Chapter 509: The Northern Army's Eastern Expedition, the Song of the Warriors

As the night fell, a large bonfire was lit; bamboo flutes were blown, accompanied by distant singing. The aroma of food drifted far away, and the cheers of warriors were noisy in the camp. The main camp of the entire Mexica Northern Route Army stretched for several miles, and everywhere was filled with joy and celebration after victory!

Avit, wearing royal clothes, sat cross-legged in the big tent, still holding the staff tightly in his hand. He watched the legion leaders celebrate and laugh, and his heart was relaxed and comfortable. The conquests of the past few months flashed in his mind, and scenes poured into his mind, as clear as before his eyes.

In December, the Mexica Alliance launched a war of gods and swore to go to war with all its troops.

Avit, wearing royal clothes, held a ceremony for the departure of the Eastern Expedition in the square in front of the Great Temple. The elder sat on the trellis and attended for a short moment, accepting the kneeling ceremony of the leaders of various states. Afterwards, amid the thunderous cheers of the people of the capital, Avit formally worshiped his ancestors, prayed to the Lord God, and announced the beginning of the Eastern Expedition!

The army marched eastward, shaking the four fields, and all the tribes in the world were panicked. The Tlaxcalans retreated comprehensively!

The 80,000 northern troops, five royal legions, four city-state legions, and an elite militia, marched northeast in sequence. Then, ten legions gradually spread out and poured into the southeast of Atotonilco State, fighting with the Tlaxcalans one by one.

In this era, due to the limitations of logistics and combat methods, so many legions could never be crowded in the same battlefield, and they had to be divided into multiple routes.

In mid-January, Giant Bear Stanley led a royal legion, an elite militia, a total of 16,000 soldiers, and six siege eagle cannons, and first divided his troops to the south. They were responsible for attacking the most dangerous God's Pass in the southern mountains.

God's Pass is the key gateway to the western hinterland of the Tlaxcalans and the state of Wesochinco. It occupies a dangerous mountain, isolating the north-south mountain road. It is not a single fortress, but a fortress group composed of dozens of fortresses. Due to the limitation of the terrain, the army could not be deployed in front of the God's Pass, and only a thousand people could attack from above, and the maximum deployment of two legions was the limit.

In early February, Avit led eight legions and continued to go east. The main force of the northern army attacked the border fortress of the Tlaxcala people, and then captured the ancient Hot Spring City.

Hot Spring City is located in the northeast of the lake capital, only more than 200 miles away, and the logistics pressure of the army is not great. From here to the south, there are towering mountains extending from east to west. The mountains are blocked and the army cannot pass through them. And the most important Tlaxcala State in the Four States Alliance is behind the mountains.

To cross the mountains, you must pass through the mountain pass. The east-west mountains extend all the way for more than 100 miles before a flat mountain pass to the south appears, which can lead to the hinterland of the Tlaxcala State. At the mountain pass, two rivers meet and there is a solid and strong city, which is the Quetzalcoatl City, the northernmost of the Four Snake Cities.

Avit did not rush south, but stayed in Hot Spring City for several days, waiting for the arrival of the various legions. A hundred miles to the north from here are the already unstable Huastecs; three hundred miles to the east are the Totonacs who are on high alert and mobilizing.

In mid-February, Avit once again divided his troops into two routes. He sent the re-employed commander Casar to lead four city-state legions, totaling 32,000 warriors and militiamen, to the east around Quetzalcoatl City to suppress the Tlaxcala army in the north.

After years of silence, Casar finally gained the trust of the king and was reinstated. He became low-key and extremely respectful to the king. Casar had served as the commander of the Mexica for many years and fought against the Tlaxcalans several times. He was not only familiar with the command of the army, but also very familiar with the enemy's tactics. At the same time, he was born in the capital's glory family, with rich qualifications and could suppress the leaders of various states. He was the best candidate for commander.

Afterwards, Avit personally led the last four royal legions and 32,000 royal warriors to the northern city of Reeds to suppress the southern Huastec tribes.

Tens of thousands of Mexica legions approached rapidly, and the Huastec tribes were very terrified. The king sent envoys all the way to Crow City, the southern ancestral land of the Huastec people, which was 500 miles east of the capital in the lake and more than 300 miles east of the city of Reeds.

As the suzerain, Avit asked the leaders of the southern tribes of the Huastec people to come to the king and provide some food and grass for the army!

The so-called Crow City is the gathering place of the Huastec tribes in the east by the sea, Papantla, which means "the place surrounded by crows". This is a densely populated and very rich town. It is located in the jungle of the lowlands, with a humid and hot climate, suitable for spice cultivation, especially delicious vanilla beans!

Hearing the call of the Mexica king, the leaders of the southern tribes of the Huastec people argued for several days and hesitated. The Otter City in the northern ancestral land was fighting with the dog descendants heading south, and was unable to support the southern tribes.

Finally, the leaders finally reached a consensus under the persuasion of the southern Huastec leader, "Silver Crow" Papata. They brought their personal guards and food to Huauchinango, a tree-walled town dozens of miles east of Reed City, to pay homage to the nominal overlord, the King of Mexica.

In the spacious wooden house, Avit sat high on the throne and accepted the kneeling ceremony of many leaders. He had a blank expression and spoke to everyone indifferently.

"This is Huauchinango, a place with lush trees like walls and beautiful scenery. In our Nahua language, 'Huachinango' has another meaning, which is the 'red snapper' in the eastern lake. The priest of the capital once told me that the red snapper is like the tribes on the eastern coast. A male red snapper will be surrounded by many female red snappers, forming a considerable school of fish. And this male snapper is the leader of the tribe, and the female snappers are tribal warriors who obey the leader."

Hearing this, the Huastec leaders of various tribes were surprised and somewhat uneasy. They had lived in the lowland jungle for a long time, close to the Great Lake of the East, and had also eaten delicious red silk fish. When it comes to the habits of this fish, they know much more than the Mexica.

"For the red snapper group, if the leader male red snapper dies, his 'wives' will swim around him sadly. And while swimming, one of the strong 'wives' will change from female to male! He will lead the entire fish group again, as the leader of the tribe, as the head of the family, leading many 'wives', and starting a new life!"

When Avit said this, he smiled slightly, but revealed a god-like chill.

"The male red snapper is dead, and his tribe will not avenge him. Only a new male red snapper will be born. And if you die, the Huastec warriors under your command will not avenge you! On the contrary, they will elect a new leader to inherit everything you have!"

"Ah! This, respected King of Mexica. This, we are all tribal leaders loyal to you!"

Hearing the king's words, the southern leaders of the Huastec people were panicked, and they all knelt on the ground and begged for mercy.

Only "Silver Crow" Papata thought for a while, knelt down respectfully and shouted.

"Supreme King of Mexica, our Silver Crow tribe is willing to join the army of the Mexica Kingdom and participate in the war against the Tlaxcalans! We are willing to gather tribal warriors, cross large tracts of rainforest, and harass the Totonac people in the east for you!"

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, Avit's expression moved. He looked deeply at "Silver Crow" Papata for a few times, and then shook his head lightly.

"If the Eastern Totonacs dare to send troops, they will be wiped out by the alliance's army. As for you, the kingdom is indeed useful."

Avit smiled, his expression became gentle, and he said calmly.

"You can stay here with your guards and garrison in the Tree Wall Town with the Mexica Legion!"

So, the Huastec leaders of the southern tribes "voluntarily" stayed here to guard the Tree Wall Town for the Mexica suzerain. Avit left another royal legion to "protect" the Huastec leaders while suppressing the alliance's north. And the Huastec people's food was constantly paid as tribute.

Everything was arranged properly, and the army was about to go south. Before going south, Avit summoned "Silver Crow" Papata alone and talked secretly for half a day. Afterwards, he gave a golden sun god amulet and a bag of turquoise from the Lake Kingdom as a reward for "Silver Crow".

In early March, after Avit settled the Huastecs in the north, he finally led three royal legions south from Reed City. At this time, Casar had led four city-state legions to fight a battle with the northern legion of the Tlaxcalans, killing a thousand warriors and defeating thousands of militiamen.

The main force of the Tlaxcalan army continued to shrink southward and retreated to the core of the Four Snakes City. Casar first controlled the western and northern areas of Quetzalcoatl City, set up a stable camp, built a catapult, and blocked the area around Quetzalcoatl City. Then, he sent a large number of scouts to investigate the enemy's movements and wait for the arrival of the king's main force.

In mid-March, Avit arrived at Quetzalcoatl with a large army. Seven alliance legions were deployed near Quetzalcoatl, covering more than ten miles of plains, and completely controlling the west, north and east sides of Quetzalcoatl City. The only support channel for the Tlaxcalans was to cross the river to the city through the south side of the river for supplies.

In late March, Avit separated an elite royal legion, including two bronze armored warrior battalions and two longbow warrior battalions, to cross the shallow river in the south, the Atenco River. This army fought with the reinforcements of the Tlaxcala people, and then surrounded the south side of Quetzalcoatl City, cutting off the support of the other three snake cities. At this point, Quetzalcoatl City was surrounded by the Mexica army on all sides, cut off from supplies, and became an isolated city.

"Ah! Gods who look at the world,

Please tell me.

Who is the descendant of the gods?

Who is the real warrior?

"

The bonfire was blazing, illuminating countless joyful faces; the warm night breeze blew the uniforms of millions of warriors. At this moment, tens of thousands of Mexica warriors gathered in the camp. They ate tortillas and sang warrior songs, full of the pride and power of conquest!

Avit stood up and listened attentively. But in a moment, a sincere smile appeared on his face. The song was proud and firm, and it was full of vitality. It was like a thriving Metasequoia, and like the backbone of the Mexica people, standing straight and tall, never bending!