Outside the Commander-in-Chief’s grand tent, the northern wind howled across the highland and swept down toward the south with irresistible force. Inside the grand tent, frangipani beans burned quietly in the Jade Furnace, releasing a distant and rich fragrance that stimulated thoughts and cleared the mind.
In this pleasant atmosphere, Xiulote watched Ezpan, who was swearing allegiance on the ground, with a faint smile on his lips. Smiling, he helped the newly appointed Tarasco Legion commander to his feet and encouraged him again.
"Ezpan, accomplish everything I have entrusted to you, further prove your capabilities! After victory in the west, the land of Miken will be reallotted, and a vassal king will be stationed... The Alliance also intends to conquer Colima and control the western Tekos people, and you are familiar with the terrain there... By then, you will also have a place among the Great Nobility of the Alliance!"
Upon hearing this, Ezpan raised his head and looked at Xiulote with a sowhat bewildered gaze. After all, he ca from a foreign commoner background, not clearly understanding the xica Alliance’s system, nor could he grasp the implications of His Highness’s words. He simply bowed again, his face alight with joy.
"Your Highness, I will always follow your will! I am willing to conquer the Tekos Barbarians for you!"
Xiulote nodded slightly, saying no more. He pondered for a mont then slowly asked.
"Ezpan, what do you know about the Capital City of the Tarasco Kingdom, ’Qinchongcan City’ in the Land of the Hummingbird? What are its defenses like, are there any weaknesses?"
Ezpan thought for a mont, cautiously offering suggestions.
"Your Highness, the capital, Qinchongcan, is majestic and spacious, housing nearly a hundred thousand people at its peak, a first-class grand city! According to the Alliance’s new asures, the city walls are about nine ters high, and wide enough for seven or eight people to walk abreast. The walls are entirely made of granite, volcanic rock, and green bricks, using a large amount of corn ash mortar for binding, virtually indestructible! On the city walls, many wooden watchtowers and guard towers are erected, where archers can be stationed... Attacking the majestic capital is like scaling a volcano in the clouds, by no ans an easy task..."
Hearing this, Xiulote’s brows gradually furrowed. Ezpan’s description and the Scout’s report were similar, reflecting each other; the image of Qinchongcan City beca clearer in his mind and made him feel increasingly troubled.
"... and the capital itself is built on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro, with a complex underground water system that, however, does not connect to the lake surface directly. There are many deep wells in the capital that can provide water for a hundred thousand people. Outside the city lies the thriving Lake Patzcuaro region, densely populated, dotted with rich villages and manors..."
Xiulote thought for a mont, then asked in a deep voice.
"Ezpan, tell the truth. If I asked you to dig a tunnel right up to the walls of Qinchongcan City, are you confident you could do it?"
Upon hearing the question from His Highness, Ezpan felt a heavy pressure. He tried to speak several tis but swallowed his words again. After a while, he shook his head with a serious expression.
"Your Highness, I am not confident. The area beneath the Lake Region is filled with waterlogged soil, a saturated water zone; digging a tunnel there is truly a technical job! Only the most experienced veteran miners can have so certainty, and these veterans are all under the control of the Tarasco Royal Family. On normal days, these senior miners are mostly gathered a few dozen miles southwest of the capital, mining at several semi-open-air copper mines directly owned by the Royal Family. That is a high-yield copper mining area near Ihuatzio City!"
Xiulote’s eyebrows lifted slightly. He heard about the copper mines again; they were quite close, right under the army’s blades! He carefully morized this information, then asked again.
"Have you personally visited Patzcuaro and Ihuatzio Cities to the south of the capital?"
Ezpan reminisced for a long ti, then nodded earnestly.
"Yes, Your Highness. Patzcuaro City is located a few dozen miles to the southeast of the capital, with a long history, having been established for over a hundred years. Similar to Huayamo Fortress, the south-east of Patzcuaro is not large but has strong defenses. Additionally, there is a huge granary there, supplying the Kingdom Legions that march to the East or the South. Currently, on the southern front, the state of Apachigan requires a large amount of food, and the logistics line should start from here!"
"As for Ihuatzio City, it is a large city that has prospered due to copper mining trade. Located at the southernmost point of Lake Patzcuaro, the city has expanded to the lake’s edge where water access is convenient. There is a spacious market, large pyramids, rchants from various regions, and nearby nurous copper and silver mines, as well as opulent and luxurious manors of the Nobility. More importantly, the rich Ihuatzio City is unguarded by walls! Only in the center, in the Temple area, is there sothing like a fortress ford by groups of pyramids."
Ezpan’s eyes sparkled with desire. A city that almost monopolizes copper mining and trade, a city also rich in silver, its wealth is imaginable! He spoke with slight excitent.
"Your Highness, Ihuatzio City is unprotected by walls! Before the formidable forces of the Alliance, this prosperous city will be like a delicate and beautiful maiden, unable to resist and will only be ravaged at will!"
Hearing Ezpan’s implication, Xiulote nodded slightly, noncommittally. Although Ihuatzio City was affluent, it didn’t have a substantial impact on the strategic grand sche and was not a priority target.
In fact, Lake Patzcuaro did not connect with Cuitzeo Lake to the north, and the Alliance’s fleet could not enter; the lake was always tightly controlled by the Tarasco people. Protected by Qinchongcan and Patzcuaro cities on the lakeshore, it was also difficult to reach Ihuatzio City for the ti being.
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