Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 1392 - 947: The Art of Communication and the Wisdom of the Black Wolf

"Hmm? By the witness of the Chief Divine! Are you saying... the system of the Seaside Alliance, with its mutually restraining Legion Commander, High Priest, and Civil Director, was not set up to limit me?... These three powers that are separate and independent — military, religious, and civil — are arranged for the power balance of the future Seaside Lands after His Highness and I leave the Totonac coast?..."In the solemn hall, Black Wolf Torc caressed the cold Bronze Axe and sat back on the stone seat. With just a few words from Tikalo, he furrowed his brows and fell into deep contemplation. After a while, he glared at Tikalo and coldly inquired. Get full chapters from novelhall.com

"Hmm? Tikalo, what do you think?!"

"Uh! My view... uh... is exactly the same as yours!..."

The Mayan merchant Tikalo scratched his head, quickly spinning his thoughts, pondering the art of conversation. He had just returned and his understanding of the Seaside Alliance was limited to brief inquiries made on the way back... In other words, he had no idea about His Highness’s arrangements and intentions!

The reason he brought up this topic and offered ambiguous suggestions was simple: the situation in the Seaside Lands is extremely complex and too distant. To stably rule here, and even further expand to the East, the arrangements of His Highness Xiulote must be carefully weighed and deeply meaningful! From another perspective, Black Wolf Torc’s military merits are indeed amassed very high!...

"Ahem! Respected Black Wolf Commander, you are the most trusted General cultivated by His Highness throughout the journey! Your legion is also the most formidable among many Kingdom Legions!... For a Legion Commander like you, it’s the most reliable wing for His Highness, how could you be placed in the Seaside Lands in vain?..."

The Mayan merchant Tikalo cautiously continued along the lines of Black Wolf Torc’s words, extending just a little. He was proficient in the art of communication, knowing there are two crucial techniques to persuade others!

The first, called "stroke the fur", means that what you say doesn’t have to be particularly logical or eloquent, but it must align with the listener’s intent! Because only what the listener can accept and hear will hold value in being said! Especially when dealing with someone as sharp, cold, and deadly as the Black Wolf General, if your words are too offensive, you might just lose your head to an axe.

The second, known as "leave a blank", or "leave a hole for the mouse to drill", is about leaving things unsaid rather than explaining everything in detail, allowing room for others to think and supplement for themselves. Because people believe conclusions they arrive at themselves. At this moment, with little knowledge, saying too much risks error, making "leave a blank" particularly necessary to let Black Wolf General think for himself.

"By the witness of the Chief Divine! So, the arrangement of His Highness in the Seaside Lands, that... hmm, the establishing of three leaders to balance each other, should be prepared for Legion Commanders other than you..."

"The Chief Divine grants me wisdom! Let me think! If this system wasn’t designed for me... where do I go after defeating the Totonacs?... Continue fighting the Mayans to the East? Or return to the Kingdom of the Lake with His Highness? Or perhaps..."

At this point, a sharp glint flashed in Black Wolf Torc’s eyes, showing a trace of coldness. He glanced at the obedient Mayan merchant, rubbed his chin, set aside dangerous thoughts, and switched thinking directions.

"By the witness of the Chief Divine! Aside from me, other Legion Commanders? Hmm? That’s it! The Totonac Legion that is about to be established is for guarding the Seaside... so who will be the next Legion Commander?..."

"Wood Lizard? He’s the most reliable among Totonac Generals, but his qualifications are still too shallow... From His Highness’s family warriors, or promoting one of the cultivated trusted aides? It’s quite possible, though I don’t know who it would be... Tikalo, what do you think? Hmm?!"

"Uh!... That... I... I think... hmm..."

The Mayan merchant Tikalo sweated down his back, struggling to respond equivocally.

"That... regardless of who His Highness selects, it is for the grand strategy of expansion to the East, for the management of Cuba Snake Island!... His Highness’s prophecy is indeed remarkable! Therefore, the most outstanding and loyal person must be chosen..."

"Ah! The grand strategy to the East? I understand!... Yes! Tikalo, you are quite right!"

Upon hearing this, Black Wolf Torc’s eyes lit up, a sudden flash of inspiration appeared in his mind, and thoughts flowed like a spring! He had long memorized the personnel within the Kingdom internally, and there weren’t many he could respect. As for a significant matter like expansion to the Eastern Sea, amidst such a complex situation, the only fit leader was naturally the Head Warrior Bertade stationed below Cloud Serpent City, responsible for the siege!

"So, His Highness has delayed forming the official Coastal Legion because he’s waiting for the Head Warrior! It seems the Head Warrior will first serve as the Legion Commander of the Coastal Legion, then be promoted to Marshal in the direction of the Eastern Sea! And the second Legion Commander of the Coastal Legion, to cooperate with the Head Warrior, must be his trusted and smoothly commanding deputy... Someone like me, coming from the Personal Guard, having meritorious achievements, specifically leading a camp as a Camp Captain!"

"And among those in the Personal Guard, besides me, who else has high meritorious achievements and leads a camp? Yes! Only the Camp Commander of the Artillery Camp, Tupa! He’s fought in Totonac for so long and is familiar with the terrain here... Good lad! So His Highness has his eye on this boy! He’s really struck it lucky! ... If this were in the Kingdom forming a legion, it wouldn’t be his turn at all!..."

"Wait a minute! If Tupa stays here, does that mean the Artillery Camp will also stay, even be incorporated into the Coastal Legion? Tsk tsk! If the Maya city-states along the way try to block them, they will surely be blasted away one by one! ... Haha! I am truly wise!..."

Black Wolf Torc stroked his chin, a look of pride appeared on his face. At this moment, he felt like he had attained the wisdom bestowed by the finest turquoise, finally gaining clarity about His Highness’s arrangements in the Seaside Lands! And when he turned his head to look at the dumbfounded Mayan merchant Tikalo, the cold and hard expression on his face softened somewhat.

"Tikalo, who would have thought, you actually have some insight! ... Hmm... I remember you just said, if I achieve another feat of destroying a country, His Highness wouldn’t let me lead troops anymore?"

"Uh... well... wise and brave Black Wolf Commander! Chief Divine be witness! What I mean is... when a tree grows too tall, it attracts the wind and the lightning! ... And you, you’re tall and mighty, but if someone whispers slander..."

"Ha! Tikalo, look at your sneaky mindset! You’re just trying to say that my achievements are too great to be rewarded, His Highness will fear me, and then be unwilling to let me lead troops anymore, right? ... What nonsense! No matter how high my accomplishments, can they surpass His Highness? No matter how high my prestige, it doesn’t reach a third of His Highness! His Highness is such a great ruler, with ambitions spanning the seas, with endless battles to fight, how could he fear me?..."

At this point, Black Wolf Torc clearly showed some disdain. His face held a nonchalant smile until Tikalo licked his lips and carefully spoke a couple of words.

"Respected Black Wolf Commander! Even the sturdiest pyramid cannot withstand the long erosion of water! ... You’ve seen it with your own eyes, think about the past friendship between His Highness Xiulote and King Aweit, and think about the changes in recent years!...

Ten years ago, could you imagine two inseparable suns developing so many rifts? ... In the end, isn’t it because His Highness’s prestige is too high, his achievements too significant, while there are too many scoundrels around the king? ...

With the situation between the King and His Highness, if the King were to bypass His Highness and, following the tradition of the Alliance, promote you to Prince... how would His Highness respond? Then, for the tradition of the Alliance, for the rewards of achievements, His Highness would have no choice but to carve out a piece of land and grant it to you!"

"And if you accept the fief, how could you support the Black Wolf Army, how could you continue to lead the army on expeditions? If you firmly refuse, the King could make a great show of it, spreading rumors that disturb the Kingdom... Moreover, far in the future, when His Highness inherits the Alliance... there might be petty men around him, whose thoughts slowly start to change as well..."

"Respected Black Wolf Commander! For consideration of the distant future, if you wish to continue leading troops in battle, then let the glory of capturing the Hidden Serpent Holy City, capturing the Chief Priest and the Divine Descendant... be given to other Generals, for His Highness to take full control!"

"Hmm?!... His Highness and the King, changes and future... This is your suggestion? You want me to yield my achievements, to suppress my prestige?"

For a moment, Black Wolf Torc’s smile froze. His expression alternated rapidly between emotions, changing several times. After a while, he pursed his lips, glanced at the bowed Tikalo, and shouted angrily.

"Chief Divine be witness! My loyalty to the Kingdom has never wavered! I am His Highness’s Black Wolf, loyal only to His Highness!... With the wisdom of His Highness’s Divine Revelation, how could he, like a mortal, be swayed by petty men’s lures?!"

"Bah! I’m furious, what utter nonsense! Tikalo, I see you as a petty man, just like the Female Snake beside the king! Major affairs of the Alliance are ruined by people like you! If it weren’t for you petty men, the King wouldn’t have sent people westward, ending up with the nonsense of crowning a monkey! And His Highness wouldn’t be entangled between the two sides, repeatedly sending envoys to the Capital City, to assert his loyalty..."

"Uh! Yes! Yes! Respected Black Wolf Legion Commander, you are right... Hmm? Crowning a monkey, entangled between two sides?"

Black Wolf Torc chastised for a while, looking at the trembling, terrified Tikalo, then sighed heavily.

"Alas! Chief Divine bless the Alliance, bless the Kingdom, and bless His Highness as well!... Tikalo, tell me more carefully! Accepting the surrender of that Naval Commander, what benefit is it to the Kingdom and His Highness?..."