```
The Canine Descendants’ warriors headed south, while the Allied Forces’ scouts went north. As both approached each other for reconnaissance, they were destined to et among the mountain forests of the Highland. From Otapan State to Pamus State, skirmishes between scout squads were unending, with hundreds of warriors falling. Blood, warm as it flowed, stained the lush green grass, nourishing the yellow soil of the Highland and soaking the wild forests outside the mountain city.
The situation in Otapan State beca increasingly tense, with the presence of Canine Descendants being more and more common. Soon, a shocking piece of news reached the mountain city.
The Chaos Priest Saka and his retinue were ambushed on the return to their fief. The treacherous wilderness swallowed everything, and all of Saka’s line of priests were slain in battle, with none spared. The few surviving samurai fled into the mountain city, providing a description of their attackers’ faces, attire and weapons. The knowledgeable old priest Olte, with a sorrowful expression, personally inquired and confird the assailants were without a doubt the Canine Barbarians.
Upon hearing this tragic news, the tribal leaders in the mountain city responded with emotions ranging from righteous indignation to sorrow and fear, shock and dismay, and so even traveled to the chieftain’s longhouse overnight, swearing allegiance to Jiowar.
Afterward, Jiowar himself led samurai to the site of the attack. He collected the bodies of the priests, held a funeral prayer, and then cremated them with his own hands in the wind. The wisps of blue smoke from the pyre twirled into the air, carrying away the departed spirits and also the disputes of the past. After the funeral, the prestige of the new leader rose again, and the old priest’s authority returned to its peak. Because in life, the king is victorious, and in death, paths diverge, everything beca inevitable.
Days later, the Kingdom’s Wolf Banner was raised high upon the city walls, alongside the new leader’s Black Bird Banner. In the central Temple, the flags of the War God and the Ancestral God were successively erected, waving high above. These changes happened quietly yet were also expected. The once scattered hearts of the mountain city’s people were thus united as one.
The night left with the wind, and the day brought clouds and rain, the Ancestral God sighing thunderstorms. The smoke from the burning fields rose in the countryside, and the lodious songs lightly echoed through the sky. Thus May descended in songs wrapped in curling smoke, entwined with the first rain of spring.
Xiulote stood atop the walls of Otapan City, gazing at the birds in flight among the mountains. Large flocks of migrating sparrows lingered around the mountain city, long refraining from heading north. They seed to consider this place their new ho, even beginning to build nests.
"Spring plowing is imminent, yet the cold wave from the north has not yet dissipated. It seems the Guajili Canine Descendants are determined not to retreat."
"Your Highness is wise. Scouts have reported back that the Guajili Canine Descendants have already built camps, taken over the fertile soil by the river, and started to settle in Pamus State one after another. Eight large Tribes have spread out, each occupying a warm valley. They have kidnapped mountaineers adept at farming and stolen enough grain to replant the northern fields, hurrying to prepare for the upcoming spring plowing. anwhile, tribes of a thousand mbers are spreading out to loot, with five or six of them having infiltrated the northern borders of Otapan State, and even squads of Canine Descendants approaching the outskirts of the mountain city."
At this point, Bertade glanced at the Otomi Warriors guarding in the distance and cautiously lowered his voice.
"Accompanying these common Tribes, there have also been two parties of red-haired scouts from the large Tribes. They encountered our scouts without conflict, and instead, they brought verbal ssages."
"Oh? ssages from the Guajili Canine Descendants?"
Xiulote’s eyebrows rose.
"What did they say?"
"The eight large Tribes have ford a preliminary Tribal Alliance. The Alliance’s leader is Chichika of the ’Red Dog’ Tribe, and the deputy leader is Otuwa of the ’Red Fox’ Tribe. Otuwa is also an elder Tribal Priest. Hearing of the Imperial Guard Legion’s northern march, he sent out scouts as envoys, expressing respect to the Great Chiefs of the xica from the ’brothers’ of ’Aztec’."
"Chichika, chichi hunting dogs? Otuwa, oztohua foxes?"
Xiulote muttered these two nas, easily finding similar anings within the xica language. He furrowed his brows.
"They refer to us as ’brothers’ from ’Aztec’?"
```
"Yes, Your Highness. The language of the Guajili people is similar to that of the Otomi people, and it also has so similarities to ours... Of course, we xica people have no blood relation with them. Those who truly share our lineage are the sworn enemies of the Alliance in the East, the Tlaxcala people."
Xiulote nodded. This linguistic lineage concealed the true history of tribal migrations thousands of years ago, which was aningless at this mont.
"What did the Guajili envoy say?"
"Hearing of the Alliance’s fa, and knowing of Your Highness’s divinity, the Guajili people wish to coexist peacefully with us. They are willing to submit to the Alliance in na, using the current territory of the Pamus State as the border and guaranteeing the stability of the northern border, no longer pillaging to the south. Moreover, they have received information from the Guamal Canine Descendants and request trade with the Alliance. They want to exchange captives, gold, and silver obtained from pillaging for food, salt, cotton, and sacred red furs and dyes necessary for survival. Lastly, Otuwa has another proposition..."
Bertade paused, casting a cautious glance around.
"What proposition?"
Xiulote showed so interest. The words of the envoy indicated the Guajili people were not re barbarians who fought like wild beasts, utterly incapable of communication—at least the leaders of the tribe weren’t.
"Otuwa sends his regards to the Great Chief of the xica. The Guajili Tribe is willing to send troops to cooperate with the Alliance to eliminate the Otomi forces in the remaining two states! After the eradication of the Otomi people, they only ask for food and living supplies to sustain their tribe; they have no desire for land or captives, all of which would belong to the Alliance!"
"Ha ha, such a simplistic ploy of sowing discord..."
Hearing this, Xiulote laughed heartily. Naturally, there was no basis for trust between the Alliance and the Guajili people, thus no possibility of cooperation. Yet the Guajili’s proposal struck at the heart of greed. Land and captives were exactly what a king desired, making him sowhat emotional.
"Such a cunning fox! Should the Alliance show even a hint of indecision and reply to the Canine envoy, it’s likely that divisive rumors would spread everywhere, undermining our mutual trust with the Otomi people."
The King shook his head. His eyes shone brightly as he spoke with certainty.
"The Otomi people are friends of the Alliance, the future citizens of the Kingdom. The Guajili Canine Descendants are our enemies, the target of our current military campaign. The Kingdom’s strategy has already been decided, not to be swayed in the slightest! Order the Scouts, from now on, to treat any Guajili envoys as enemy warriors—to be killed on sight without discussion!"
Bertade imdiately took out paper and pen, recording the Prince’s Royal Decree. After pondering for a mont, he spoke thoughtfully.
"Your Highness, should your Royal Decree also be communicated to the Otapan Legion? On one hand, it will inform General Jiowar and settle the Otomi people’s minds; on the other hand, it will also consolidate command of the Mountain City’s army under the Kingdom."
Xiulote contemplated for a while and then nodded in agreent. He smiled as he gave the orders.
"A fine suggestion, do just that! Ha ha, Bertade, since Jiowar has independently beco the leader of the Otomi people, it’s not appropriate to continue using his old title—he deserves due respect. From today, inform all military leaders that Jiowar is now a Prince of the Kingdom, and his place is right by my side! Hmm, dispatch an Envoy to the Lake Capital City to report the latest news of the Otomi people to King Aweit. Also, send a trusted aide to invite Prince Jiowar to dine with this evening."
"In recent days, Jiowar has been quite busy, continuously summoning tribal leaders and arousing warriors from all over. The most important matters in the world are nothing but sacrifice, agriculture, and warfare. Now that spring plowing is upon us and people’s hearts are focused on their fields, while Canine raids beco more frequent, it’s ti to sit down and seriously discuss matters of farming and deploying troops!"
The King’s voice dissipated into the wind, blending with the soft chirping of cicadas. In May, cicadas chirp, and in July, teors fly. The scorching sumr was just around the corner, like the thunder of the rainy season, heralding the prelude to war.
User Comments
0 comments from readers