Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Starting from the long Western coast, moving inland two to three hundred miles, passing through the jungle of the Lowland Maya, one arrives at a stretch of populous farms and villages. At the center of numerous Mayan villages, between Uxmal and Mayapan, lies the capital city of the Xiu Family, Mani City.

Golden sunlight descends from the sky, illuminating this ancient religious center. The pyramid temples of the Heavenly Serpent Divine and the Feathered Serpent Divine, situated right at the center, radiate a dazzling golden light. Below the thirty-meter-high pyramid is a broad market plaza. To the east of this bustling plaza are the temples of other divinities. On the open southern side of the plaza sits a semi-open ball court for human sacrifice, although it's not yet time for festive games. On the solemn western side of the plaza stands a two-tiered, square palace, the Xi Wu Maid Palace, the city-state's most important site.

At this moment, an Eagle-Eye Feather-Crowned Leader with graying hair stands on the second floor of the palace, proudly surveying his realm. The eastern temple district hosts many old temples, some tracing back to the Mayan Golden Age a thousand years ago. Meanwhile, the plaza before him is a busy and flourishing market. Godly descendants and the nobility of the city-state wander here leisurely, sharing in the marvel of the divine smoke.

"The Heavenly Serpent God Festival is approaching, and the nobility are busy purchasing goods. We'll need to gather another batch of corn flour from the villages to make small cakes for distribution to the city populace during the festival…"

Clan Leader Xiupan of the Xiu Clan silently contemplated the bustling plaza. He often inspected the city-state this way, observing the details in the marketplace, pondering his family's reign.

January is the Feathered Serpent God's festival, and April is the Heavenly Serpent God's festival. During the biannual festival days, the Xiu Family uniformly distributes small cakes to the capital's citizens. These two months also coincide with the harsh spring scarcity, a time when the value of providing relief is most evident.

"Distributing two batches of food each year, though costly, wins the hearts of the capital's populace, spreading the family's virtues. Forty-eight years ago, the followers of Tutulxiu pledged their lives to follow the family and rebel against Mayapan's rule because of the family's years of benevolence and its legacy of good reputation!"

Clan Leader Xiupan squinted, recalling distant past events. Yes, forty-eight years have passed; he remembers the number clearly because he was born that year.

Forty-eight years ago, his grandfather Xiu Ashupan boldly raised an army, launching a surprise attack to capture Mayapan, annihilating the cruel Kekum royal family. Two hundred years of the family's patience at last came to fruition! After returning to Mani, his grandfather named the newborn Xiupan, where "Pan" stands for Mayapan, the model of Mayan standards and the capital city conquered by the Xiu Family!

Twenty years later, he followed his grandfather's example, naming his eldest son Xiutur. Here, "Tur" symbolizes the complete mastery and governance over the prosperous Tutulxiu region by the Xiu Clan after twenty years of consolidation and assimilation!

Divine smoke rises, and Clan Leader Xiupan's thoughts drift afar, until a young man with a divine visage, robust and strong, strides into the palace, bowing respectfully to the elderly clan leader.

"Heavenly Serpent's blessing! Father, you hastily summoned me back from the frontline against the Canul Lineage…"

Though the young man's demeanor is respectful, a trace of dissatisfaction lingers in his words.

"Is there a major event occurring?"

"Heavenly Serpent's blessing! Xiutur, sit down. Do not be anxious."

Clan Leader Xiupan turned around, pressing his palm. He then gazed at his obediently seated but still imposing as a jaguar eldest son, who was brimming with courage and wisdom. His only flaw was his excessive fondness for the Samurai, being impatient and combative by nature.

"My son, I called you for a pressing matter. On the Western front, you might have heard of a gemstone fleet from the Western highland, under the guidance of the God of Wealth, sailing along the coast eastward…"

"Hmm? The Navarre gemstone fleet? I have indeed heard about it. But…"

Xiutur recalled before heavily nodding. Then, looking somewhat puzzled towards his elderly father.

"Father, this gemstone fleet only sails along the coast, unable to land. What does it have to do with our clan, since they can't reach our territory?"

"...Xiutur, although they can't land, we can go meet them at the shore."

Clan Leader Xiupan spoke indifferently, looking towards the north. From here, traveling two hundred seventy miles leads to the Northern Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Along the coast, the Tail Feather Clan and Luchong Clan are vassals of the Xiu Family.

"Hmm? You want me to head north to intercept this wealth-laden fleet?"

After a brief thought, a fierce battle spirit flashed in Xiutur's eyes. He promptly stood up, extending his hand in a sacrificial gesture.

"Good! I will take a thousand Samurai to ambush the shore! Once the fleet docks for supplies, I'll launch a surprise attack, sacrifice them all to the gods, and bring back all the gemstones!"

"..."

Clan Leader Xiupan remained silent. He looked at his battle-spirited eldest son, sighed internally, and shook his head.

"No! My son. Witness of the Heavenly Serpent! I don't want you to attack the fleet to seize gemstones. I want you to meet them and trade!"