As June approaches its end, the rainy season is in full swing. The pitter-patter of raindrops falls from the low-hanging dark clouds, soaking the eastern and western fields of the mountain ranges. To the west of these mountains, within the Texcoco Lake District, lush green farmlands stretch endlessly, teeming with vibrant life.
In May, spring plowing began, and corn planting has been underway for over a month. At this ti, with ample rain and heat, it’s the perfect mont for the corn to reach its growing peak. The corn stalks in the fields grow visibly taller and sturdier each day. The bean vines climb the stalks, reaching skyward together, while the pumpkins spread beneath, persistently covering the ground. Occasionally, weeds pop up in the fields, only to be uprooted by calloused hands!
The farrs are equally busy during this ti. Day after day, they traverse the fields, weeding the early sumr crops to prevent nutrients from being depleted. The nobility and samurai, who hold control over the manure and lake mud, also sternly oversee their agricultural slaves, ticulously enriching the Chinampa floating fields with fertilizers.
"By invigorating the fields during the corn’s growing season, the yield for the entire season can be effectively increased. For corn is the earth’s inhabitants, it hungers during this peak growth... "
The Chief God Priest of the village thus instructs everyone. These claims on farming thods partly co from the experience passed down by the ancients and partly from the summaries of the Western Kingdom, both serving to increase crop yields and fortify the alliance’s foundation.
The Envoy from the Lake Capital City runs northward, carrying mournful news of death, passing through the thriving fields. He traverses the Holy City of Teotihuacan in the northeast, arriving at the Avenue of the Dead and the pyramids of Sun and Moon, bringing news of both the Morning Star and Sun having fallen together.
The High Priest Family, having ruled the Holy City for decades, is deeply rooted here. The elders serve as spiritual pillars for four generations of xica. Upon learning of their deaths, the sorrow in Teotihuacan is thunderous. The priests and nobility within the city weep in mourning, promptly gathering the populace, presenting the sacrifices brought back from the eastern expedition, and conducting a grand sacrificial ritual to send the great spirits off to the Divine Kingdom!
The Envoy stays for one night before continuing northward. He crosses the northeastern mountain pass to arrive at the Atotonielk State. Beyond lies the land of the Telascallan, recently conquered by the Northern Route Army during the brutal eastern expedition. Carrying the news of death, he runs past desolate farmlands, through abandoned villages, encountering patrolling samurai, and finally reaching the sternly guarded and solemn Hot Spring City.
Hot Spring City serves as a crucial stronghold for the Northern Route Army’s rear, a necessary point for food transportation, housing thousands of Texcoco Lake District samurai and militia. Upon the Envoy’s arrival, he speaks a few words with a gloomy expression, causing the samurai to show sorrow, weeping profusely, crying out in anguish, and even cutting their cheeks!
Subsequently, the Envoy continues southeast, through even more desolate wilderness, passing several patrols of samurai, ultimately reaching the Northern Route Army’s command center at Feathered Serpent City.
King Aweit is in Feathered Serpent City, discussing the next strategic move with his trusted lieutenant, the Female Snake, over the map on the table.
"Gillim, since the initial capture of Feathered Serpent City in early May, a month and a half has passed. The various legions have besieged the three Snake Cities, pillaged the rich Tlaxcala Valley... now, with over fifty miles of surrounding tribes cleared, it’s ti to proceed with the next siege!
After the fall of Feathered Serpent City, the entire northern gateway of Tlaxcala is wide open, unable to resist the Northern Route Army. The seven Northern Route legions, numbering over 50,000, gradually spread out over several dozen miles. With murderous intent, each legion sowed fire along the way, executing martial prowess, sweeping through the heartlands of the Tlaxcala State, ho to 400,000 inhabitants!
Tens of thousands of samurai surged forward, engaging the Tlaxcala army in two battles, causing the loss of two thousand warriors, leading to a complete strategic contraction. The Divine Descendant Nobility of the Cloud Serpent abandoned all fields and villages, concentrating their samurai, able-bodied n, and food as much as possible, determined to defend the three strategic Snake Cities to the death. As for the various Tlaxcala tribes in the open, they could only scatter, avoiding the army’s onslaught by fleeing into the mountains.
At the end of May, almost coinciding with the High Priest’s departure from the Capital City. The seven Northern Route legions officially arrived beneath the three Snake Cities, surrounding the ancestral lands of the Tlaxcala. Subsequently, Aweit personally led the Eagle Warriors to inspect the easternmost hill city, White Snake City, furrowing his brows deeply.
White Snake City’s north and west are surrounded by towering mountains, while the south and east comprise slightly flatter plains.
"Flanked by mountains on both sides, it can only be attacked from the flatlands. The city is not large, its walls seven to eight ters high, almost like a fortress. But the most troubleso is... it’s a hill city, perched atop a hill more than ten ters high!"
Aweit maintains a calm deanor, shaking his head, finding it quite challenging. The samurai would have to attack from below twenty or thirty ters to reach the top of White Snake City. Assaulting such a fortress ans catapults are hard to use, and archery exchanges are significantly disadvantaged. Only six Divine Eagle Cannons can barely reach the city top. If the defenders resist to the end, attempting to capture the fortress won’t co without significant samurai casualties.
"Huadiao, Dead Dog, take the Armored Personal Guards and follow to see Cloud Serpent City!"
Then, King Aweit took the two trusted Great Generals, along with three thousand armored elites, bypassing White Snake City, and delving seven to eight miles into the northern mountains. He climbed a small hill within the mountains, raised his head, glanced several hundred ters away at Cloud Serpent City, and his expression dramatically changed. Shocked, he forgot to breathe, only able to utter painful groans.
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