Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 1935 1406: Unstoppable Vanguard, Tiger Vanguard!

"Chieftain, this one is too light! This one is still too light... This one's good! Chieftain, this one has power, this one's good!..."On the east side of the camp, in the wooden courtyard of the Iron Armor Shop, Hu Nu wielded a two-meter-long great knife single-handedly, sweeping and slicing across the snow, creating a fierce and vigorous spectacle!

"Whiz!..."

"Chief Divine Buddha! Such a long scroll, weighing a full twelve pounds, with a blade over one arm in length! If this were to be wielded on the battlefield, a single sweep could take out an entire group of ordinary samurai or peasant soldiers!..."

Watching the scene in front of him, Ironsmith Master Matsushita Tetsusuke gasped in shock. This twelve-pound heavy long scroll tachi was being swung single-handedly by a giant-like "Daoyi" barbarian, astonishing him to the core! When forging this double-handed long weapon, he never imagined anyone could wield such a long knife, such a "Big Long Scroll," with one hand!

Indeed, the long knife in Hu Nu's hand was a "Big Long Scroll," with a blade length of ninety centimeters and a handle length of one meter and one. This "Long Scroll" resembles the naginata in size, becoming popular only in the Muromachi Era, specifically designed to counter cavalry or for battlefield strikes. Its only difference from the naginata is the Long Scroll's blade, which features a Samurai sword-like hoe shape. The Uesugi family later specifically selected brave warriors to form a renowned Long Scroll team.

As for the so-called "Big Long Scroll," it is further extended for convenient battlefield slashing. Like the Celestial Empire's Yanyue dao and the European double-handed great sword, it is intended for vanguard warriors' use, serving as a heavy formation-breaking weapon! Their fighting form is also fierce, embodying the spirit of disordered troops advancing boldly, opening up and closing in dynamic aggression, invincible!

"Chief Divine Buddha! This truly is a 'Ghost General'! A battlefield ghost general, unbeatable in combat!..."

"Praise the Chief Divine! Hu Nu, this weapon is too long, best wielded with both hands for agility! Yes, just like that!... Haha! This knife in your hand could probably slice off a horse's head in one go!!..."

There is a famous saying, "A month's staff, a year's knife, a lifetime's spear." Compared to the much harder-to-master spear, the long knife is far simpler, requiring less technical skill, relying more on physical strength. After Hu Nu swung it for a moment, he suddenly shouted and lifted it with both hands, abruptly striking at a small tree as thick as an arm in the courtyard!

"Roar! Cut the tiger!"

"!"

Matsushita Tetsusuke's eyelids twitched, worried that his newly crafted Big Long Scroll might break in two under such a hack. If that happened, his reputation as a "Master Swordsmith" would utterly collapse in the eyes of the "Shandan Chieftain."

But fortunately, Hu Nu's seemingly rough swings are guided by a finely honed intuition in angle and speed, resulting from countless trials. With just a swift slash, the small tree broke crisply into two segments, with a "crack!"

"Haha! Good! Good knife! Quick knife!..."

Zuwaro froze for a few moments before bursting into delighted laughter. Hu Nu then held the long knife horizontally, meticulously feeling along the blade without any noticeable nicks—it seems it truly could cut down a tiger in one strike!

"Come! Tie Zhu, where is the iron armor I asked you to modify? Bring it over, and suit Hu Nu up!..."

"Yes, my lord!"

Soon, Matsushita Tetsusuke came over with two tribal apprentices, carrying a fifty-jin heavy "Big Armor." This heavy armor, based on iron doumaru received from the Kaozaki Family, was initially too small for the Jurchen warriors to fit into without significant modification.

Matsushita Tetsusuke widened and thickened the armor plates, crafted a matching iron helmet, shoulder armor, arm armor, and leg armor, then had leatherworker Niue Jinbo add two layers of inner leather lining, finally having lacquer craftsman Qishang Chunshu finish it with a layer of great lacquer. The three worked for nearly a month to produce this set of two leather layers and one iron "Big Armor!"

Undoubtedly, its defense capability is more than adequate. However, there's one issue—it is excessively heavy, essentially a lump of iron! No samurai in all of Ezo land could possibly don this and still manage to run and fight—perhaps only Lord Nobuhiro in his youth could... maybe?...

"Hu Nu, how do you feel?"

"Chieftain, it's a bit tight. Wearing it, I feel like a thick-skinned brown bear, not very agile..."

"... I'm asking is it heavy for you?"

"Hmm... It's a bit heavy, but not bad, let me run and try... Eh! It blocks the wind quite well, it's warm too!... Chieftain, is this 'Big Iron Skin' really mine now? I have no skin to give you, nothing to exchange..."

"... It's yours!"

"Really? Chieftain, you can't go back on your word... Swear it by the Chief Divine!..."

"By the Chief Divine's witness! Not only do you have a set, but every one of the other twenty Jurchen Warriors will also have a set! ... Damn it! Are you the Chieftain, or am I the Chieftain? When has a word from me, Zuwaro, ever been disregarded?!"

Zuwaro, fuming, stood on tiptoe and slapped Hu Nu on the shoulder. Hu Nu blinked his eyes, lowered his head, and said in a buzzing voice.

"Chieftain, don't you like to hit heads? ... If you can't reach, I'll lower my head for you to hit! As long as you keep your word..."

"...! I'll give you a smack!..."

Zuwaro lifted his hand and gave Hu Nu two hard knocks, "clang clang," on the head. With his Iron Helmet on, Hu Nu shook his head, showing no reaction. Watching this Warrior clad in Heavy Armor, clumsy yet bold, wielding his long knife, Zuwaro couldn't help but burst into laughter, which grew louder and louder!

"Ha ha! Good! Very good! Clad in Heavy Armor, wielding a long knife, charging through formations... Hu Nu, from now on, you will be my most valiant Vanguard Warrior, the Tiger Vanguard!!..."

"Ha ha! On Kutadai Island and Ezo land, iron ore has been sporadically discovered, along with plenty of coal and wood... I will set up an Iron Smelting Workshop, trade to cultivate more Blacksmiths, arm each of you to the teeth, and equip you with powerful cavalry horses for charging formations!..."

"By the Chief Divine's witness! From now on, you twenty-one will form a separate unit, called the Vanguard Breaking Formation Guard, with you as the team leader!..."

"Huh? Chieftain, can being the team leader get me extra meat to eat?"

"Yes! Meat until you're full!..."

"Good! The Chief Divine who promises full meals, great!!..."

Heavy snow once again fell from the sky. Zuwaro stood confidently in the snow, laughing heartily. Beside him, stood the tower-like Hu Nu, motionless in the snow, looking bored at the surroundings.

"Awoo awoo! Awoo!..."

Suddenly, several barks came from afar, followed by the alert barking of the entire camp's hunting dogs! As the Samurai shouted and stood guard, two Scouts rode sleds and appeared on the frozen sea to the south. Before long, they reached the camp, bringing news from across the Strait, from Japanese Land.

"Great Shaman Chief! From the southern Japanese Land, there's a letter! And the Envoy from the Beiyu Division brought some New Year gifts..."

"Hmm? A letter from the Japanese? New Year gifts? Bring them here!..."

Soon, Zuwaro laid eyes on three gifts that had traveled thousands of miles from Japanese Land. The first was a small, exquisite wood carving depicting a vivid "bird." The bird's long beak resembled that of a Hummingbird, presumably inspired by the abstract Hummingbird pattern on the Gold Talisman. Below the bird's head, it bore the unmistakable likeness of an eagle, clearly the result of the Craftsman's great effort; every feather was meticulously detailed!

"A Divine Wood Carving of the Hummingbird? Interesting, truly interesting!... These Japanese, so full of clever thoughts, adept at discerning people's preferences!"

Zuwaro admired the delicate Hummingbird wood carving, even though it was just ordinary wood, he found it irresistible. This exquisite carving skill was evidently beyond the current Kingdom and Alliance. After playing with it for a while, he turned to the second gift.

The second gift was a fine Dagger, or "rib-tickler." The Dagger was attached to a vibrant folding fan with red tassels, serving more for decoration than practical use. Zuwaro wasn't very interested, but after some thought, he raised a slight smile. It could be left for his three Ainu wives as a novel decoration, adding some evening amusement.

"Oh! What is this?!"

Seeing the third gift, Zuwaro was taken aback and somewhat puzzled. It was a blue flag, old enough to have faded slightly but otherwise well-preserved. The flag bore an abstract bird pattern, somewhat resembling the Chief Divine's Hummingbird, yet its wings appeared more like... an eagle's?

"Chief Divine! Why does the Japanese Chieftain from the Insect Mountain Sect send me this worn-out flag?"

"Shaman Chieftain, the Japanese Envoy from the Insect Mountain Sect very solemnly presented this flag... they said it was, this was..."

The Beiyu Envoy, who had delivered the gifts, scratched his head, uncertainly speaking.

"Witnessed by the Sky God over the sea! The Japanese Envoy laughed as he said at that time... this was a banner left after your Ancestor, over two hundred years ago, was at the height of his power, having fought with the Ancestors of the Insect Mountain! Even now, though your Ancestor has long passed, he has left behind much fame and legacy, including several noble lines such as yours..."

"This 'Great Yuan Golden Clan Banner' is hereby returned to its original owner! As a testament to the brotherly ties between the two sides!"

"...!"