Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 1936 1407: Brother Shandan Above…If You Do Not Abandon Me…May I?

"Greetings to my esteemed brother Shandan Zuwaro... With winter snow enveloping the mountains and the strait frozen white, I hope you are well and healthy. I firmly believe that amidst your busy martial campaigns, you are surely blessed by the ancestors and the Divine Buddha, ensuring all is harmonious and well!""This letter comes in modesty, reminiscing about our encounter last year, with some humble gifts... aside from the Guardian God wood carving from your tribe, the Yemono excellent sword from the Kaozaki family's collection... there's also a Great Yuan Golden Clan banner, which my father specially sent and procured from the 150,000-strong main family of Wakasa Takeda, to be gifted to your truly deserving noble tribe!"

Observing Kaozaki Mitsuhiro's letter, Zuwaro raised his eyebrows, indeed puzzled, unable to grasp Hu Nu's mind.

"Chief Divine! This 'cheap brother' from the Japanese land has sent what 'Great Yuan Golden Clan banner'? What's this strange meaning? 'Great Yuan'? ... Isn't that the 'Ancient Empire' in Your Majesty's prophecy, now the Mongolian Tribe Alliance on the grasslands? What relation does it have with our Kingdom of the Lake? Could it be that this 'Great Yuan' are descendants of the Gummy People? I don't know, and I haven't heard Your Majesty mention it?"

"Hmm! From what he's saying... is he considering me a branch of the 'Great Yuan,' or some esteemed 'Golden Clan'? I do have a lot of gold, but this 'Golden Clan' should be the divine descendants ruling the Mongolian Tribe Alliance, right? Do we look much like those Mongolian tribes?"

Zuwaro glanced around; to the left was the Jurchen Brave Warrior Hu Nu, to the right was Unanga's personal guard Xiong Da, further out were armored Kingdom's Warriors, bow-wielding Deer Clan Hunter... Eh? Indeed, a mix of various tribes looking like Northern nomadic tribes?

"Great Yuan Golden Clan? ... Hmm, if this label brings benefits and makes it easier to engage with the powerful Tribal Alliance on the Western Sea Continent, then it's not unusable!"

Zuwaro stroked his chin, somewhat enlightened. But soon, he focused on a previously overlooked sentence, slightly furrowing his brows.

"150,000-strong main family of Wakasa Takeda? A powerful tribe of 150,000 people? ... Does the Insect Mountain Sect have such formidable support behind it?"

Actually, when writing this part, Kaozaki Mitsuhiro initially wrote, "20,000 stones Wakasa guardian Takeda Clan." But after much deliberation, fearing the "Shandan Brothers" wouldn't understand, he changed it to "150,000-strong."

The Wakasa Takeda Clan is indeed the main family of Takeda Nobuhiro, but since establishing a separate family in the Ezo land, their contact gradually ceased. And if the lucrative Shandan trade were to be known by the Wakasa Takeda Clan, they might come under the guise of the main family's name, overshadow the Kaozaki family, and seize all the gold for themselves!

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, the Kaozaki family wouldn't contact the main family, just like they wouldn't engage with the allies across the strait, the Nanbu clan, and the main family Ando family.

This was Kaozaki Mitsuhiro's little ploy, adding another tiger skin to protect himself. He feared these unpredictable remnants of Yuan Invaders might suddenly turn against him during the next trade, unleashing a thousand evil ghost warriors to "eat the black"!

Ultimately, both sides are posturing with tiger skin and raising flags, very apprehensive. Yet this win-win business must continue, and in grand scale...

"Respected brother! Requesting for the first trade of this year, scheduled on the fifth of May, location and rules as before... However, my father's health is frail, and he has passed the position of head of the Kaozaki Family to me... As the family head, under the watchful eyes of various clans, I'm unable to personally appear at the May trade. Therefore, this trade will be handled by Shigeyasu Kudo, the house elder who previously connected with your tribe... Apologies for failing our agreement, I sincerely bow and apologize once more!"

"To show my regret, a gift of apology will be presented at the next May trade! Additionally, the main family will introduce a great merchant from the Capital City to personally meet the brother. This great merchant is my close uncle, well-connected, with a significant background, holding vast commodities and craftsmen. For instance, shipwrights, doctors, master craftsmen the brother mentioned last time, even master craftsmen from Korea... only this great merchant has the means to procure them!"

Reading the shift in circumstances from the letter, Zuwaro squinted his eyes, contemplating the advantages and disadvantages within.

"Hmm? Introducing a great merchant from the Capital City? Unable to appear personally, already succeeded the position of Kaozaki Family's head? ... Could it be that the mighty and feared Unanga, the 'evil eagle of the South'... is going to die?"

Mitsuhiro succeeded the "Great Chief" position, and now introduces an "Capital City great merchant," inevitably expanding their kingdom's gold trade!

As trade expands, increasing Japanese involvement, I must correspondingly demonstrate stronger military force to deter any malintent of the Japanese! Looks like for the May trade, I need to arm all the tribal warriors and take them southward, maybe even arm a batch of Ainu spearmen to bolster the scene!

After this trade, I'll have to head north towards the Heilongjiang River mouth, see how many warriors could be gathered from the Maha tribe? Possibly not many, best to think of a way to contact the Nivkh Dog Tribe met last year, pull a batch of strong dog tribe warriors!

"Chief Divine bears witness! Without equal strength, there's no equal trade!... Just uncertain, what kind of surprise might this great merchant from the Japanese capital bring? More uncertain still, what kind of heroic demeanor does that ailing 'Japanese Great Chief' possess, and how sick has he become?"

With this contemplation, Zuwaro flipped the letter and saw the final conclusion. Kaozaki Mitsuhiro maintained his usual courtesy, yet his tone couldn't conceal deep sadness.

"Upon hearing the noble's news, my father was profoundly moved and yearns to meet the brother personally! But alas, bedridden for long, unable to move, he sighs thoughtfully, unable to meet the 'Northern heroic figure,' only seeing the 'Northern Country's fading snow'... There's a younger sister at home, age twelve, and my second son Takahiro, about eleven... Not sure if the noble bloodline is willing to flow externally? I sincerely wish for marital alliance, forever united in harmony!"

"Lastly, earnestly request the brother to take care of his health. Hope in the near future, to have the fortune to meet again, reminisce and converse. Sincerely, your younger brother Kaozaki Mitsuhiro."

Finishing the letter, Zuwaro gazed south on the frozen ice surface, observing the vast whiteness, lost in prolonged contemplation.

"Bedridden for long, unable to move? ... Marital alliance, forever united in harmony? ... Chief Divine! Such flexibility in the stance of the Japanese clans, indeed surprises me!"

In his final remarks of the letter, Kaozaki Mitsuhiro unexpectedly mentioned the possibility of family line marital alliances, hinting at marrying off a "sister," or letting the second son take a "wife."

In Zuwaro's view, after battling fiercely last summer and trading under ransom terms in autumn, a direct lineage marital alliance and forever truce this year? Such quick adaptability?"

In reality, this final segment was Kaozaki Mitsuhiro's own idea, not shown to his ailing father Nobuhiro. In his opinion, better to let his second son Takahiro marry an esteemed "Ezo Noble Lady," establishing a solid alliance with the Ainu Tribe... than directly connecting with Shandan people, entering marital union with the "Golden Family!"

Ultimately, the father is severely ill, all ambitions dissipating with the weakening body. Henceforth, it has fallen upon Kaozaki Mitsuhiro to shelter the Kaozaki Family from storms, steering this great ship alone!

The pristine snow fell on the Kutadai sky, dampening that letter from far away, also drenching the distant residence. At this moment, the haggard Takeda Nobuhiro sat cross-legged inside, gazing at the white snow outside the window, a peculiar flush emerging on his face, even revealing a serene smile.

Seeing such flush and smile, both the eldest son Kaozaki Mitsuhiro and old friend Mori no Kiyoshi wore expressions of deep grief. Everyone realized the legendary, turbulent life of this figure, had finally reached its end at this time!