The King's Western Tour: An Envoy from Fire River City

Three thousand Imperial Guard Legion soldiers guarded Black Wolf's Royal Banner and remained in Kan River Village for more than half a month. The kingdom's envoys traveled day and night, following mountain paths nearly four hundred li west, and arrived in Fire River City to relay the king's decree.

Ezpan also coordinated from Wild Mountain Village, sending out more than two hundred Red-hair scouts to spy on the Fire River Plain. The western Colima tribes immediately grew tense. More than five thousand tribal warriors who had long since been mobilized set out from Fire River City and headed for the mountain passes on the eastern border of the Fire River Plain, further strengthening the defenses of their mountain forts.

And within Fire River City, the many Tecos noble chiefs argued fiercely for several days. In the end, it was still the Colima great chief, Imar, who persuaded the tribes to make a decision and submit obediently to the powerful Northern Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, Ezpan of the Lake Kingdom sends you his greetings! Praise be to you. I am your loyal servant, and you are my supreme sun!"

Before Kan River Village, Ezpan wore the splendid attire of a legion commander and threw himself excitedly to the ground before Xolotl, caring nothing that dust and mud stained him from head to toe. Even though he was already a noble legion commander, he remained as loyal as a servant of the king.

"May the Main God bless us! Your Majesty, the campaign in the southwestern mountains has gone smoothly in every way!"

"May the Main God bless us! Ezpan, my legion commander, you and Caca fought well!"

Seeing this, Xolotl nodded in satisfaction. He reached out with a smile and helped the other man up from the mud.

"I hear you came