The enemy withdrew, and night fell. Seven longboats pulled up to the beach, and the kingdom's exploration party, reduced to just over two hundred men, set up camp on the west bank of the Great Water River. Pimon took two hundred spear Warriors and hurried to treat the wounded and interrogate the captives. The warriors also supervised eight hundred able-bodied men as they hastily buried the corpses of both sides' dead.
Soon, dots of campfire light kindled along the flat riverbank. The aroma of food mingled with the faint reek of blood, then scattered in the night wind, drifting in every direction.
"I personally interrogated the captives. The leader on the other side is called Yunshi Kawa. He is the military leader of Huamuxtitlan, and has always been close to the great chief of Mountain River City, Yuchi. He can be counted as the other man's supporter and ally."
Pimon gripped his spear and came before the two captains. He sat down on the ground, took a heated, softened Tortilla, and while chewing in great mouthfuls, described the enemy's identity.
"Yunshi Kawa? Military leader of Huamuxtitlan, ally of the great chief Yuchi?"
At these words, confusion appeared on Puapu's face.
"What does that mean?"
"Simply put, the leader opposite us belongs to the group among the Mixtec who are most firmly opposed to the Alliance."
Pimon put down the Tortilla, stretched out his hand, and gestured toward the southeast.
"Since the Eastern Expedition began, the Mixtec initially stayed neutral. Huamuxtitlan, the city closest to here, is nominally a vassal of the Alliance. If scouts from both sides met, although they were wary of each other, they would not directly come to blows."
"That kind of relationship lasted for several months. But after His Majesty swept through the two southern states,