This pressure of logistics, for the Mexica Alliance that lacks ox carts and horse carriages, has no constructed expressways, and relies entirely on civilian labor for transport, is akin to an abyss level! To ensure the logistical supply of the great army, not only did the Texcoco Lake District mobilize tens of thousands of civilians, but it also squeezed out a large amount of stored grain. The Southern City-States along the way, and the Tlaxcala Basin, also contributed a large amount of materials and manpower conscription. Additionally, lots of military farms were established in the Divine Mountain City Valley to be as self-sufficient as possible.

It can be said that although the scale of the alliance army for this Southern Expedition is not larger than the Western and Eastern Expeditions, the materials consumed are several times that of the Western and Eastern Expeditions! Even when Xiulote saw the huge ledger board of logistics records, he couldn’t help but show surprise. Because he knew very well that with the size of his Lake Sealed Country, he could not bear such terrible food and manpower consumption.

This is a war of annihilation over a six-hundred-mile radius, in the world of Central America, akin to Qin’s annihilation of Chu State, which must be completed with a large scale to completely overwhelm on all fronts! Otherwise, it’s either advancing bit by bit and digesting, stockpiling food little by little, farming on the front lines, fighting for several years, or ten years. Or establishing tributary ties, establishing vassal tributes, recognizing the autonomy of various mountain tribes, then differentiating alliances, preaching assimilation, using a more gentle manner to complete conquest...

If it weren’t for the changes brought by Xiulote, Avit would only force the Mixteco people into vassal tribute, then annex several city-states to the South, and be satisfied with that, sparing the distant Divine Descendants among the clouds. But now, his ambition and aspiration to unify the world have long been unsatisfied with this! And the enhanced logistical support capability brought by Xiulote can also barely support him, moving South a step further, and then another!

"Two years? Siege the city for another two years?... From Mixteco to Zapotecs... From the Oaxaca Valley to the seaside... How many more years can the alliance sustain this logistical support for the Southern Expedition?... "

Divine King Avit pondered with his hands clasped behind his back. Moments later, he concluded with a definite number, and then he paced to the table in front of the Royal Tent.

On the wide table lies a meticulously annotated map amidst the clouds. Upon closer inspection, in the southeast of six hundred miles of Mixteco land, there’s a further four hundred miles of Zapotecs territory, with most of the city-states and tribes clearly marked!

Yes, these are updated southern maps explored by the Secret Guards. Under the guidance of Chief Intelligence Officer Shadow Dagger, the penetration and reconnaissance of hostile forces by the Secret Guards far surpass those during Gillim’s era. The help for the Divine King’s military campaigns is evident. However, in such dangerous penetrations, the attrition of the Secret Guards is naturally inevitable and has already been secretly recruited and supplemented twice in the Texcoco Lake District...

At the same time, the alliance has some seasoned Secret Guards planted as long-term hidden stakes within the Kingdom of the Lake and the Totonac Coast, even among the Otomi and Vastec. Various tribal army corps under Xiulote’s influence are always the deepest apprehension in Avit’s heart...

As for those centralized city-states’ Great Nobility, they have long been harshly dealt with by Gillim several times, severely eliminating several waves of people. Then, during the Eastern and Southern Expeditions, he heavily confiscated most of the nobles’ financial and military rights, almost completing the centralization of the Lake Region. At present, these original alliance Great Nobles have already lost most of their overt power, transferred fiefs or sought allegiance, showing no visible capability for resistance. Consequently, the focus of the Secret Guards naturally shifted...

"If Cloud Mountain City is besieged for another two years, then this Southern Expedition cannot be completed in one swift motion, continuing to annihilate the Zapotec tribes. The Alliance army must withdraw, causing the dissolution of the three army corps one after another... I must return to the Lake Capital City, accumulate for another three years, then raise the great army to march south again!"

"With these three years, the Zapotecs can catch their breath, restore some Samurai numbers, and rebuild a circle of mountain forts, making future conquests more difficult... And similar logistical issues will emerge again..."

"Moreover, splitting the conquest into two phases, annihilating Mixteco and Vastec... How can such achievements compare to annihilating the two tribes amidst the clouds in one go, conquering a thousand miles amidst the clouds?..."

After prolonged contemplation, Divine King Avit reached out, gripping the yellow gemstone symbolizing glory and courage on the Divine Staff. At this moment, he finally made his choice, a choice of destiny. He rose expressionless, searched in the large tent for a while, and slowly drew out another crude map, exploring the Northern Continent by the Lake Sealed Country!

Xiulote had briefly reported these northern exploration messages to him. He also arranged Secret Guards to collect intelligence in the Lake Sealed Country while gathering significant information about the Northern Continent. Just like the approximate locations of Feather Prince and the Black Serpent Clan, he roughly knew...

"Blood oath, surrender Cloud Mountain City... preserving lives, along with a fief to pass on the bloodline amidst the clouds..."

Divine King Avit squinted as he gently ran his fingers across the desolate and wild, divine disaster-ravaged Northern Continent as if touching the edge of the world. Subsequently, he picked up a pen, dipped it in carmine ink, and on the edge of the Nava world, from the North’s entry to sea of Lerma River, north of Northern Teotihuacan Lands, drew a red line!

After completing these, he then looked at the loyal Chief Intelligence Officer, the outstanding Military Intelligence Officer Shadow Dagger, pointed at this map and instructed.

"The alliance can accept the conditions of the Divine Descendants from Cloud Mountain City... However, this fief cannot be in the Land Amidst the Clouds, nor in the Highland world, but only in the vast Northern Continent, north of this red line!..."

"Go! Deliver the conditions of the Divine Descendants from Cloud Mountain City and this sealed map to Xiulote!"

"He best matches my intentions, understands my aspirations... Let him handle the forthcoming negotiations!..."

"Additionally, tell him, a chief divine decree divination would make the surrender of the Cloud City nobles more easily accepted by the nobility and samurai! After all, the slogan before the Southern Expedition was ’Divine War’, to completely eliminate the bloodline of the Fake God amidst the clouds..."

A prophet accompanying the army, can be so useful, able to "timely interpret" the chief divine’s will, aligning with the Divine King’s intentions, making Avit very satisfied! Even the slight reputations against the new form of divination transmitted by the High Priesthood were sternly rebuked by him. He knew the dissatisfaction from the High Priesthood, aware those Elder Priests aimed to monopolize supreme authority over divination. But such a power is so useful, and with Xiulote always following his command, it’s tantamount to his divination divine authority, how can he let it go?...

"Yes! Your Majesty, Divine King!"

The outstanding Military Intelligence Officer Shadow Dagger bowed his head, showing respectful salute to the Divine King once again. Later, he carefully picked up the map, tucked it in his bosom, and left lightly as he came. Behind him, the Divine King draped in cloak, holding the Scepter of the King, gazed towards the endless south. In the fiery crimson sunlight, his glorious red feather crown swayed, as if ignited with fire!

"...Thousand Miles Amidst the Clouds... Thousand Miles of Maya... Along with Three thousand miles of ancient Cuba... Countless miles of the Northern Continent... Even twenty thousand miles away of the Evil Demon Land!..."

"Chief Divine’s blessing, this world is so vast! I still want to live another fifty years, like an immortal elder... I want to lead my loyal army corps, to see this vast world, to conquer it all!"