Aztec Eternals

The bonfire reflects the night sky, and the stars shine on the earth. Ancient myths are as deep as the night sky, and new beliefs are passed on from spark to spark. That night, Xiulot wrote furiously, tossing and turning without sleep. He thought a lot and far away, and recalled a long time ago.

He thought of the calculations before the decisive battle with Tisok in the army camp. That night, the stars were shining brightly. Together with Avit, he laughed loudly and imagined the future of the empire.

He remembered the date with Alyssa on the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent. Witnessed by the stars that night, he showed his heart, told for the first time, a wandering soul.

He also remembered the night when he met Naxiu for the first time, and discussed with his grandfather in the High Priest's Mansion. The stars were dim that night, and grandfather entrusted a lot, and he watched with his own eyes, the residual candle was extinguished in the wind.

"Ten years! How much have I changed? How much have they changed? And the world, how much has it changed?"

Shulot silently looked at the starry sky, watching the morning star rise and escort the sun to arrive. And when the morning sun came and the sparks disappeared in the sunlight, he was as calm as a king and made more arrangements.

"Eckart, arrange a reliable personal guard to help me send two letters to the capital in the lake."

The morning sun shone on the face of the young king, like a deep sea. He looked calm, his movements were powerful, and his words were full of self-confidence.

"The first letter, to my wife Alyssa. Tell her that I will take all the coasts of Totonac for a thousand miles, as a gift for my eldest son when he is two years old!"

Hearing this, the chief guard Eckart paused for a while, thinking silently. Prince Xiuhua was born in July last year, before his two-year-old birthday, that is, before July next year, he will completely defeat the Pintotonak people and return to the capital in victory.

"Second letter, to my uncle Kakamazin. Ask him about the alliance's rumors, and ask him to come forward and participate in Xiuhua's upbringing and education. Well, be sure to tell me my attitude: the new sun will shrink its light, Fall first and avoid enough distance. Because the immortal sun points out the way ahead, and we all walk for the way ahead!"

Hearing this, the head of the guard Eckart was startled, showing surprise on his face.

"Patriarch, you said 'fall? Avoid?'"

"Um."

Xiuluo nodded without explaining too much. He just exhorted again.

"Two months later, it will be the tribute of the New Year's Great Sacrifice! This year's tribute will double the amount of gems, copper materials, bronze armor, and bronze soldiers that will be paid to the king! And the envoys sent will be in front of the nobles of all states. Give the king a great gift of worship! Then, in the name of the vassal, request the king to send an arbitrator priest to deal with the succession of nobles within the kingdom!"

"Ah? This tribute is doubled, the arbitrator priest?"

Hearing this, the head of the guard, Eckart, was in disbelief. The doubling of the tribute is a symbol of the alliance's influence on the kingdom's financial power. The Arbitration Priest is the judicial power of the alliance to influence the kingdom. Such a statement is tantamount to opening up the power of the kingdom and asking for the participation of the alliance.

"Um!"

Shulot nodded slightly. He looked at the shocked head guard, pondered for a while, and explained a few words.

"The kingdom's mining technology has made a breakthrough, and the output of copper materials has increased by leaps and bounds. Doubling gemstones and copper materials will not have a big impact on the kingdom's production capacity! Most of the kingdom's nobles are newly promoted military nobles Although there are many of them, their titles are not high, and they don't own much land. They are also relatively young, and most of them are far from succession disputes. When the arbitrator priests came to the kingdom, they were able to decide on trivial matters of little influence .”

"Therefore, these arrangements are more of a political statement: the Kingdom of the Lake is loyal to the alliance, loyal to the king, and loyal to accept the king's centralization reforms!"

As for the military power that has not been mentioned, it must be firmly held in the hand, and it must not be relaxed at all. Xiulot is very clear in his heart, where does the power of a regime come from!

Hearing His Highness's explanation, the chief guard Eckart thought deeply. He quickly wrote down all the royal orders, and asked softly.

"What if the arbitrator priest sent by the king conflicts with the nobles of the kingdom?"

"Well, let the Chief Priest Ugos and the Chief Priest Mavelo mediate between the two sides. The Chief Priest Ugos is the son of the current high priest Ugel, the arbitration priest of the alliance, and he must give him face. And the Chief Priest Mavelo manages The kingdom's educational affairs, and military nobles should also respect him."

"Yes! Patriarch!"

Soon, Xiulot arranged all the countermeasures. His wife Alyssa and uncle Kakamazin are two strong communication bonds, which ease the contradictions and avoid misjudgment with King Avit. The statement of the New Year's Ceremony is the concession of the Kingdom of the Lake. The Kingdom of the Lake expressed surrender to the king to enhance the king's prestige as compensation for the invitation.

"Phew! There should be no apparent rift between Avette and me. If there is a gap in the bird's egg, it will attract flies. And those who are interested in the alliance will also take advantage of the gap, just like the rumors this time! "

Xiulot took a long breath and finally concluded with a smile.

"Don't worry! Time is on our side, be patient!"

Hearing this, Eckart, the head of the guard, nodded his head, respectfully and obediently. He felt that His Highness made a lot of concessions for the sake of the overall interests of the kingdom, but such a choice avoided the outbreak of real conflict. And at the rate the kingdom is developing, time is indeed "on our side". He thought for a while, recalling what he hadn't said before, and reminded him softly.

"Patriarch! In fact, the origin of the rumors, the people who are interested in the alliance, may not necessarily be the great nobles of the alliance!"

"oh?"

Hearing this, Shulot raised his eyebrows and asked in a deep voice.

"Eckart, who else do you think could be?"

"Patriarch, I think it may be the priests of the alliance"

Hearing the chief guard's answer, Shulot showed surprise. He looked at Eckart with great interest.

"Huh? You say that because, is that rumor a priest's song?"

"No, it's not."

The head of the guard, Eckart, thought for a while, worked hard to organize his words, and spoke a metaphor.

"Two ferocious jaguars drinking at the water's edge, and a vigilant crocodile in the water and a man on the far bank, who saw this scene. He wants to hunt something, what should he do?"

"How to do it?"

"He threw a stone into the water, stirring up the three parties. Then, he didn't need to show up, just watched the three parties fight, and the flesh and blood left behind was his own."

After hearing this metaphor, Xiulot thought for a while and asked back with a smile.

"Haha! Eckart, according to you, do the priests of the alliance want to hunt the king, me and the nobles? Do they have such ambition and ability?"

"No, that's not what I meant."

The head of the guard, Eckart, raised his head, stared into His Highness's eyes, and reminded seriously.

"Patriarch, I mean, they are standing on the shore! In this cloud of muddy water, we all went into the water, while the High Priests of the Alliance are standing on the shore!"

Hearing this sentence, the smile on Shulot's face gradually disappeared, and his expression became serious.

"The priests are on shore?"

"Patriarch, after all this dispute, didn't you let go and let the arbitrator priest of the alliance interfere with the kingdom?"

"Huh? I just came up with this. Could it be that they can still plan to deal with me?"

"No, they don't need to plan. They are standing on the shore! The power and flesh that falls from the battle are always indispensable."

When the head of the guard Eckart said this, his voice became low. He has served the high priest for so many years, and he also has a keen sense of the intrigues and power struggles among the high priests.

"Patriarch! The priests and elders of the high priests, after all, have experienced the theocratic age of the elders and the high priests. Maybe some of them are not willing to submit to the king all the time. However, the methods of the high priests are like those in the dark night. The dagger strikes silently, completely different from the nobles."

As he said that, Eckart, the head of the guard, fell on the ground, bowed deeply, and sincerely begged.

"Patriarch! You must be on guard! After all, the high priest has given you the right to interpret the scriptures, and you have been inspired by the gods to tell many new scriptures. The priests of the Kingdom of the Lake are actually independent and are not It is under the control of the High Priests of the Alliance. And the contradiction of supreme theocracy is hidden between you and the High Priests. Please be careful!"

Bright light, silent. Shulot lowered his eyes, holding the sun amulet around his neck, and remained silent. Whether it is royal power or theocracy, the road to supreme power is always full of swords and swords, with hidden murderous intentions. Because, how can those who have already grasped the power willingly give up? They just want more!

"Be careful of the risk of the high priests, I know!"

After a long time, Xiulot sighed faintly and buried everything in his heart. Then, he stared at the loyal Eckart, and announced in a deep voice.

"Things must be prioritized. The most important thing right now is to send troops as soon as possible to crusade against the Totonac rebels!"

"Arrange everything properly! After five days, I will take 12,000 troops and ten siege mortars and set off to the eastern seashore!"

"The lord god bless us! This time, I want to take all the eastern coast!"

Hearing this, the chief guard Eckart gave a deep salute and responded excitedly.

"Follow your will, Patriarch! May you rise in the East Sea like the sun! The Lord God bless the kingdom!"

Five days later, a grand sacrifice ceremony was held at the camp outside Tree Snake City. Afterwards, more than 10,000 elite legions set out one after another, and the King Banner of Death God Black Wolf also moved again after staying for a year and a half.

The banners are unfurled and meandering away. The new conquest is in the East!