Starting from the long western coast, proceed two to three hundred miles inland, passing through the jungles of the lowland Maya, and then arriving at a densely populated farmland and villages. In the center of dozens of Mayan villages, between Uxmal and Mayapan, is the capital of the Hiu family, Mani City.
Golden sunlight falls from the sky and shines on this ancient religious center. The pyramid temples of Serpent God and Quetzalcoatl are right in the center, shining with golden light. Under the thirty-meter-high pyramid is an open market square. On the east side of the prosperous square are the temples of other gods. On the south side of the open square, there is a semi-open-air human sacrifice stadium, but it is not yet time for the festival competition. On the west side of the solemn square, there is a square, two-story palace, which is the most important place in the city-state, the Xiumede Palace.
At this moment, a feather-crested leader with narrow eagle eyes and gray hair was standing on the second floor of the palace, proudly looking around his territory. In the temple area on the east side, there are many ancient temples, even inherited from the Mayan Golden Age thousands of years ago. In the square in front of you, there is a busy and prosperous market. The gods and nobles of the city-state all hang out and relax here, sharing the beauty of the divine smoke.
"The Snake God Festival is coming soon, and the nobles are all buying goods. We need to collect another batch of corn flour from villages all over the country, make small cakes, and distribute them to the citizens during the festival..."
Xiu Pan, the leader of the Xiwu clan, stared at the prosperous square, thinking quietly and saying nothing. He often looked around the city like this, watching the details in the market and thinking about his family's rule.
January is the festival of Quetzalcoatl, and April is the festival of Serpentis. On festivals twice a year, the Xiwu family will distribute small cakes to the citizens of the capital, without discrimination. These two months are also the difficult period of spring famine, which best reflects the value of relief.
"Distributing two batches of food every year, although it will cost some money, it can win the hearts of the people in the capital and spread the virtues of the family. Forty-eight years ago, the Tuturxiu people were willing to follow the family to the death and rebel against Mayapan's rule, relying on the family The kindness given year after year, and the good reputation passed down from generation to generation!”
Chief Xiupan narrowed his eyes and recalled the long past. Yes, it had been forty-eight years, and he remembered this number clearly because that was the year he was born.
Forty-eight years ago, my grandfather, Xiu Asupan, revolted bravely, captured Mayapan in a surprise attack, and massacred the brutal Cocom royal family. The family's forbearance for more than two hundred years finally succeeded! After his grandfather returned to Mani, he was so satisfied that he named his newborn self Xiupan. The Pan here is Maya Pan, the standard and model of the Maya people, and the royal capital occupied by the Xiu family!
Twenty years later, he also followed his grandfather's example and named his eldest son Xiutul. The Tu'er here symbolizes that after twenty years of cleansing and assimilation, the Xiwu clan has completely taken control of the prosperous Wangji area and rules the entire prosperous Tuturxiu!
The divine smoke ignited, and Chief Xiupan's thoughts drifted away. Until a tall and strong young man with a divine face strode into the palace and bowed to the old patriarch.
"Blessed by the Serpent God! Father, you took me from the front line of the Kanur clan's confrontation and called me back to the capital in a hurry..."
Although the young man's posture was respectful, there was a hint of dissatisfaction in his words.
"But something big happened?"
"Blessed by the Serpent God! Xiu Tuer, sit down. Don't be in a hurry."
Chief Xiupan turned around and pressed his palms. Then, he looked at the eldest son who sat down as ordered, but still looked as imposing as a jaguar, and lowered his eyes slightly. The eldest son is brave and good at fighting, and his wisdom is equally good. The only shortcoming is that he is too fond of samurai and has an impatient and aggressive personality.
"My son, I called you here because of an urgent matter. You should have heard on the Western Front that there is a gem fleet from the Western Plateau, guided by the God of Wealth, all the way along the coast, Sailing eastward..."
"Huh? The Nahua people's gem fleet? I did hear about it. But..."
Xiu Tuer thought about it for a moment and nodded emphatically. Then, he looked at his old father with some confusion.
"Father, this gem fleet only sails along the coast and cannot reach land. They cannot reach our clan's territory, so what does it have to do with us?"
"...Hugh Tur, they can't get to the shore, but we can go over and meet them on the beach."
Chief Xiupan spoke calmly and looked towards the north. Two hundred and seventy miles from here is the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The Weiyu clan and Luchong clan along the coast are both vassals of the Xiwu family.
"Huh? You want me to go north and intercept this fleet full of wealth?"
Xiu Tuer thought about it for a moment, and a fierce fighting spirit appeared in his eyes. He immediately stood up, stretched out his hand, and made a gesture of sacrifice.
"Okay! I will take a thousand warriors to ambush the shore! When the fleet docks for supplies, we will launch a surprise attack, sacrifice them all to the gods, and bring back all the gems!"
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"..."
Chief Xiupan was silent. He looked at his eldest son who was full of fighting spirit, sighed secretly, shook his head and said.
"No! My son. Witness the Serpent God! I'm not asking you to attack the fleet and take back the gems. I'm asking you to meet them and trade with them!"
"Huh? Trading gems?"
"Sit down, don't rush."
Patriarch Xiupan had a sullen face, showing no anger or authority. Xiu Tuer helplessly sat down again and listened to his father's instructions.
"Xiutur, you have to remember. The descendants of the Mayans in our city-state are different from the martial plateau tribes. They rely on divinity and brains to rule the warriors and city residents, manage the territory and city-state! What you have to focus on now , not to fight on the battlefield, but to enhance one’s own divinity and constantly win over allies and supporters!”
"Huh? Focus on strengthening your divinity and winning over allies and supporters?"
"right!"
Chief Xiupan nodded heavily and explained carefully to his eldest son.
"The news of this gem fleet has spread throughout the peninsula. Every tribe in the lowlands wants to get a piece of gems from them!... You robbed the entire fleet and got so many gems. The city-state The gems will be discounted and cannot be consumed at all for a while, and the actual benefit will be little."
"What's more important is that if the fleet is robbed, the family will not only be at odds with the distant plateau tribes, but it will also alienate others and make the tribes angry! The eyes of the tribes will be on us, so let us Become the target of many spears... Remember, a truly smart person will not do such stupid things with small benefits and unpredictable consequences!"
After hearing his father's analysis, Xiu Tuer was stunned for a while and then figured out the key.
"I see! So, you asked me to trade just to get the most gems and leave the rest to other ministries?"
"Not bad. This is roughly the idea."
Chief Xiupan nodded, looking at his eldest son who was as strong as a warrior, with a fond smile on his lips. The eldest son is actually very smart, but his personality is too impulsive and his strong physical instincts often think ahead of his brain.
"He still needs to practice more! We can't let him stay in the army forever without looking like a god."
Patriarch Xiupan thought for a few breaths before speaking in a deep voice again.
"Xiu Tuer, take eight hundred elite Mayan warriors and the family's valuable goods, and go to the northern coast as soon as possible, to the Wei Village of the Weiyu clan, to wait for the gem fleet coming from the east. There are several gems after turning the corner. The first supply port within a hundred miles, the gem fleet will definitely dock there.”
"Then, the first thing is that you have to try your best to exchange for the largest share of gems, bring it back to the capital, and declare the blessing of the God of Wealth! If the goods are not enough, you can recruit them from the vassal Weiyu clan, and I will compensate them. You You can also put appropriate pressure on that fleet, but don’t overdo it. Even if you don’t get many gems, don’t fall out and try to have a good relationship with the Nahua people! Because gems are not important, and the Nahua tribe in the west , could be powerful.”
"Huh? Father, gems are not important?"
Xiu Tuer scratched his head and looked at his father in confusion.
"The powerful Nahua tribe? Do you know where this fleet comes from?"
"Well, this fleet should come from the Aztec Alliance in the Western Plateau. They are a very powerful force, but they are more than three thousand miles away from us and cannot affect the situation here. We can make friends appropriately... Listen I say! Gemstones are not important. What is important is to enhance your divinity!"
Patriarch Xiupan paused and spoke quietly, describing the art of rule.
"If divinity wants to gain a foothold in people's hearts, it must hold a grand ceremony and be witnessed by everyone! You don't need to get a lot of gems, you just need to use various publicity to make everyone believe that you are blessed by the God of Wealth. , got a lot of gems..."
"Same, the second thing. This time when you go north, you have to hold a solemn sacrifice at the 'Demon Tail' on the coast! It is the sanctuary where the gods destroy and create the world. It can also strengthen you. divinity. After the ceremony, you will stay one night in the 'Devil's Tail'. The next day, you will claim that you had a sacred dream... let's say that the Serpent God's tail crawled out of the ground, I got into your arms and became one with you..."
"Ah this? Staying in Demon Tail for one night and making up a sacred dream?"
Hearing his father's actions, Xiu Tuer was dumbfounded, shocked and speechless. He thought for a while and asked the question that had always been on his mind.
"Father, what is there underground at Demon Tail?"
"Under the Demon Tail, there is an artifact used by the gods to destroy the world. It was there that the gods exterminated the era before Chaos and created the world for the first time! As for the specific artifact, the ancestors of Snake City did not record it. Probably the gods I didn’t explain it clearly...don’t change the subject!”
Patriarch Xiupan raised his eyebrows, Xiu Tuer immediately lowered his eyebrows, shut up and listened.
"As for the third thing, you have to meet with the leaders of the Tail Feather Clan and Lu Chong Clan, which are vassals along the coast. On behalf of the Xiu Clan, you have to express your support and goodwill to them. After you have done this, you will arrange for people to spread the word. Go out and say that you had a pleasant conversation with the leaders, and even made an appointment to get married..."
"What? Marriage relatives?"
"Yes! Let the news go out first and let all the ministries know. Then, I will arrange for people to propose marriage to the daughters of the two clan chiefs, let you marry two more divine wives, and also win over two external allies."
Patriarch Xiupan smiled and nodded, with kind eyes and a kind look on his face. He had already figured everything out.
"After completing these three things, you can return to the capital with the gems, host the ceremony at the grand Serpentis Festival in April, and do two other things!... One is in the name of the God of Wealth, Distribute most of the gems to the nobles at the capital festival. The other one is to distribute the customary festival cakes to the citizens of the capital in the name of the Serpent God."
"Huh? In the name of the gods, do you distribute gems to the nobles and small cakes to the citizens? Father, aren't you the one who usually presides over festivals..."
"Everything will be done by you from now on! This is your first year as host, so the cookies distributed will be doubled. I will also arrange for people to kneel down and salute at the scene, praising your divinity and love for the people! After you see , you must lift the opponent up with your own hands, and tell the people loudly that this is not your grace, but the grace bestowed by the Lord God of the Serpent through your hands!..."
After Chief Xiupan finished speaking, he glanced at his eldest son who was stunned and stunned. He reached out his hand and rubbed the other person's slender head lovingly.
"Trading gems, worshiping the gods, forming alliances and marriages, holding festivals and ceremonies, distributing gems and bread... Once you complete these five important tasks, your divinity and prestige will be enough to inherit my position as the leader of the clan. !”
"Huh? Ah this!"
Xiu Tuer's arrogant face showed concern for the first time. He took a step forward and grabbed the arm of Chief Xiupan.
"Father, you...your body?"
"My health is very good, don't worry! My son, you are my heir. I am just making some preparations in advance to pave the way for your future! You know, your uncles and cousins are still watching In this position, you need to establish your divinity as soon as possible to stop their thoughts!"
Patriarch Xiupan waved his hand and knocked off his son's hand, deliberately showing the majesty of the divine patriarch. There was actually an inexplicable worry in his heart, but he couldn't explain it.
"Ever since my grandfather destroyed Mayapan and massacred the Cocom royal family, my grandfather and father, as well as two generations of clan leaders, have never lived past the age of fifty! And the previous great-great-grandfather lived to be sixty-five years old! This year, I have already Forty-eight. What if I don’t live to be fifty... The damn Cocom royal family, I don’t know what kind of curse they have put on the clan!..."
The elder of the Xiupan tribe narrowed his eyes, and a ruthless look flashed in his eyes. Xiu Tuer felt a chill on his spine and lowered his head, wondering what his father was planning.
"Haha! They still have the last remnant, hiding incognito in the jungle two hundred miles northeast, hiding under the protection of the Kapoor family. Perhaps, before I die, I should send troops to lure away the Kapoor people and completely I have to put an end to this remnant. I have to break the curse and prevent it from being passed on to my son..."
Thinking of this, Patriarch Xiupan's eyes revealed some rare tenderness. He looked at his eldest son, who was as burly as a warrior and had a worried look on his face, smiled with satisfaction, and waved his hand away.
"Xiu Tuer, go ahead! Get the eight hundred warriors as soon as possible, let the civilians load the valuables in the warehouse, and head to the north quickly! The Western gem fleet travels very fast and never stays in any city-state. Don't I missed it with them! Bless the Serpent God!"
"I obey you. I'll go down and get ready and set off early tomorrow morning! Bless me!"
Xiutul promised loudly and bowed respectfully to his father. Then, he strode away like a warrior preparing for battle. He has a clear goal, walking the long road arranged by his father, to climb the highest mountain. This road has been arranged long ago, beyond ordinary imagination.
On the second day, under the personal leadership of Prince Xiu Tuer, eight hundred Xiwu warriors and hundreds of civilians left from the north gate of Mani City and hurried to the Wei Village of the Weiyu clan along the coast.
The old Xiupan clan chief stood on the top floor of the high palace, watching everyone go away with a calm smile on his face. He has ruled the Xiwu clan for twenty years, turning the Xiwu clan into the most powerful force on the peninsula step by step. He also clearly understands the Mayan tribes and the hearts of people inside and outside the city-state.
"The supreme Serpent God, protect her bloodline! Destined destiny, write the epic of the descendants of God... everything is under control!"
