Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 594 - 292: The Generals Deliberate on Deploying Troops

The night breeze was warm, and the bonfire shone brightly. Everyone sat around the fire pit in Tribe Square, under the open sky and on the ground, eating steaming food and discussing important military and state affairs.

The Mountain City’s food supply was not plentiful, so the feast was naturally simple. The main dishes were fragrant corn tortillas and soft black bean paste; side dishes included roasted cactus, boiled green beans, and pumpkin soup, with the rare treat of spicy roasted turkey. Finally, there were some seasonal fruits and lightly sweet rice wine.

Jiowar personally took on the task of roasting a turkey leg. He carefully rubbed it with salt and spices, brushed it with some honey, and respectfully handed it to the King sitting beside him. The King took it, took a bite, and his eyebrows relaxed at once, a smile appearing on his face.

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"Sweet and salty blend together, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, flavorful and rich on the palate, it is indeed cooked to perfection!"

Xiulote, wearing a loose robe, sat at the chief seat at the head. On his left were generals from the Kingdom’s lineage, Legion Commander Bertade, Black Wolf Torc, and the Hawk Balda. To his right were the leaders of the Otomi lineage, with the newly appointed Prince Jiowar in the front, followed by the old Priest Olte, and the two great Chieftains Mespa and Chalki.

Clearly, the people present were the true rulers of the Otomi Tri-state. Tonight’s feast was also, in fact, a military meeting of the Tribe. Soon, everyone had some main dishes and drank some rice wine, then relaxed their restraint and started discussing the upcoming military and government arrangements.

"The current situation is with the Canine Descendants harassing us from the south, while Mountain City’s spring sowing is imminent. How many troops can each state mobilize? Do you wish to march north swiftly, or wait until after the spring sowing? Everyone speak freely and let me hear your thoughts!"

Xiulote took a sip of rice wine, looked up at the dazzling expanse of stars in the sky for a while, then set down his cup, his face beaming with a smile as he looked towards the people.

"Your Highness! Pamus State has three thousand warriors here, ready for battle at any time! There are many City-States in the north that are still holding on. With the large army pressing northward, and by assailing them from within and without, it will take just half a month to break the Guajili people!"

The great Chieftain Mespa was the first to stand, saluting the King and stating his support for a rapid northern campaign.

With the states fallen and Tribes scattered, the lead figures of Pamus State retreated with their family’s warriors to ancestral lands, depending on others for survival. With spring sowing around the corner, they gathered in Mountain City, without even a plot of land to call their own, naturally filled with the desire to drive out the Canine Descendants and reclaim their old fiefs.

"Three thousand warriors, ready for battle at any time."

Xiulote nodded slightly. The Pamus State had succumbed quickly, retreating with just over three thousand. Although not numerous, these Pamus warriors’ willingness to fight could be trusted. They would fight to the death to reclaim their homes, and their familiarity with the terrain could make them the vanguard or the surprise force for the large army.

"Respected Your Highness, Guamare State, too, is being harassed by the Canine Descendants in the north. Spring sowing is at hand, and even if the leaders do everything in their power, we can only mobilize three thousand warriors..."

Hearing this number, Xiulote’s brows furrowed slightly, and Mespa’s face was filled with anger. Chalki quickly continued to explain.

"However, if we can wait until the spring sowing is over, as early as the end of June, Guamare State can mobilize five thousand warriors to go to war!"

Xiulote nodded. The figures here were Soldiers and did not include the Militia responsible for transporting supplies and guarding the roads. From what Chalki said, it seemed Guamare State hoped to go to war after the spring sowing.

The King reflected for a moment, then looked towards Jiowar.

"Brother, the Ototpan Mountain City will follow your decree to the letter, and we are ready for battle anytime before or after the spring sowing! Excluding the troops that must be kept for defense, Mountain City can mobilize eight thousand warriors and twelve thousand Militia!"

Upon hearing Jiowar’s words, the King was somewhat surprised. Although after two years of growth, the population of the Otapan State was estimated to be only about two hundred thousand. The number of troops mentioned was almost the limit that the Mountain City could marshal, signifying that Jiowar had complete control of the ancestral land.

"Excellent!"

Xiulote showed a smile, patting Jiowar on the shoulder. This way, between one and two thousand Otomi Warriors and an equal number of Militia could be assembled. He looked to the generals on his left; Bertade was calm, Balda was eager, and Torc stood up directly, boldly requesting the assignment.

"Why mobilize a large army and affect this year’s spring sowing? The Canine Descendants are but scurrying porcupines, not worth one blow! Your Highness, I, Black Wolf Torc, am willing to lead an army into battle! Just give me five thousand elite troops, and I promise to directly storm their den and crush them all!"

Upon hearing this, the King nodded in approval. He looked at his confident officer and laughed out loud.

"Haha! Black Wolf, I trust in your bravery! I will give you five thousand..."

"Your Highness, I have some suggestions to make!"

The old Priest Olte had been silent until now, but suddenly he spoke up.

Xiulote paused, glancing at the solemn old Priest, and nodded with a smile.

"Priest Olte, as the elder here, please feel free to speak your mind!"

Hearing this, the old Priest straightened up, his expression resolute and his voice booming.

"Your Highness, we Otomi people have established ourselves in the north and have battled the Canine Descendants for a hundred years. The Priesthood has always been collecting their data, and we are more than familiar with their habits. The wilderness Canine Descendants are usually undisciplined and impulsive, Tribal Warriors are often ill-disciplined and bad at formation battles. While their Archery is exceedingly exquisite, they lack good arrows and bows. In a direct confrontation, the more troops the Canine Descendants amass, the poorer their average combat effectiveness will become!"

"Oh? The more troops they amass, the poorer their average combat effectiveness will become…"

Hearing this, Xiulote’s expression shifted. He thought of some familiar stories.

"However, Your Highness, you must not underestimate the Canine Descendants! The Canine Descendants excel at swift raids, capable of running fifty or even a hundred miles in a day, making them the world’s best light infantry! They are naturally brutal and accustomed to abandoning their weak or injured kin. They can eat anything, which means their logistical needs are low..."

Olte stopped there, but the generals understood what he implied. The old Priest looked at the frowning crowd and continued in a deep voice.

"The Guajili Canine Descendants invading the south belong to dozens of different tribes. Their tactics are flexible, easily broken but difficult to inflict casualties on! If the battle turns adverse, the Canine Descendants will scatter and flee by tribe. But even when their tribes are scattered, they regroup quickly after retreating and resume raiding a region."

"And when the Canine Descendants operate by tribe, avoiding large-scale frontal combat, their flexibility in battle will be maximally displayed! Raids, guerrilla warfare, plundering, sneak attacks... The Guajili are masters of small-scale combat, born hunters!"

At this point, Olte widened his eyes, locking gaze with the proudly standing Black Wolf.

"General Black Wolf, your bravery is famed throughout the world, and I have always held you in high esteem. But even if you lead thousands of elites and crush the Canine Descendants’ tribal alliance in one battle, how much harm can you truly inflict? If dozens of Guajili tribes avoid combat and scatter in different directions, retreating day and night for nearly a hundred miles, how will you pursue and kill them? You must remember, the former leader of the Mountain City, Aquili, died from an ambush of hidden arrows while personally pursuing fleeing soldiers..."

"Aquili? How can he compare to me?! I, Black Wolf..."

Toltec’s eyes bulged with rage. Just as he was about to retort loudly, he saw the Prince gesture for him to stop, and he obediently fell silent.

Xiulote shifted his gaze, looking towards the white-haired old Priest.

"Priest Olte, do you suggest we fight after spring plowing?"

"Precisely, Your Highness. To expel the invading Canine Descendants, merely defeating them is of no use. We must either mobilize heavy forces and surround them, inflicting massive casualties and capturing their able-bodied men; or starve them of food, so they have no choice but to turn on each other and die of hunger!"

The Priest’s eyes deepened, and his voice carried a hint of chill that made everyone shiver.

"Heavy forces for a mass killing, no food supplies?..."

Xiulote pondered. He glanced at Bertade.

"Head Warrior, how much food do the Guajili people have?"

"According to the Scouts’ reports, the large Guajili tribes have been plundering for months and are not short on food for the moment. They have enslaved thousands of Otomi and Pamus people and are clearing fields, preparing for spring plowing. Meanwhile, many ordinary tribes are still lacking food and continue to plunder."

Hearing about the thousands of enslaved Otomi people, the old Priest’s expression dimmed slightly, then turned resolute again.

"Your Highness, if the major Guajili tribes can cultivate the land, they must have sufficient grain seeds, and their food stores should last until the October harvest. However, the northern frontier has always been harsh and poor, and they have come from a cold wave where everything withers. Those food stores must already be at their limits!"

"If we gather the army and head north now, the Guajili people might give up spring plowing and temporarily retreat to the northern wilderness, avoiding battle and engaging us in guerrilla warfare. If the conflict drags on, it will completely disrupt the Mountain City’s spring plowing, and the supply lines could become long and dangerous."

"Avoid battle, long supply lines?"

Xiulote’s eyebrows raised. If the war turned out this way, it would be troublesome. The Spanish in later ages suffered under the guerrilla tactics of the Guajili Tribe, even with a one or two-era advantage in weapons and organization, they still suffered heavy losses and frustration in guerrilla warfare.

"Yes, Your Highness. The eagle in the sky does not pounce lightly; when it strikes, it must hit! Now, we should concentrate our forces, defend against the Canine Descendants’ plundering, and then evacuate the villages along the border, bringing in the peasants from the fields, ensuring the spring plowing around the Mountain City proceeds! If the Guajili people cannot plunder food and are not threatened, they will also settle down. Once they plant their seeds, putting all their hope in this year’s spring plowing, they will be bound by the land they till!"

The King slowly nodded. The common Milpa farming practice of broadcasting seeds for a meager yield would usually yield only "tenfold" at best, even with high-yield crops. Given the Canine Descendants’ farming skills, they probably could achieve only "eightfold." To ensure a sufficient harvest, they would need to cultivate a large area and invest a significant amount of seeds.

"As the seeds slowly grow into green shoots and the stored food gradually depletes, the Canine Descendants will become increasingly bound to the land, finding it difficult to leave. Therefore, August and September, the months before the harvest, are when the Canine Descendants are most short on food, when they can least afford to abandon their fields, and when we should launch the decisive battle! They will have no choice but to face us!"

Hearing this, the old Priest stood up straight, his gaze proud. He suddenly swung his arms downwards, roaring like a groundhog.

"Your Highness, after the spring plowing, mobilize in July, march out in August; it’s the best opportunity! Let the invading Canine Descendants die before the fields they’re about to harvest!"

Xiulote watched the old Priest, his eyes reddening, and his white hair gleaming.

Marching in August meant that in order to completely eliminate the Canine Descendants, they had to give up on the captured Otomi civilians in the north, as well as most of the nobility still holding out. Was this choice worth it?

"As long as the cacao thrives, no matter if the grass turns to ash..."

The King sighed internally but outwardly nodded solemnly, issuing his command with a heavy voice.

"Olte, we shall do as you suggested! By the Royal Decree, Samurai prepare for war: Guard strategic points, defend against the Canine Descendants’ raids; clear the fields, pull back from the border villages. Concentrate on spring plowing in May and June, begin mobilization in July, and march north in August to strike down the Canine Descendants once and for all!"