After the rain cleared, the dazzling sunlight poured down, bringing the Sun God’s blessing. The golden do of the Palace of Wind shone brightly, and the silverware in the great hall glittered with reflected light. On the viewing platform, a series of pleasant copper bells hung. A breeze blew by, and the golden bells swayed with the wind, playing a crisp bell tune.
The sound of the bells awoke the King in contemplation. "Cazonci" Su’angua lifted his head, revealing a young yet resolute face. He had ascended the throne just four years ago, and was only in his twenties this year. The young King looked behind him, where an elder in elegant garnts held a wooden tablet, his expression solemn.
"Jinjinni, have you tested the power of this Longbow?"
In the Prepetcha language, Jinjinni ans "Hummingbird," and the Capital City Qinchongcan is the "Land of the Hummingbird." The elegant elder, carrying such a noble traditional na, was clearly a mber of the illustrious Nobility. In fact, he had been serving as the Chief Minister for over twenty years, under three generations of Kings.
Chief Minister Jinjinni nodded seriously and responded in a grave tone.
"Your Majesty, I have personally observed. The xica’s new Longbow is extrely powerful, at least twice that of the Tlaxcalan Bow! Within a hundred and forty paces, it can lob projectiles and wound Light Armor Militia; within ninety paces, it can shoot and kill Leather Armor Samurai!"
Hearing this result, Su’angua’s face showed shock as he abruptly stood up. As a Monarch who had been to battle, he calculated briefly and exclaid in astonishnt.
"The stone forts in the North and South are mostly only three to four n high. To effectively kill enemy Leather Armor Samurai, Archers and stone-throwers must shoot at least from within fifty paces. Given the range and power of this Longbow, in front of the xica Longbow Warrior, won’t the flatland fortresses be completely defenseless?!"
Jinjinni watched the young King and nodded earnestly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Under the onslaught of the xica Longbow Warriors, the wooden forts along the northern bank of the Lerma River held out for only six or seven days before they all fell. And in the southern state of Xitaqualo, the outermost ring of stone forts has already been lost, and now they are struggling to defend the second ring of mountain forts. Under the attack of the fierce fish from the East, the lives of the Samurai and Militia are dying off like freshly spawned fish eggs."
King Su’angua’s face was as somber as water.
"What’s the latest situation on the southern and northern fronts?"
The elegant elder pondered for a mont before handing over the wooden tablet in his hand, and then began describing the terrain in detail.
"The xica’s main army on the southern front has nearly thirty thousand Samurai, which is the enemy’s main force. Being able to mobilize at this ti of the year, they must be direct vassals of the Texcoco Lake District’s Royal Family, the true core troops of the xica Alliance. Their Commander is xica’s ’Twilight of the End’ Iskali, a seasoned old general. However, with the increasing size of the army, the southern front’s Supre Commander will inevitably be the new King ’Water Sprite’ Ahuizotl, who is also your defeated foe."
Su’angua lifted his head in recollection and nodded slowly after a long pause.
"Four years ago, shortly after my ascension, Ahuizotl led an attack. I personally led the army to defend the state of Xitaqualo for months. Using the Naval Forces and Militia to repeatedly harass their supply lines, we finally repelled the xica. Then taking advantage of the montum, we defeated several legions and secured a glorious victory! In fact, it was a tough battle; ’Water Sprite’ is no easy adversary!"
At that, a wry smile appeared on Su’angua’s face.
"Two years ago, Tizoc ascended the throne, and I was pleased for quite so ti. Tizoc’s coronation war chose the Otomi people, and our Kingdom was poised for action, halting the extermination campaign against the northern Tekos. I then led the troops again and clashed with Ahuizotl by the banks of the Lerma River, feeling profoundly the difficulty of the opponent. However, I did not expect that, just a few months later, Ahuizotl would murder his brother and ascend the throne in the Lake Capital City. The civil strife had barely ceased, and with barely half a year of recuperation, he had mobilized a huge army to attack. The xica people are indeed a bloodthirsty and warlike nation!"
Upon hearing this, Jinjinni saluted with grave respect and spoke earnestly.
"The xica people inherit chaos, honor strength above all, and revel in slaughter every day. They are the barbaric tribes that the Chief Divine, the Sun God, abhors, the evil demons from the western volcanoes! Not long after the xica’s failed expedition against the Otomi, with heavy casualties, they only managed to take Xilotepec City. Logically speaking, the various City-States of the xica should not be this enthusiastic about war. As long as we resist this sudden attack during the busy farming season, and once all the Warriors and Militia from the regions are fully mobilized, victory will eventually be ours!"
Su’angua pondered for a mont, nodded slightly, and continued to wait for the Chief Minister’s analysis.
"The xica army on the northern front has only ten thousand Samurai, among which there are many Longbown. Their commander is ’God of Death’ Xiulote, said to be a teenager of just over ten years. He is a branch of the xica Royal Family, the grandson of the current High Priest Xutel, and also the fiancé of Ahuizotl’s eldest daughter. Both commanders of the southern and northern fronts are Ahuizotl’s confidants, and they have united the Priesthood and the Nobility."
Hearing this, Su’angua asked in surprise.
"Defeats on the northern front keep coming in, first losing the wooden fort outposts, then suffering ambushes by the river. A couple of thousand Samurai and tens of thousands of Militia have been lost... I thought we were contending with an experienced veteran, but to think it was just a child!"
Chief Minister Jinjinni shook his head and explained cautiously.
"Your Majesty, this is no ordinary child. Spies lurking in hiding report that shortly after the death of Montezuma I, ’God of Death’ Xiulote was born. At the ti of his birth, there was an on in the sky, the morning star shone brightly, and he was born with ancient wisdom. Later, he personally killed the old King Tizoc and was nad as the heir to the Royal Family. There are rumors that he is the reincarnation of an ancient Toltec craftsman, able to craft various extraordinary devices, and the xica Longbow is his invention!"
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