Olte slightly bowed his head, suppressing his powerless anger. He closed his eyes and then reopened them, speaking calmly and with deep resonance.
"xica people, we have harassed the southern coast, and the samurai have shed blood. As you can see, the south is heavily guarded, replete with stone forts and wooden fortresses, and the samurai’s blood should not flow there in vain... We are willing to hand over a large amount of gold, silver, and gemstones as a gesture of our commitnt to peace!"
Xiulote observed for a mont, the old priest was composed, while Jiowar showed a look of anger. Then, he shook his head calmly and got straight to the point.
"The gaze of the Chief Divine sees all, and nothing can hide from it. Wise Priest Olte, you should understand this. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Route Army, I cannot tolerate any potential tacit understanding between you and the Tarasco people!"
Upon hearing this, the old priest beca stern, looking at the young commander with an imposing deanor, and he sighed inwardly.
"The desire of the Otomi people has never been concealed, it is only for peace and cultivation. Kind His Highness Xiulote, we do not wish to partake in the conflict between the xica Alliance and the Tarasco Kingdom. As witnessed by the Primordial God, we will not favor any side!"
Xiulote looked into Olte’s eyes, smiled faintly, and continued to shake his head ruthlessly.
"Priest Olte, I may believe in your sincerity, but I cannot trust the Otomi people. The Northern Route Army cannot possibly march south and leave you behind us, taking on an imnse and uncertain risk. You must make your position clear, in the war that will determine the fate of the world, are you Allies of the xica, or their enemies? Choose, Otomi people, survival or destruction!"
Hearing the unmistakable threat, General Jiowar couldn’t hold back any longer, and he roared with anger.
"Warlike xica people, the Otomi also do not fear war! The mountain city Otapan City is as unshakeable as a teorite from heaven, and even in an entire Era, you could not breach it! If you insist on war, it will be your own destruction!"
The old priest did not stop him. He let General Jiowar speak out, only staring intently at Xiulote’s expression.
Xiulote’s eyes slightly lowered. He paused for a mont, then announced calmly.
"If you are unwilling to join the Alliance in battle, the Northern Route Army will stop its southern advance and instead turn north. Starting from the end of the month, we will destroy your autumn harvest! Within a month, all your toil will be reduced to ashes, a Quarter’s hard work will be wasted, not even the seeds will be salvaged. Another year without a harvest, by this ti next year, you will suffer the famine of a destroyed holand!"
Hearing such a cruel declaration, Jiowar erupted like a volcano, roaring fiercely.
"First you want to destroy the spring plowing, and now the autumn harvest. Destroying the harvest, wicked xica people! There are just over ten thousand of you here. If we agree to the Tarasco envoy, we could join forces to expel you, pushing you into the turbulent Lerma River!"
Hearing ntion of Tarasco’s envoy, Xiulote’s gaze sharpened. Then, with a solemn and indifferent response, he said.
"Face reality, Otomi people! Two xica armies are bearing down on you, and the southern front is the main offensive force. A hundred thousand xica samurai attacking day and night, the state of Xitaqualo is on the brink, the Tarasco people can hardly protect themselves! They will not risk marching north to siege a sturdy Wooden Fort. Without their Naval Forces’ main force, they can’t even cross the river!"
Then, Xiulote confidently smiled.
"A fresh batch of reinforcents has already arrived, the Northern Route Army now has twenty thousand samurai, with more successive forces continuing to pour in. This is a force you cannot resist! Besides, the era is changing, new types of weapons have erged, and Ototpan Mountain City will no longer be able to shelter you!"
Hearing the ntion of new weapons, the old priest Olte’s deanor shifted. He pondered for a mont and then raised his hand, halting Jiowar’s roaring.
"Respected His Highness Xiulote, I have heard from the scouts that during your attack on the wooden fortresses along the north coast of the Lerma River, you used a kind of powerful longbow. Could we possibly see it for ourselves?"
Hearing the old priest’s abrupt request, Xiulote was slightly taken aback. He thought it over in his heart, considering the capture from the Tarasco people, and eventually nodded.
"Ters, shoot an arrow outside the tent, then show them the real thing," he said.
As the guards opened the tent’s door, the fresh breeze brushed against their faces, bringing with it a moistness from the water, revitalizing everyone.
Then, Ters, the trusted aide, smiled plainly. He turned around on the spot, holding the longbow, took out a copper arrow, and readied it. The plain samurai’s gaze shifted slightly and settled on a wooden box fifty ters away, where the Otomi were delivering gifts. He took aim, the longbow twanged resonantly, and with the release of an arrow, the copper arrow streaked like lightning through the open tent door, and thunked into the wooden box, with the tail of the arrow quivering continuously.
Jiowar’s countenance turned serious. He strode forward and forcefully pulled the copper arrow from the box, standing dumbstruck for a mont. Then, he silently returned to the priest’s side, whispering two sentences in the latter’s ear, the old priest’s expression turning solemn.
Ters, holding the Greatbow, also approached the old priest’s side.
The old priest Olte took a step closer, bending down. He opened his aged eyes, gaze burning like torches, scrutinizing each detail ticulously.
He examined the sturdy longbow, approximated the length of its body with his hands, then tested the hardness of the wood with his nail, frowning slightly. This type of hard wood was extrely difficult to work with, requiring scarce copper tools, and a long ti to craft. Then, he felt the wrapped silk strings of the bowstring, observed the joint between the bow body and the string, and analyzed the specific technical details.
User Comments
0 comments from readers