The long Heron River wound eastward like a jade belt across the northern earth, encircling vibrant plains. A Kingdom Longship rowed against the long river, its oars churning as it kept sailing upstream toward the vast west.
"Rivers... plains... villages... camps..."
Old Militia Chiwako stood at the bow, looking at the open scenery along the banks, completely different from the Totonac jungles. On both sides of the Heron River were plains of sparse, tall grass, where herds of deer and Wild Rabbits could be seen running.
And amid the lush grasses and trees, every few dozen li, one could see a village of thatched huts, or a camp of dug-out Pit Houses. The former belonged to migrating Huastec tribes, while the latter were semi-settled Janambre tribes. All of them submitted to the Red Crow Great Tribe and paid tribute, providing men and grain.
"What... do they grow in these villages? What do they usually eat?"
"Uh..."
Hearing his old man's farming question, Wasteland Warrior Chipawa helplessly tugged at his hair. He thought for a while, then dragged over a tribal warrior who was rowing, asked him a few questions in Guachichil Language, and only then answered with certainty.
"Dad, the Huastec in the villages know how to farm, and they grow more kinds of crops. The main ones are corn, pumpkin, and bean, same as back where we used to live! They also grow Chili, Tomato, and Mango Tree, Papaya Tree..."
"As for food, ordinary villagers eat pumpkin and bean, of course! Corn is made into Tortilla and paid as tribute to the Red Crow Great Tribe... Oh! They also fish, dig wild greens, and gather berries... But the fertile woods and lakes with fish are basically occupied by Janambre tribal camps. They're fiercer, so the docile Huastec villagers usually