. His elite scouts had almost all been lost. Now these tasks of spying and skirmishing had to rely on the warriors from the eastern tribes.
"Quetzal, are you certain?"
"All Gods as witness! My trusted aide saw it with their own eyes!"
The face of Great Chief Quetzal Coatl of the Hidden Snake was solemn as he swore to the divine. Subsequently, he looked at Qiqini, and Qiqini looked back at him. The two nominal leaders of the Eastern and Western Totonac tribes’ alliance exchanged glances for a long ti, both showing hesitation. After a while, Great Chief Quetzal Coatl spoke first, his eyes moving.
"Qiqini, can you hold Gold Bay City?"
"Quetzal, your tribal warriors are also involved in Gold Bay City’s defenses, and they know it best. This is the largest fort in all Totonac land! Our city walls stand five ters tall, built of brick and stone. Inside the city, there are over a dozen fortress-like temples, two thousand’s defending army, a year’s worth of food for twenty thousand, and easily ignitable black oil... Besides, we have the support of dozens of Totonac tribes behind us, and support from over a dozen city-states!... "
Great Sun Chief Qiqini’s heart swayed, but his face displayed confidence.
Even if he wanted to surrender, it absolutely wasn’t at the point when troops were at the gates. Gold Bay City had to withstand a few more months of xica’s assault before negotiations could secure terms of autonomy and preservation.
To hold the Gold Bay City on the plains, they must rely on the Totonac Warriors of the eastern tribes, staunchly defend the surrounding camps, and secure material support from the eastern tribes! Similarly, these warriors from the eastern tribes could also be used as a "bargaining chip" in negotiations...
"Inside Gold Bay City, two thousand defenders, a year’s supply of food, and black oil... Outside camps, thirteen thousand defenders, also with a year’s supply of food!"
Great Chief Quetzal Coatl of Hidden Snake murmured, analyzing the possibility of holding out. He had the strong support from the Priesthood of the Hidden Serpent Holy City, bringing a total of five thousand warriors and fighters from city-states! With this strength and position, he beca the nominal leader of the Eastern Totonac tribes, commanding the Eastern Allied Forces of two thousand three hundred n.
"With the xica’s reinforcents arriving, the most prudent course of action is to withdraw with the main forces of the city-state! Abandoning Gold Bay City for them to defend alone... Hidden Snake City is over five hundred miles away. For the xica to campaign beyond five hundred miles of jungle, they likely cannot sustain such a lengthy supply line to support so many troops...."
At nearly forty, the Great Chief Quetzal Coatl of Hidden Snake was a seasoned war veteran. In the past, he had been more accustod to skirmishes involving hundreds of people and fighting within the jungles. From a purely military perspective, looking at the city-state’s interest, since being fully suppressed by the opponent and unable to contend in open battle, it was correct to strike eastward with the entire army into the deeper jungle. Then, within their own advantageous terrain, combat the enemy using tribal warfare strategies.
"Only now, xicas have burned the Feathered Serpent’s Holy City, the surviving Feathered Serpent’s priests plaintively recounting the horror, stirring the warriors’ hearts! Especially a priest nad Papu, who sincerely narrated the sights he saw, moving people to tears..."
"The Hidden Serpent Holy City has gathered these priests, summoning the combined forces of various tribes, wanting to seize this opportunity to unite the Eastern and Western Totonac’s beliefs... And I, as the leader of the Allied Forces, could rise to beco the ruler of all tribes if I can defeat the xicas, with the backing of the priests of the Holy Land, and perhaps advance even further..."
"It has been no easy task for to gather all tribes to resist the xica Alliance, building so prestige! ...The current situation is still manageable; if I were to retreat now, resulting in Gold Bay City’s fall... the implications for everything I have worked for and the tribal Chieftains’ thoughts..."
Considering this, Great Chief Quetzal Coatl of Hidden Snake pursed his lips, shelving the plan for migration and retreat back in his mind. He and Qiqini exchanged looks for a long ti in silence. In their minds, they pondered the possibilities of either surrender or retreat. However, after much deliberation, when they opened their mouths again, it was with a resolute decision to hold firm!
"May the gods protect us! Quetzal, if we can hold for another three months, it will be the rainy season in May. If we can last five months, it will be the peak of the rainy season, which could help us endure another year!... However, to persist, the tribes of Gold Bay still need more support from the eastern tribes..."
"Qiqini, speak freely! The ancestors bear witness! Even if it ans dying in battle, I will resist for the gods, standing firm to the end!"
"Ancestors protect us! Quetzal, the xicas’ reinforcents’ grand arrival may lower the morale of the city’s tribes, possibly causing Chieftains to consider leaving... We, as leaders of the eastern and western tribes, must join forces to declare our resolve to persist, suppressing all the Chieftains!"
"Declare together, suppress the Chieftains? ...Good! Qiqini, what else do you need?"
"Quetzal, you must send people to the eastern tribes to ask for more food, more boats, and more warrior support!..."
"More food, boats, and warriors? ...Ha! The state of the tribes, they already are..."
Upon hearing this, Great Chief Quetzal Coatl of Hidden Snake showed a bitter smile. He sighed, nodding slightly.
"All Gods bear witness! I will dispatch the envoys!"
"Good! And one last thing... Southeast of Gold Bay City, there is a crucial military camp that concerns the life and death of the Allied Forces!... I want you to lead an army personally to take command!"
As he spoke, Great Sun Chief Qiqini’s eyes flickered. His words were true, that riverside military camp was indeed critically important! However, having the Great Chief of Hidden Snake lead thousands of warriors away from Gold Bay City had another purpose. It was to maintain his control over Gold Bay City, preventing any unexpected possibilities...
"Hmm? Qiqini, are you talking about the riverside...?
Great Chief Quetzal Coatl of Hidden Snake was taken aback, and his gaze flickered.
"The southeastern route for the main army?..."
"Indeed! It’s exactly the southeastern route for the main army, the riverside mud fort!"
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