The Sierra Madre Oriental stretched high and unbroken, running north to south, dividing the Tlaxcala highlands from the Totonac lowlands. And at the southeastern junction of the mountains stood a towering peak that pierced the clouds: Citlaltépetl, God Mountain, the third-highest mountain in North America. In the Nahua Language, "citlal" meant "star," while "tepētl" meant high mountain. Thus this God Mountain, five thousand six hundred meters above sea level, was also called "Star Mountain" by the local mountain tribes.
"Star Mountain" rose high, and the mountain range stretched on. The long Adobe River originated at the foot of Star Mountain, winding east all the way, flowing past Earth River City and Feather Bird City, traveling more than seven hundred li before arriving at River Bend Stockade, only twenty li from the river mouth.
By the time the great river reached this place, it had already gathered the streams of seven hundred li of land, becoming fierce, surging, vast, and broad. And when the peak rainy season arrived, the water level of the entire river would rise another six or seven meters, becoming the most natural dividing line between the eastern and western Totonac lands.
"Praise the Main God! What a fine great river!"
Tupa wore leather armor, carried a Longbow on his back, and stood on a small hill only one li from River Bend Stockade with more than a dozen personal guards. He paid no attention to the boiling slaughter and shouts before River Bend Stockade, but instead gazed at the vast long river flowing down from the southern upper reaches and spoke with a smile.
"If we could take the whole long river, upstream and downstream, there would be another convenient water route from Tlaxcala eastward! When the time came, the army would head south from the highlands