The Kingdom’s exploration fleet took a good rest for a few days among the Kuyaay Ipa Great Tribe. Scholar Mikki worked hard to communicate with the tribe’s elders, learning more about the Northern Continent’s intelligence.
The Kuyaay Tribes are powerful tribes occupying the northern coast of the Peninsula--the Great Salt Lake--Colorado River and Gila River lower basin. Their controlled territory, which also includes Arizona’s southwestern part, the southernmost tip of California, and the northern end of Baja California in xico in later generations.
In the water-scarce Northern Desert, this land, which has rivers and lakes suitable for farming, is a fertile ground fiercely contested by countless Northern Tribes. The tribe able to hold this land must have been left after nurous battles, a powerful tribe, or even a Tribal Alliance. The current Kuyaay Tribes are in a distinct yet connected state, forming a vague tribal alliance prototype.
"Brothers coming from the sea, we Kuyaay people have more than 60 tribes, large and small!... The three most powerful Great Tribes are the Salt Lake Tribe occupying the Salton Sea, our tribe occupying the west bank rivermouth, and the Long River Tribe at the confluence of the Wikuwaʼa and Hanan Chuuk rivers! Each Great Tribe, including the affiliated small tribes around, has at least four to five thousand people and can muster over a thousand warriors!..."
Red Stone Chief Matutumbe pondered, holding a stick in hand, drawing a map on the sandy ground. Scholar Mikki wrote tirelessly, sketching a simple map on resilient bark paper with a charcoal pen, marking the positions of various tribes. He would collect as much information about the vast North as possible, providing the most critical reference for the Kingdom’s future Northland strategy.
"Red Stone Chief, what do the Wikuwaʼa and Hanan Chuuk rivers an?"
"Oh! ’Wikuwaʼa River’ is what the northern Paiute people call the ’Long River’! This Long River is very, very, very long, coming from the upstream in the north, with nurous tribes along the way... The eastern Havasupai people call this river ’Hālchidhoma,’ which ans ’blue-green water flow.’ anwhile, the powerful Navajo Alliance from further east, occupying the Long River’s upper reaches, calls it ’Tó Nahasdzáán,’ ’the blue river.’ Of course, most tribes along the river use its most common na, ’The Great Mother River!’"
"Chief Divine witness! A very long, blue-green, blue river, the Great Mother River..."
Scholar Mikki drew a long line representing the known Long River extending infinitely to the Northeast. This was his initial impression of the Colorado River, also marking the first ti the entire Kingdom of the Lake learned of this river running through the Grand Canyon. This river, stretching five thousand miles, nurtured hundreds of Northern Tribes, becoming the North Arican continent’s first lifeline!
"...The Hanan Chuuk River, also known as the ’Corn River’ by various tribes, where corn can be planted. It cos from the eastern upstream, flowing through the Yavapai and Hopi territories, eventually reaching the Salt Lake. The river’s upstream harbors the truly powerful, threatening Apache Alliance!..."
"Corn River? Apache Alliance?"
Scholar Mikki mused, drawing a long line flowing from the east. In later generations, this thousand-mile-long line would be the Gila River. At the source of the long line, an emphasized circle was marked, labeled "Apache Alliance"!
"Oh! So it seems the Navajo Alliance lies to the north, the Apache Alliance to the south, with these two powerful Tribal Alliances just connecting together? Just like two packs of overlapping wolf territories..."
Seeing this, Scholar Mikki pondered for a mont and then asked Red Stone Chief.
"Honorable Chief, what is the relationship between the Navajo Alliance and Apache Alliance?"
Upon hearing this, a gleam sparkled in Red Stone Chief’s eyes. He smiled subtly, answering with deep aning.
"Brother from the sea, your map drawing is excellent, your vision as keen as a mountain eagle!... These two powerful Tribal Alliances are like two tireless wild bulls, locked in continual combat and pursuit for hundreds of years!"
"Furthermore, the tribes upstream of the Long River eastward all have to choose a side and join this prolonged fight because when two wild bulls are entangled, they won’t let surrounding wolf packs leisurely watch from the sidelines..."
"But fortunately, we Kuyaay people occupy the far western end of the desert and canyon, free from the need to fight for the upstream Tribal Alliances... Of course, we are always keeping an eye on them. If one of the two wild bulls genuinely determines its leader, then the entire desert and canyon land will have a sole, powerful leader wolf!"
The conversation between Scholar Mikki and Red Stone Chief regarding the Upper Long River ended here. At the close of the talk, Scholar Mikki, with a serious deanor, asked Red Stone Chief a critically important question.
"Red Stone Chief, the wind of the Ancestor brought here, offering a chance for change... If a truly powerful Divine demonstrates their miracle before you, would you be willing to believe in Them and see Them as the sole Divine?"
Seeing Scholar Mikki’s solemn expression, Red Stone Chief seed to sense sothing. He contemplated for a long ti before cautiously asking in return.
"Brother from the sea... The Sea God controls the sea, deciding the fishern’s catch. The Heavenly Divine controls the sky, determining the rainfall... So, what might the miracle of a truly powerful Divine be?"
"They command Thunderbolt and Fire, giving devout Samurai the power to destroy any resisting enemies!"
"Thunderbolt and Fire? Destroying enemies?"
Hearing this, Red Stone Chief raised his eyebrows, showing a moved expression.
"Do you truly have such power?"
"Of course! If you are ready, I can show you!"
Red Stone Chief pondered silently for a while, then slowly nodded. Scholar Mikki took him to the coastline to demonstrate the shooting of the Tiger Squat Cannon. Watching the trees shattered by the flying stones, Red Stone Chief’s face drastically changed and he remained silent for a long ti. That night, he couldn’t sleep at all. The next morning, when Mikki ca to see him, he found him looking much more haggard.
"Broader from the sea! Thunderbolt and Fire are forces of destruction... Indeed the power of a strong Divine can compel to worship! However, such a destructive force only invites awe, making it hard for the entire tribe to genuinely acknowledge... And I alone do not represent the entire tribe."
"Destructive force only invites awe but makes it hard for the tribe to acknowledge?... And you alone don’t represent the tribe?..."
Hearing this, Scholar Mikki frowned, showing an insightful expression.
"Then, what do you want?"
"A power of life. One that allows the entire tribe to recognize."
"... Chief Divine witness! I see."
Scholar Mikki fell into contemplation once again and then made a decision. The wisdom and sincerity of Red Stone Chief left a deeply profound impression on him. As the second leader among the exploration fleet, his recognition of Red Stone Chief ant tangible rewards! This was another more peaceful path of assimilation, minimizing bloodshed.
Thus, Mikki left the camp, went to the anchored longship, and directly approached Exploration Captain Zuwaro, who always remained vigilant and ready for battle.
"Chief Divine witness! Zuwaro, I think the Red Stone Chief of the Ipa Great Tribe is truly worth winning over!... He’s a wise person, having seen the power of our fleet. He personally is willing to convert to the Chief Divine, but the conversion of the entire tribe requires us to bring real, life-giving strength to his tribe!..."
"Huh?! Life-giving strength? Mikki, speak in layman terms."
"I want to leave a traveling missionary Priest in the Ipa Great Tribe, along with two young Assistant Priests and a dozen warrior guards. Additionally, we’ll leave the drought-resistant sweet potato roots and cold-resistant potato tubers here and teach the Kuyaay people!"
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, Exploration Captain Zuwaro looked utterly surprised. His thoughts raced as he swiftly weighed the pros and cons of such actions. After a while, he hesitantly asked.
"Are you sure?"
"I’m sure. Before coming, I consulted His Majesty! His Majesty said these suitable crops and better farming techniques, as well as the use of manure and guano rock, should be spread to the various Northern Continent tribes! He said, ’The Chief Divine wants to bring prosperity and abundance, not cruel destruction and plunder. The populations of tribes on the Northern Continent, the more the better!’..."
Since Mikki cited His Majesty, Zuwaro had nothing more to add, finally nodding in agreent.
"Alright! Praise the Chief Divine, and His Majesty’s rcy!..."
"I agree with your decision, with only one condition..."
"Red Stone Chief must conduct a conversion ceremony, taking a Blood Oath, to convert to the Kingdom’s Chief Divine in front of the whole tribe!"
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