Starting from the long western coast, heading inland for two or three hundred miles, passing through the lowland Mayan jungle, you will come to a densely populated farmland and village. And in the center of dozens of Mayan villages, between Uxmal and Mayapan, is the capital of the Xiwu family, Mani City.

The golden sun, falling from the sky, shines on this ancient religious center. The pyramid temples of the Heavenly Snake God and the Feathered Serpent God are right in the center, shining with golden light together. And under the 30-meter-high pyramid is an open market square. On the east side of the prosperous square are temples of other gods. On the south side of the open square, there is a semi-open-air human sacrifice court, but it's not yet time for festival games. On the west side of the majestic square, there is a square two-story palace, which is the most important place in the city-state, the Hiumed 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 at 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. On the square in front of you, there is a busy and prosperous market. The descendants of the gods and nobles of the city-state all hang out here to rest and share the beauty of the magic smoke.

"The Heavenly Snake God's festival is coming soon, and the nobles are all buying goods. We have to collect another batch of corn flour from various villages, make small cakes, and distribute them to the city residents during the festival..."

Hiu Pan, chief of the Xiwu clan, stared at the bustling square, thinking quietly. He often looks around the city-state like this, watching the details in the market, and thinking about the family's rule.

January is the Feathered Serpent's festival, and April is the Celestial Serpent's festival. On festivals twice a year, the Xiwu family will distribute small cakes to the citizens of the capital without discrimination. And these two months are also the difficult season of spring famine, which can best reflect the value of relief.

"Distributing two batches of food every year, although it will cost a lot, can harvest the hearts of the people in the capital and spread the virtues of the family. Forty-eight years ago, the Tutulxiu people were willing to follow the family to the death and rebelled against the rule of Mayapan, relying on the family Year after year of grace, and a good name passed down from generation to generation!"

Patriarch Huupan squinted his eyes, recalling the long past. Yes, forty-eight years have passed, and he clearly remembers this number because he was born in that year.

Forty-eight years ago, grandfather Xiu Ashupan raised an army brazenly, raided and captured Mayapan, and slaughtered the brutal Kokom royal family. The family's two hundred years of forbearance finally succeeded! After his grandfather returned to Mani, he was so satisfied that he named his newborn Hupan. Pan here is Mayapan, the norm and model of the Mayans, and also the capital of the Xiwu family!

And twenty years later, he followed his grandfather's example and named his eldest son Hugh Tur. Tur here symbolizes that after 20 years of cleaning and assimilation, the Xiwu clan has completely controlled the wealthy Wangji area and ruled the entire prosperous Tuturxiu!

The sacred smoke bird was ignited, and Patriarch Huupan's thoughts drifted away. Until a burly and strong young man with the face of a **** strode into the palace and bowed to the old patriarch.

"Blessed by the Heavenly Snake God! Father, you hurriedly called me back to the capital from the front line of the Kanur clan's confrontation..."

Although the young man's posture was respectful, there was a hint of dissatisfaction in his words.

"But what happened?"

"Blessed by the Heavenly Snake God! Hutur, sit down. Don't worry."

Patriarch Huupan turned around and pressed his palms. Afterwards, he stared at the eldest son who sat down obediently, but still looked like a jaguar, and lowered his eyes slightly. The eldest son is brave and good at fighting, and his wisdom is also good. The only shortcoming is that he is too fond of warriors, and has an impatient and aggressive personality.

"My son, I called you here because of an urgent matter. You are on the western front, and you should have heard that there is a fleet of gemstones from the western plateau, which is traveling along the coast under the guidance of the God of Wealth. Sailing east..."

"Huh? The jewel fleet of the Nahuas? I've heard of it. But..."

After thinking about it for a while, Hutur nodded heavily. Then, he looked at his elderly father with some confusion.

"Father, this gem fleet only sails along the coast, and cannot land. They cannot reach our clan's territory, so what does it have to do with us?"

"...Hutur, they can't go ashore, but we can go there and meet them by the sea."

Patriarch Huupan spoke lightly, looking to 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 all vassals of the Xiwu family.

"Huh? You want me to go north and stop this fleet full of wealth?"

Hutuer thought for a while, and a fighting spirit appeared in his eyes. Immediately he stood up, stretched out his hand, and made a sacrificial gesture.

"Okay! I'll take a thousand warriors and go to the shore to ambush! When the fleet lands for supplies, launch a surprise attack, sacrifice all of them to the gods, and bring back all the gems!"

Romance bar free reading

"..."

Patriarch Hupan was silent. He looked at the eldest son who was full of fighting spirit, sighed secretly, shook his head and said.

"No! My son. The Celestial Snake is witness! I don't want you to attack the fleet and take back the gems. I want you to meet them and trade with them!"

"Huh? Trading gems?"

"Sit down, don't rush."

Patriarch Huupan had a sullen face and was not angry. Hutur sat down again helplessly, listening to his father's instructions.

"Xuetuer, you have to remember. The descendants of the gods of our city-state Maya are different from the warrior plateau tribes. They rely on divinity and brains to rule warriors and city people, and to govern territories and city-states! What you need 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 enhancing your divinity and gaining allies and supporters?"

"right!"

Patriarch Huupan nodded his head and explained carefully to his eldest son.

"The news of this jewel fleet has spread throughout the peninsula. All the tribes in the lowlands want 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 they cannot be consumed at all for a while, and the actual benefits are not great."

"More importantly, if the fleet is robbed, the family will not only quarrel with the distant plateau tribes, but also destroy the thoughts of others and offend the anger of all the ministries! All the ministries will focus on us, let us Become the target of many spears...Remember, a truly smart person will not do such a stupid thing with little benefit and unpredictable consequences!"

Hearing his father's analysis, Hutur was stunned for a while, and then figured out the key point.

"That's why! So, you asked me to trade, just want to get the most gems, and leave the rest to other ministries?"

"That's right. That's roughly the idea."

Patriarch Huupan nodded, looking at the eldest son who was as strong as a warrior, with a loving smile on his lips. The eldest son is actually very smart, but his personality is too impulsive, and his strong physical instincts often precede his brain's thinking.

"It still needs to be tempered! We can't let him stay in the army all the time, without the appearance of a descendant of a god."

Patriarch Huupan thought for a few breaths, then spoke again in a deep voice.

"Xuetuer, take 800 elite Mayan warriors and the family's valuables, and go to the northern coast as soon as possible, the Wei Village of the Weiyu Clan, and wait for the gem fleet from the east. After turning the cape, several The first supply port within a hundred miles, the gem fleet will definitely stop there."

"Then, the first thing, you have to try to exchange for the largest gemstone, bring it back to the capital, and claim the blessing of the God of Wealth! If the goods are not enough, you can recruit from the vassal Weiyu clan, and I will compensate them. You You can also put pressure on that fleet appropriately, but don't overdo it. And even if you don't get many gems, don't turn your face, try to form 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?"

Hutur scratched his head and looked at his father suspiciously.

"The powerful Nahua tribe? Do you know where this fleet came from?"

"Well, this fleet should come from the Aztec Alliance on the western plateau. They are a very powerful force, but they are more than three thousand miles away from us, so they can't affect the situation here. We can make friends properly...Listen I say! Gems are not important. What is important is to enhance your divinity!"

Patriarch Huupan paused, then spoke quietly, talking about the art of ruling.

"If divinity wants to gain a foothold in people's hearts, a grand ceremony must be held and witnessed by everyone! You don't really need to get a lot of gems, you just need to use various propaganda to convince everyone that you are blessed by the God of Wealth , got a lot of gems..."

"The same, the second thing. This time going north, you have to hold a solemn sacrifice at the 'Demon's Tail' along the coast! There is a sanctuary where the gods destroy and create the world, and it can also strengthen you The divinity. After the ceremony, you stay overnight in the 'Demon Tail'. The next day, you have to claim that you had a divine dream...say the celestial serpent's tail, crawling out of the ground, I got into your arms and became one with you..."

"Ah this? Stay one night in Demon's Tail and make up a holy dream?"

Hearing his father's operations, Hutur was dumbfounded, shocked and speechless. He thought for a while, and then asked the question that had been in his mind all along.

"Father, what is there underground in Demon's Tail?"

"In the underground of Demon's Tail, there is an artifact used by the gods to destroy the world. The gods are there. In the era before the chaos was wiped out, the world was created for the first time! As for what the artifact is, the ancestors of Snake City did not record it. Probably the gods I didn't make it clear...don't change the subject!"

Patriarch Shupan raised his brows, and Xiutuer immediately lowered his eyebrows, shut his mouth and listened.

"As for the third matter, you have to meet with the leaders of the Taiyu clan and the Deerworm clan that are vassals along the coast. You have to represent the Xiwu family, express your support for them, and express your goodwill. After you have done this, you will arrange people to spread the word Go out and say that you had a great conversation with the chiefs, and even dated relatives by marriage..."

"What? Marital relatives?"

"Yes! First release the news and let all the ministries know. Then, I will arrange for someone to propose marriage to the daughters of the two clan chiefs, so that you can marry two more god-born wives, and also attract two external allies."

Patriarch Huupan nodded with a smile, his eyebrows were benevolent, and everything had been planned.

"After completing these three things, you will return to the capital with the gemstones. On the grand festival of the Heavenly Snake God in April, you will host a ceremony and do two other things! ... One is in the name of the God of Wealth, Most of the gems were distributed to the nobles at the capital city festival. The other one was distributed to the citizens of the capital city in the name of the Heavenly Snake God, to distribute small cakes that are customary on festivals."

"Huh? In the name of the gods, distributing gems to the nobles and small cakes to the citizens? Father, don't you usually preside over the festival..."

"I will leave it to you in the future! This year is your first year hosting, so the small cakes distributed will be doubled. I will also arrange people to kneel down and salute at the scene, praising your divinity and love for the people! After you see , you have to support the other party with your own hands, and tell the city people loudly that this is not your grace, but the grace bestowed by the Heavenly Snake God through your hands!..."

Patriarch Huupan finished speaking leisurely, and glanced at the eldest son who was stunned in surprise. He reached out and rubbed the other's slender head affectionately.

"Trading gems, sacrificing to the gods, forming alliances and marriages, holding festivals and ceremonies, distributing gems and bread... After completing these five important tasks, your divinity and prestige are almost enough to inherit the position of the leader of my clan !"

"Ah? Ah this!"

For the first time, Hutur showed worry on his flamboyant face. He took a step forward and grasped the arm of Chief Hupan.

"Father, you... your body?"

"My health is very good, don't worry! My son, you are my heir. I just made some preparations in advance to pave the way for you in the future! You know, your uncles and cousins ​​have been watching With this position, you need to establish your divinity as soon as possible, so as to get rid of their thoughts!"

Patriarch Huupan waved his hand and knocked off his son's hand, deliberately showing the majesty of the god-born patriarch. In fact, there was an inexplicable worry in his heart, but he couldn't talk about it.

"Since my grandfather destroyed Mayapan and slaughtered the Kokom royal family, my grandfather and father, the clan leaders of two consecutive generations, have not lived to be fifty years old! The previous great-great-grandfather lived to be sixty-five years old! This year, I have It's forty-eight. If I don't live to be fifty...Damn the Kokom royal family, I don't know what curse they put on the clan!..."

The elders of the Xiupan tribe narrowed their eyes, and a ruthless look flashed in their eyes. Hutur shivered and lowered his head, not knowing what his father was planning.

"Hehe! They still have the last remnant, hiding their names incognito, hiding in the jungle two hundred miles to the northeast, hiding under the protection of the Kapoor family. Maybe, I should send troops before I die, lure the Kapoor people away, and completely To settle the remnants of this branch. The curse must be undone, so that it will not be passed on to my son..."

Thinking of this, Patriarch Huupan's eyes showed a rare warmth. He looked at the eldest son who was as burly as a soldier with a worried face, smiled in satisfaction, and waved away directly.

"Shutul, you go! Gather eight hundred warriors as soon as possible~lightnovelpub.net~ Let the peasants pack up the valuables in the warehouse and go to the north quickly! The western gem fleet is traveling very fast, never in any Stay in one city-state. Don't miss it with them! Heavenly Snake God bless you!"

"Follow you, I will go down and prepare, and set off early tomorrow morning! Heavenly Snake God bless you!"

Hutur promised loudly, and saluted his father respectfully. Then, he strode away like a soldier preparing to go off. He has a clear goal, walking the long road arranged by his father, and climbing the highest mountain. This road has long been arranged, beyond ordinary imagination.

On the second day, under the personal leadership of Prince Shutur, 800 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 Patriarch Huupan stood on the top floor of the tall palace, watching the crowd 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 had a clear understanding of the Mayan tribes and the hearts of the people inside and outside the city-state.

"Supreme Heavenly Snake God, bless her bloodline! Doomed fate, write the epic of the descendants of the gods...everything is under control!"