Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 561 - 274: The Alliance after the Battle, the Journey Eastward_2

"May the spirit grant protection and smooth the path ahead!..."

The crowd burst into laughter as they gathered to drink, and soon everyone was a bit tipsy. Then, Tepeiter gestured, and a group of graceful girls clad in short clothes, holding fresh flowers, came forward to dance. Their clear singing and wonderful dance scattered petals in front of the flowers; as the night stretched on, it was dawn before anyone realized.

The next day at noon, Xiuxoke boarded the great boat again, now accompanied by two demure maidservants by his side.

"Ah! The High Priest was right. The sweeter the wine, the less one should drink! My wine-tasting skills are still lacking, I didn’t notice the herbs hidden within..."

He glanced at the maidservants, sighed softly, and then strode to the bow, waving farewell to Izel who had come to see him off. The great boat moved on, staying another day near the Holy City. Most of the Holy City’s samurai disembarked here, returning to their long-separated hometowns. The newly acquired maidservants were taken away by their family’s samurai as well.

As the sun rose in the east, when the great boat sailed into the fertile Texcoco Lake Region, swathes of Chinampa floating farms appeared before him. Tropical warmth still lingered in the winter air, as farmers busied themselves on the Chinampas, occasionally docking small boats laden with manure and river mud to replenish the nutrients of the floating farms. Corn, beans, chili peppers, cocoa, herbs, zucchini, tomatoes... various different crops thrived on the fertile floating farms, telling the tale of a miracle agriculture that could yield up to seven harvests a year.

Sailing between the floating farms, the air was filled with the fresh scents of grass and flowers. A day later, the magnificent Lake Capital City appeared before Xiuxoke’s eyes.

He disembarked at a village on the north coast of the Long Bridge, where an envoy of the Royal Family was already waiting for him. Under the envoy’s lead, a party of a hundred headed south along the causeway towards the North City. The pines and cypresses transplanted in previous years had grown lush and dense, reflecting their forked shadows on the lake surface, like the souls of sprites.

"Like the sprites of the pine trees in the water, Aweit..."

Xiuxoke mused to himself. Military victories continuously drove the reforms of the Alliance, also centralizing the power of the Royal Family. Compared to two years ago, the Lake Capital City had been deeply marked by the King’s presence.

The causeway connected north and south, and thousands of people walked on the refurbished road. They praised the supreme Chief Divine, and also lauded the greatness of the King. As the crowd passed through the large market of the North City, the shouting of tens of thousands of people struck like the rains of the rainy season, suddenly overwhelming them with a lively clamor.

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The market now had many new tax officials. Holding pens and paper, and equipped with new wooden abacuses at their waists, a unified system of weights and measures had become common in the market. The distant merchants appeared submissive, bowing their heads to pay their trade duties. The essential regulated materials, such as copperware, war clubs, cotton armor, and bows, were all sold in fixed amounts by officially registered merchants. Each transaction had to be recorded and periodically inspected by the Government.

Xiuxoke glanced around, noticing many Tarasco-styled artifacts flowing into the marketplace, clearly war trophies from the western armies. He nodded slightly, then followed the envoy through the long canal and into the bustling main city. Though the New Year celebrations had not yet begun, the wild joy of the great victory was already permeating the main city.

The victory celebrations started ahead of schedule in the community’s Temple, with bountiful war spoils and rewards already distributed. The Priests’ singing echoed between the stone houses on either side, the air fragrant with wafting pine resin. Occasionally, samurai would sing resonant war songs and perform vigorous war dances. The common folk then gathered in a circle, praising the warriors returning from the campaign.

Xiuxoke saw a young samurai. Dressed in the Third-Level war clothes, having finished his war dance, he entered the crowd and took the hand of a beautiful young woman. Witnessed by the Chief Divine, the young samurai clenched his fist over his chest, boasting of his bravery on the battlefield while declaring his love for the maiden.

Admiration flashed in the maiden’s eyes. She turned to look at a middle-aged man in rich garments not far away; that was her father, the master of her family, who managed her marriage. After a moment of consideration, he slowly nodded, and cheers erupted from the crowd. The samurai was overjoyed, promptly bowed deeply to the middle-aged man, then vigorously grasped the girl’s hand. The two ran out of the crowd and disappeared in an instant.

Xiuxoke smiled knowingly. He observed the middle-aged man who was now shaking his head and sighing. The man’s clothing was embroidered with a family crest, likely of minor nobility origin. With the victory in the western campaign, the samurai, laden with glory and spoils, had their social status elevated once again. This kind of marriage between an outstanding common samurai and a daughter of the minor nobility was becoming increasingly common.

Of course, in the Lake Fief of Mikenka, the traditional class hierarchy had been thoroughly dismantled. Centered around the Mexica rulers, a new order was being established, a grander blueprint already outlined.

The envoy’s pace did not halt, and they quickly reached the northern city’s armory. The Holy City samurai ascended the Temple, first praying to the newly sculpted image of the Chief Divine, then seeking blessings from the now second-ranking Fire God, before dispersing from there. A King’s guard replaced the previous envoy, continuing to lead Xiuxoke towards the core temple and palace area of the main city.

Despite it being winter, the noble district along the way was still flush with blooming flowers, the air filled with delightful floral scents. At the front of various manors, garlands, jade artifacts, gold and silver, and colorful pottery were displayed... the Great Nobility flaunted their family’s luxury, even including seashells and corals from the seacoast. Military nobles displayed the war trophies from the western campaign, Tarasco Kingdom’s weapons and armor, some even featuring captured noble flags.