CHAPTER 1173: CHAPTER 734: SECOND KINGDOM EXPEDITION, FIRST BATTLE ON CUBA ISLAND!

The sea and sky are vast, the wind is calm, and the bright September sunlight is spread across the Caribbean Sea after the storm. The sea sparkles like the golden long feathers on the body of the Feathered Serpent, or like the magnificent mirror beneath the Heavenly Divine’s feet.

After the rain, seven Kingdom Longships loaded with three to four hundred warriors set out together. The whole flotilla maintains a steady speed neither hurried nor slow, rowing along the green coast of Cuba all the way towards the East. The Red Soil Clan, some two hundred li away from the Mayali Region, is the destination. To ensure the sailors have the strength to engage the enemy at any moment, travel is limited to sixty to seventy li per day. After three days of this pace, as the dawn light illuminates the sky, the magnificent red hills and earth along the coast appear before everyone’s eyes.

The Taino People’s Red Earth Tribe is just over ten li ahead, but Priest Tomate isn’t in a hurry to arrive. He has the flotilla rest nearby, allowing crew members to recover their strength. Meanwhile, he sends two hunters from the Mayali Region onto the land with the envoy who previously sought aid, to make contact with the Red Soil Clan. A nimble canoe is lowered from the longship carrying three to four skilled Kingdom sailors to scout the coastal situation ahead.

After half a day, having eaten a simple lunch, the scouts return one after another. The Kingdom sailors have discovered the coastal situation, with over a hundred dugout canoes of the Ciguayo raiders splitting into squads of several dozen men, plundering villages and tribes along the coast!

"The Chief Divine witnesses! The Ciguayo raiders are like a...a bunch of crazed Wild People!... they brandish Stone Spears and Hunting Bows, stealing fish and turtles from the pond, dogs and tough-haired rats from the pens, dried fish and tools from the fishing huts, dried tobacco leaves from the tobacco huts, and even digging cassava from cassava fields to take away..."

The scout sailor responds as such, showing no sign of pre-battle worry, but rather an amused fascination.

"Two to three thousand tribespeople of the Red Soil Clan have mostly gathered together, cooped up in their main village, relying on a circle of wooden fences for defense. The Ciguayo raiders have sent four to fifty men to watch the main village, yet haven’t exerted much force to attack. Their main force is plundering in the small villages, taking away all wealth they can and capturing able-bodied men and women scattered around..."

"There are no signs of combat along the coast, and few dead bodies. From afar, I spotted hundreds of laborers transporting goods. Judging by the different white tattoos on them, they should be captured Taino people, but it’s unclear from which tribes they were taken..."

Upon such descriptions, Priest Tomate and the veteran militia Chiwaco exchange a thoughtful glance.

"With the Chief Divine’s blessing, it seems the Red Soil Clan is not in immediate danger. They have hundreds of able-bodied men gathered, it shouldn’t be easy for the enemy to consume them. While the Ciguayo raiders haven’t massacred, only plundered food and wealth, and captured prisoners..."

"Hmm, it’s as if treating the Taino people like a fishery... After all, a personal fishery must retain fish, they can’t haul them all away! I guess the Ciguayo raiders truly intend to settle down. Their lair must be within two or three hundred li around..."

As they discuss, the scout from the Mayali Region also returns from the land. They report something to Water Chief, who, with a worried face, speaks to Priest Tomate.

"Respected Priest Tomate! The Red Soil Clan is surrounded by the vicious Ciguayo raiders! They number in the hundreds, more than dozens of hands can count... They’ve captured dozens of able-bodied men and women. According to the previous raid, Ciguayo raiders will plunder until dusk, then depart northeast to the sea..."

At this point, Water Chief pauses, then kneels on the deck with a thud, pleading to the leaders of the Longboat Tribe.

"Red Stone Chief Bociba from the Red Soil Clan wishes to make a pact with the flotilla. When the Ciguayo raiders begin to retreat at dusk, let’s launch a pincer attack from sea and land! Although ruthless, the Ciguayo raiders lose their fight when laden with loot. We don’t need to utterly defeat them, as long as we can drive them off, and rescue as many captured village men and women as possible!..."

Seeing Water Chief’s earnest request and hearing the detailed plan, Priest Tomate raises his brows and lets out a slight chuckle. After patiently listening, he steps forward, gently lifting Water Chief, confidently smiling as he responds.

"Chief Water, rest assured! As we have come, we shall defeat the Ciguayo raiders and rescue the captured tribespeople! Because the Chief Divine blesses us, He is most exalted, and you will witness His great power..."

"As for the battle plan...it’s quite simple. The Ciguayo raiders are plundering, most warriors are on land. Seize this moment where their forces are scattered, we just need to focus our full strength, and charge forward!..."

With a slight smile, Priest Tomate clenches his left fist, thrusting it forward gently pressing against Water Chief’s heart. Then he turns his head, his gentle gaze suddenly sharpens, as if transformed, with undisguised killing intent accompanying his solemn words, knocking against Water Chief’s heart.

"Deputy Captain Puapu, have the warriors don all armor! Archers ready the Greatbows, spearmen raise Long Spears, and rowers prepare fully!...In two quarters of an hour, we’ll deploy the flotilla, assuming attack formation, and attack the Ciguayo raiders’ flotilla moored by the shore!"

"In this battle, disregard capturing, unleash slaughter freely! Give it your all, win beautifully! I want to offer the Ciguayo raiders as sacrifices to the Chief Divine, let the Chief Divine’s glory illuminate the East of Cuba Island!..."

"Ho Ho! Praise to the Chief Divine, this battle will surely be a grand victory!"

Under the horrified gaze of Water Chief, Huitu warrior Puapu donned his bronze cloth armor, raised a ninety-pound greatbow, and tucked two bronze axes into his waist. He grinned widely, his face radiating a bloodthirsty intent, unable to suppress his eager smile. Soon, the belligerent Huitu Puapu gathered the warriors onboard and delivered a loud speech to everyone.

"Chief Divine’s blessing! This is the first battle on Cuba Snake Island; give it your all! You are all clad in leather and copper armor, wielding sharp weapons, while the foe doesn’t even have cotton armor; they’re just a bunch of wild people... When the time comes, don’t hold back, get close and kill fiercely!"

"All the way here, having had Taíno women, it’s time to show some manliness! After this battle, if anyone’s hands are not stained with blood... I’ll punish him to accompany Captain Chiwaco, fishing for half a month! Hey, that’s much more interesting than fooling around with young women in the village..."

"Haha!"

Hearing this, the kingdom’s warriors on the fleet burst into loud laughter, while the sailors pursed their lips, not daring to laugh out loud. Old militiaman Chiwaco’s face darkened as he awkwardly glanced at the young Dark Snake and Didi, secretly harboring a grudge in his heart.

"Good for you, Puapu! I just said a few words about you in front of the kids, and you’ve remembered till now... Ha! After we’re gone, you can accompany Priest Tomate and have fun in the village of Cuba!"

After the kingdom’s warriors’ hearty laughter, the entire fleet suddenly became solemn. Everyone was seasoned with blood and would not have much emotional fluctuation if a battle indeed ensued. On the contrary, the Water Chief holding the Hunting Bow, along with the Taino Militia from the Mayali Region, were truly nervous and excited, their faces filled with unease.

"Chief Divine bless us! Water Chief, don’t be nervous. Under the Chief Divine’s watch, the warriors of the kingdom are blessed. This battle is promised by the Chief Divine, and we are destined to win!"

Priest Tomate stood solemnly, offered a few comforting words, and changed the Water Chief into a sturdy leather armor. He didn’t want any accidents happening to this significant target in the battle.

Huitu Puapu commanded the fleet to travel over ten miles, catching sight of the low-lying villages of the Red Soil Clan and the cluttered small boats along the coast. Hundreds of Xiguayou warriors were busy along the coast, bare-chested, adorned with black tattoos, holding stone spears and short bows. They drove over a hundred Taíno captives, with many personally hauling large and small baskets of supplies, loading them onto small boats.

Their black hair was mostly dyed blue because indigo dye was most common on the coast of Central America. A few dyed it red, which was powder made from redwood seeds from the Caribbean Islands. Only a very few respected war chiefs could dye it the rare and esteemed purple.

That was bone-conch purple extracted from numerous conchs, naturally bright in color and traditionally lustrous. This expensive seaside dye was produced along the coasts of North Africa in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean Islands, once symbolizing the "purple" of the "Purple Nobility," representing the Byzantine Empire’s royal family.

"Wow! These Xiguayou people have distinct hair colors, indicating a clear hierarchy, evidently more organized than the Taíno people..."

Huitu Puapu squinted his eyes, standing at the bow of the swiftly advancing ship, scanning the chaotic crowd by the sea, searching for targets to slay.

As the Kingdom Longship suddenly appeared, the Xiguayou warriors on the outer small boats were immensely surprised and were the first to shout. Quickly, a chief with purple hair turned pale, pointing sharply at the approaching longship several miles away, calling out loudly to those around him. Within mere moments, several red-haired veteran warriors pulled out their warning conches and blew them in succession!

"Toot! Toot-toot-toot! Toot-toot!..."

The warning conch sounded, and the Xiguayou warriors onshore looked drastic. They threw down the food and wealth in their hands, ignoring the nearby Taíno captives and the distantly observing villages. They merely grabbed their bow spears, hastily jumping onto small boats, preparing to meet the sudden longship appearance at sea. The Xiguayou had no allies in eastern Cuba; this must be the enemy!

"Enemy! Enemy! To the west, on the longship, the enemy is here!"

In just a moment, the Xiguayou’s boat cluster, like startled fish, rapidly shifted. And just as they were barely ready to engage, seven twenty-plus-meter kingdom longships accelerated to the maximum, like aggressive and fierce sharks, pouncing fiercely!

As the sides rapidly approached, the "sharks" uttered heart-shaking, uniform slogans. It was a language the Xiguayou had never heard before, and a battle array killing never seen among the Caribbean tribes.

"Praise the Chief Divine, fight for the Divine!... Eighty paces!... Sixty paces! Fifty paces! Archers ready, shoot!"