Cortez left the sacked city behind, leaving a small garrison behind to keep it in order. He did not understand why Diego was ordering him to march westward. There seemed to be nothing, but pitiful villages and gold less cities.
He did know what lay beyond westward. It wasn’t that he was afraid, or fearful of the unknown. But it just seemed that there definitely were spoils to be found in the cities of the so called Aztecs, while it seemed like he was only wandering aimlessly toward the West.
There seemed to be only hardships without any spoils.
The men marching behind him were also disgruntled. Trudging through thick forests, without a piece of gold on them, they were now questioning why they left Spain, when they were still living in poverty.
Swatting the bugs away and cutting through the branches, Cortez marched onwards. He could only obey Diego and King, and trust their leadership.
“Sir, word from the king”
“I am busy, not now”
“Sir, that is disrespectful to the king to ignore him”
“Leave it to Cortez- He’ll do it as long as it falls under the orders I gave to him. But, I cannot be bothered listening to a man who’s sitting at the other side of the world right now”
The messenger was stunned by the treasonous reply, but uneasily nodded and left the room.
Diego didn’t even look up once during the short exchange, staring at the maps and reports that the guides gave him.
His explorers made contact with the Mayan people and were able to collect valuable map information from them.
With this his understanding of the situation was nearly complete.
A war was being conducted by the Tlacallans against the Aztec empire. He did not have to worry about the victors, as it was a large zero sum game. The lands and resources there are already occupied, and will only be exchanged from one tribe to the other. No one will become stronger; the worst case scenario will be that power will be solidified into one single tribe.
The Mayans, however, were isolated, and had room to expand and become more powerful. It was apparent that there was no other tribe around the South, and no one to threaten the rulers there. It was crucial for Diego to have a small border to defend, and attacking the Mayans would still allow him to minimize the number of potential enemies.
“That is why I will conquer you...”
Diego whispered to himself as he slid the pawn piece on the map to the right.
Cortez was slowly conquering the independent city states, moving towards the Mayans. While a small force was landed on the most eastern and southern portion of the New World.
The Tlacallans were keeping the Aztecs busy and diverting their attention away from Diego and his forces.
While Diego only grew more powerful and influential.
If all went to plan, Diego should have the entire southern part of the New World to himself by or before the end of the war between the Aztecs and the minor tribes, and he shall continue to gain a higher title.
If the plan failed, however, Diego will lose the small stronghold he had on the New World, be forced to retreat, and be forced to stop his conquest.
