June, Mesoamerica, 18 degrees north latitude. The Mixtec Cloud Land, the valley of Mountain River City.
The Mixtec valley of Mountain River City stretched more than a hundred li north to south and several dozen li east to west, and had once gathered over a hundred thousand mountain river tribesmen. This was one of their ancient origins, once the most flourishing place among the tribes of the Mixtec Valley—even in all the Mixtec Cloud Land!
The broad Mixtec Long River (Río Mixteco) ran from north to south, cutting across the entire valley, providing the most precious source of irrigation and nourishing several hundred thousand mu of farmland here. The narrow Rio Salado (Río Salado), among the mountains outside the valley, gathered into a natural Salt Lake, becoming a precious source of "salt" as well. Where there was water and salt, it was a naturally fine place, with fields and cities both!
The sacred hill "Yucuudahui" (Yucuudahui) stood among the mountains on the eastern side of the valley. Beneath the hill lay the ruins of an ancient city-state buried under the earth. That was the "Ancient Hill City" built over a thousand years ago, when the Mixtec tribes had first begun to rise. Now, atop the hill, only the solemn and dignified "Altars of the Gods" remained, along with fortified watchtowers under military guard.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!..."
The banner of the Mexica Alliance flew far above the "sacred hill." The Divine King's tent was located here, overlooking the entire valley of Mountain River City. More than ten li away, Mountain River City still hung the last Mixtec banner. Only, that banner leaned this way and that, long since on the verge of collapse. And the continuous camps of the Mexica Legion covered the hills, choking off the eastern valley mouth that led