Chapter 598: Militia, Warriors, Merchants and Priests, an Expedition Fleet Heading to the East!

"Five to five thousand miles?!"

Chihuaco, the old militiaman, was shaking all over, even his voice was shaking.

“Isn’t it the endless East China Sea that is five thousand miles to the east?”

Puap looked surprised. In ancient mythology, the East China Sea was the place where Quetzalcoatl finally left, with rough waves and terrifying sea spirits.

"Ah! The homeland in the East, the hometown of our ancestors, and the Snake Island in the sea."

Mayan businessman Tikalo's expression changed, and longing flooded his heart. He was still an ignorant child when he was taken by his parents and fled his hometown of Tutursho-Mayapan. Now in the blink of an eye, more than forty years have passed.

"Well. Tikallo, do you remember? You once presented me with two gems from the Eastern Snake Island in the lake capital! Those two gems attracted and repelled each other and were born from the black hard rocks."

Shulot's expression moved slightly. He thought of those two perfect chromite spinels and felt a strong desire in his heart. That is the Cuban iron mine that is crucial and can even change the world! The reserves of iron ore in Cuba are large, the purity is high, and the associated metals are precious, enough to allow the powerful Central American empires to mine them into the industrial age!

After a while, Shulot's thoughts returned from his distant yearning. He was patient enough to spend decades completing his grand vision step by step.

"This time, you are going to Snake Island in the Eastern Sea! You have to find the location of the black ore, leave enough manpower, and establish strongholds and outposts! Well, Puap, standing in the Black Rock Mountain, and Black Wolf Toltec also discovered small pieces of black ore, so he should still remember the appearance of those stones."

"Yes, Your Majesty. If I see a black stone like that again, I will definitely recognize it!"

Puap straightened up, like an orangutan, and slapped his chest hard. He remembered the Tekos priest who was covered in stone and made the black stones fly around and form strange stone balls. He was so frightened that General Black Wolf did not dare to make a move. However, he rushed up and hacked him to death! He can boast about this experience for the rest of his life.

"Very good! You need to record the waterways along the way and the Mayan city-states you pass through. At this point, you must rely on Mayan guides. This voyage is just the beginning. The further you go, the more warriors you can carry! Tikalo, I made a promise to you, and it will come true!”

Shulot looked calm and looked at the Mayan businessman beside him, with a will that could not be disobeyed. Seeing this, Ti Carlo pursed his lips and lowered his divine head towards the fully grown king.

"Your Highness, I follow your will! I will take the old sailors of the merchant group to join the kingdom's exploration fleet. They are all very familiar with the waterways along the coast of Totonac in the East and to the Yucatan lowlands. . However, if you want to go from the Yucatan lowlands to the Snake Island in the sea, you have to go to the easternmost Ekabo State, contact the local Mayan caravan, and find a senior guide. The caravan group has not actually gone there. "segment flight"

There are many city-states in the land of Maya, and there are also many caravans. Each Mayan caravan generally has a fixed route and has stable transactions and output. For example, the merchant group that Ti Carlo belongs to conducts trade in the Mexican Alliance and sells goods shipped from the seaside port of Totonac.

Throughout Central America, the Mexican Union is where wealth gathers, the richest place in the world! Tikalo's business group has influence and channels here, and Mayan caravans from other places who need to sell goods to them generally will not be easily offended. Of course, behind the large caravans, there must be nobles from the city-state, and the attitudes of these people are often very changeable.

"Yes. The Lord God once gave me a divine revelation. The slender Snake Island is just east of Ekabo State in the northeast of Yucatan! That Snake Island is one or two thousand miles from east to west. As long as the fleet goes all the way east, it will never stop. You will miss it! Of course, it will be safer if you can find a familiar guide. In addition, in addition to the Mayan city-state, you also need to contact the Taino tribe on the island."

Having said this, Shulot paused for a moment, then summoned his personal guards and whispered instructions. Soon, a priest wearing white robes appeared in front of everyone.

"Dear Divine Enlightenment, Chief Priest. Second-level Priest Tomat greets you! Praise the Lord God!"

The meaning of Tomatl is very simple and clear, it is "tomato". In the Mexican Union, tomatoes are a common fruit, and because of their red, blood-like juice, they have some symbolic religious significance. From Tomat's name, it can be seen that he is not a noble with inheritance, but he is likely to come from an ordinary priest family.

"Praise the Lord God! He protects us!"

Shulot prayed, nodded with a smile, and looked at everyone again.

"This time we go to sea, Tuomat will lead more than ten devout priests of the main god, carrying printed scriptures and classics, and go with you. When the fleet finds the black stone iron mine and establishes a stronghold, they will stay at the stronghold. , spread the faith of the Lord God to the surrounding Taino people. Likewise, you must leave enough warriors to protect the safety of the priests and collect food from the surrounding villages.”

Militiamen, warriors, merchants and priests, this is the composition of this expedition, and it is also the beginning of the first eastern colonization of the Kingdom in the Lake. What kind of price will such exploration cost and what kind of rewards will it bring? Shulot didn't know yet. But, in order to deal with the dangers across the sea in advance, he had to do this! He also has enough strength and resources to bear all this!

"By the way, Tomat, you should bring more sun-dried tomatoes this time. They are the gift of the God of War, and they replenish your blood with red divine juice"

"Follow your guidance, Lord Chief Priest! The light of the Sun God will surely dispel the darkness of Quetzalcoatl Island and resist the evil coming from the east on the sea!"

Tomat knelt on the ground and bowed his head respectfully. Your Highness's prophecy in the east has been spread among the kingdom's priests on a small scale. As a selected pious priest, he is ready to dedicate himself to the Lord God for life, and even sacrifice himself! No matter where

"Very good! The light of the Lord God will illuminate the sky and the sea and resist all evil!"

Xuluot stretched out his hand with satisfaction and shook Tomat's hair. Then, he turned his head and looked at the old militiaman.

"Chihuaco, how are the seven longboats of the expedition fleet doing?"

"Your Majesty, the seven longboats have been repaired in Water Valley City for nearly a month and are all in good condition. Now, they are anchored in the Valley River not far from Tree Snake City and can set sail at any time."

Chihuaco lowered his head and reported carefully. From Water Valley City to Tree Snake City, the land route is only more than 100 miles, but the water route is almost doubled. He led the fleet, turning around and around, and finally went from the small river to the Valley River (Rio Zahuapan) to Tree Snake City. In Nahua language, Zahuapan means "water for healing grains."

"Water Valley City Valley River. Tree Snake City."

Xuluot touched his chin, thinking. If tens of thousands of civilians could be organized to repair the river and dig the canal, this 200-mile tortuous waterway could be directly halved. Unfortunately, the four states would not belong to him.

"Your Highness, when I came here, I also saw the longboats in the Valley River. They are indeed big and long, 30% bigger than the paddle-sailed ships of the Yucatan city-state! It is really a gift from the gods!"

Ticarlo bowed and admired sincerely for a while. Then, he asked cautiously.

"It's just that, Your Highness, the Valley River only flows in the four states. From the state of Tlaxcala, to go to the Totonac seaside, there are only the Rio Tecolutla in the north, the Rio Filobobos in the middle, and the Rio Colipa in the south. These three rivers are not connected to the Valley River. How can these seven longboats sail here?"

"Haha! Don't worry, I have a plan and have prepared enough manpower!"

Xuluot smiled confidently, with confidence.

"You will follow the Valley River to the eastern end and then enter the Tenexac Herb Lake, the uppermost tributary of the Cat Owl River!"

"Ah? Your Highness, the end of the Valley River is still dozens of miles away from the Tenexac Herb Lake! There should be no waterway connecting there."

"Yes. I have sent people to investigate. There is about 30 miles of land between the end of the Valley River and the Herb Lake."

At this point, Shulot looked to the east, and a story not long ago came to his mind.

"Haha! God bless you! These 30 miles of distance, we have to sail on dry land and rebuild the East!"