The red sun sets, and night falls as promised. The deep darkness surges like the tide through the Seaside Lands, irresistible, like the xica legions. Yet, beneath the pitch-black night, countless stars flicker like futile but unending resistance.
"Family Head! The Serpent Mother Chieftain of the Golden Bay Tribes hasn’t returned from the outer camp... Despite many rumors within the Golden Bay Tribes, the Serpent Mother’s tribe seems unstable..."
Guard Commander Ecatl slightly bows, facing the profound darkness, reporting the details inside and outside Golden Bay City, demonstrating the Kingdom’s control.
"The most notable thing is that Chieftain Yilwei is quite active, privately eting with several tribe chieftains. He appears eager to advance further, dissatisfied with the Kingdom’s decisions, aiming to consolidate tribes and renegotiate with the Kingdom... His activity has also unsettled the young tribesn integrated into the garrison camps."
"Hmm? Consolidating tribes and renegotiating? Chieftain Yilwei, the nephew of the Great Sun Chief?"
"Yes! Family Head. Yilwei is the nephew of the Great Sun Chief and reputed in all Golden Bay Tribes."
Upon hearing this, Xiulote halts his steps, furrowing his brow, killing intent flowing in his eyes.
"Ecatl, if I rember correctly, Yilwei is the chieftain we supported, and we entrusted him with a tribe of ten thousand... And now my Royal Banner is just outside the city; yet he dares to stir things up within?"
"Uh... Family Head, Yilwei is quite renowned and is a Divine Descendant of the Sun. According to Totonac tradition, after the Great Sun Chief’s death, he was supposed to inherit the tribe..."
Guard Commander Ecatl chooses his words cautiously, aiming to avoid further angering the King.
"Thus, in Yilwei’s view, controlling the tribe is rightful, probably feeling little gratitude towards us... After the Great Sun Chief’s death, most elders and headn remaining in the tribe have gathered around him. These individuals have lost tribe, power, and wealth, are sowhat disgruntled, yet dare not act independently, so they incite the young, reckless Yilwei..."
"Previously, there was Black Wolf Commander to suppress, and the Serpent Mother Chieftain as a rival, so Yilwei always behaved submissively... But now, Black Wolf Commander is out on expedition, and the Serpent Mother Chieftain is nowhere to be found... He’s secretly active. Actually, these private gatherings are quite covert..."
"Nonetheless, it’s gratifying that the Chief Divine’s radiance has penetrated the hearts of the Golden Bay Warriors! So guards confessed to priests and reported all this!... Praise the Chief Divine!..."
Speaking of this, Guard Commander Ecatl reveals a devout expression full of joy. Yet, his performance fails to divert the King’s attention.
"Private collusions, so urgent, so ambitious?... Ha! He fears Black Wolf, does he not fear ?"
Xiulote squints at the northwest of Golden Bay City, anger surging within. Beneath the night, Golden Bay City no longer portrays its forr glow, only the regular movent of torches, those being the patrolling Kingdom’s Warriors. Outside Golden Bay City, clusters of thatched huts and dugouts are shaping; the Kingdom’s garrison camps are indeed taking form.
"Late April, May for spring farming. Now, with only a month remaining until spring farming!... Spring farming is a major plan for the Kingdom, forming a foothold in the Seaside Lands, and is crucial for people’s allegiance! At this ti, the garrison outside Golden Bay City must not be affected!"
Xiulote lowers his gaze, making a decisive decision. He speaks softly, but his killing intent is pervasive like the warm breeze beneath the night.
"Ecatl, you have ten days, authorized to mobilize the stationed Imperial Guard Legion. Inform the Chief God Priests in the city and collect the suspicious chieftain nas from the hands of the believers... Better to err in killing a hundred, than let one escape..."
"Yes! Family Head, I’ll arrange personnel imdiately!"
Guard Commander Ecatl’s heart trembles at the respectful command. They continue in the darkness, guarded by a troop of Imperial Guard Warriors, their armor leaves clanking, narrating the true rciless power. Not until nearly at the camp gate does Xiulote halt again. He gazes at the starlit heavens, whispering to the sky, anger hidden in his voice.
"Under the witness of the Chief Divine! I treat all tribes equally, integrating them and viewing the tribes of Seaside Lands as Kingdom’s citizens! I will bring them formidable protection, a channel for elevation, prosperous farming lands, a life of wealth!... Yet, why do these stubborn Totonac people ceaselessly rise against ?"
Guard Commander Ecatl remains silent for a long ti, feeling the King’s complex mindset. As the King’s gaze turns towards him, he softly responds with Teotihuacan’s sacrificial poetry, chanting its verse.
"King! The Teotihuacan people of Holy City said, ’On fertile land, there won’t be empty fields. To plant corn seeds, one must first clean the field...’"
"Suppose you wish not to change anything but instead mark out a plot, erect your symbol, that is indeed quite easy. Yet the more you aspire to do, the more busy farming, more weeds to remove, is inevitable to accomplish. The more you do, the richer will be the autumn harvest..."
Hearing such a response, Xiulote remains silent. He observes Guard Commander Ecatl, gradually revealing appreciation in his eyes. His heart, full of killing intent and increasingly prone to slaughter, also calms in the quiet night.
"Ecatl, you speak wisely... A long ti ago, I once told myself. My intent isn’t to be a hero but a diligent farr. To sow seeds into the soil of ti, nurture them carefully, amass the montum of history... Until the fields flourish abundantly, until trees rise from the earth, until civilization thrives like a dense forest, attracting flocks of birds, and all heroes co within my grasp!"
"Hence, farming matters mustn’t be rushed. Totonac Land is so remote, its tribes so scattered, their heritage so ancient... Indeed, it differs greatly from Tarasco Land and Tlaxcal Land... I’m still too hasty!"
Upon hearing this, Guard Commander Ecatl purses his lips, emotions swirling in his heart. He promptly clasps his hand on his chest, ardently expressing his emotion.
"Family Head, the High Priest once remarked that you are the hope of the Holy City line, akin to an elder, an everlasting sun!... Yet the High Priest’s sole concern lies in your urgency and self-discipline, like the Divine Eagle chasing the sun, never ceasing in its flight..."
"However, an overly-tensed string leads to an austere tone quality. An overly fatigued warrior fails to freely wield the war club’s strength, capturing sacrificial captives alive... The end of hasty advancent is endless blood-red; a forcefully repressed spirit also strides into profound darkness... Family Head, please take a brief rest, indulge a little! I will arrange everything well for you!"
Listening to these familiar words, Xiulote gazes at the starry sky, reflecting silently, unable to find the star belonging to his grandfather among the sparkling stars. Ti alters everything; what has changed, won’t return.
"Let’s go! Go eat."
After a long silence, Xiulote retracts his profound gaze, looking at the camp ahead, speaking calmly.
"Prepare so tequila for ; it’s been a while since I last drank."
"Yes! Family Head!"
Guard Commander Ecatl bows, then upon raising his head, returns to his respectful and cautious posture. The difference between ruler and subject is precisely this, never to be casually crossed. After all, he differs from Bertade...
"Rember! The tequila should be stronger, with more."
Upon saying this, Xiulote chuckles. At this mont, he seems to break free from so self-imposed constraint, letting go of the restraint from another era, feeling rare relaxation, akin to a carefree noble youth.
"After drinking, take to see the ’interesting’ gift! She is beautiful and charming. Her dance should be delightful!"
"Understood! Family Head!"
"No, you don’t understand."
Xiulote shakes his head, his gaze profound, vaguely tinged with red, akin to the eyes of a divine. This cold divinity, when was it engraved in his heart? He isn’t sure, but he recalls each blood-red conversion, every ti the masses bow before him, calling him the supre King.
"...There are many beautiful won, but few like her. She’s an ambitious woman, everything she does is to climb upwards. Initially, I didn’t intend to keep her, or planned to discard her far away. Yet she stepped forward, earnestly seeking an opportunity..."
"Ha! Since so, I’ll grant her two opportunities, just as elders once did for !... If she fails to satisfy , making no difference in conquering Totonac... I’ll completely hand her over to Akuitsi Priest, genuinely educating her into an ’interesting’ gift..."
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