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Northwest Region, North Sea City.
At the port.
"Welcome, Young Chuta… I trust that the deliberations with the Chiefs of the islands have proven promising," Xiua expressed with a measured and courteous tone.
"Dad!" exclaimed Nyia with joy, leaping into her father's arms. "I didn't imagine you would await us here. Where is Mom?" she inquired with tender affection.
"It's a pleasure to see you, Nyia… Your mother awaits us in the capital," he replied, gently stroking her hair.
"How was your journey?" he asked with a hint of concern.
"It was splendid! I was able to gaze upon the vast and endless ocean, numerous unprecedented landscapes for my canvases, and we even brought a new sister who possesses the ability to communicate with animals," she responded with evident enthusiasm.
"A new sister?" he inquired, glancing at me askance.
"Yes! Her name is Turey, and she is currently learning our language, and I am also learning to speak Taíno," she replied, she prepared for a moment and then pronounced in Taíno: "She be Turey, and she love animals."
"Amazing! My daughter, besides being a luminary in the pictorial arts, now masters other languages," he congratulated her, bestowing a wide smile. "So now you have a new fiancée, Young Chuta, what good fortune for you!" he commented to me with an ironic undertone.
"I'll provide you with the details later… For now, let us proceed to the naval regiment," I indicated with a serious tone, wishing to avoid further accolades or inquisitive glances.
An hour later.
"My congratulations, Young Chuta," the General of the Southwest Zone Navy told me.
"Thank you, Umzye… Are there any updates on the expeditions?" I asked, swiftly changing the subject.
"No, Young Chuta, there are still a few months left until the return of the transoceanic expeditions. Nevertheless, the coastal expeditions continue their course and reach increasingly greater distances along their respective routes. The island mapping itineraries have already recorded all pertinent data. The navy of the northeast zone is already erecting advanced outposts in collaboration with the Explorer Division along the northern and southern routes," he explained.
"I understand… What about the bases north of the Aztecs? Have they been built?" I inquired.
"Yes, the contingent assigned to accompany General Moctezuma departed with five other river vessels laden with sufficient provisions and tools to establish a small village, and since that day, periodic missions have been dispatched for supply deliveries. Furthermore, the entirety of the resources requested by the Aztecs in this first commercial exchange between kingdoms has also arrived."
"Do the advanced outposts also receive the corresponding supplies?"
"Yes, Young Chuta, resources are constantly being sent. We are evaluating the possibility of supplies being delivered via waterways. Rivers could function as internal trade routes, whether military or private."
"But, as I understand it, the mission to explore internal routes has not been completed, or has it already been carried out?"
"The mission has been completed. Right at the time of your departure, the Orinoco River mission, as the Arahuacos call it, began, and we managed to discover a route that takes approximately five days outbound and seven days return; the route is feasible for medium and low-cargo vessels, and in one section, it is possible to incorporate large-cargo vessels. As for the immense jungle river, the mission is in progress, and the Arahuacos have sent some guides."
"Those are excellent tidings… Have the cities in the Northern Islands been completed?"
"No, Young Chuta, we have prioritized the construction of the advanced outposts I mentioned previously, and the cities on the islands are, for now, only small settlements. We are awaiting a new wave of volunteers for mobilization and assignment to these islands. However, tools and provisions are delivered consistently."
"Are the creation of replenishment points underway?"
"Yes, Young Chuta. The replenishment points have been built on the islands of the Caribbean and Taíno territories, but we face a difficulty in constructing them in the northwestern territories."
"What's wrong with them? Have they attacked us?"
"That's not it, Young Chuta. The problem lies in the fact that the peoples who speak a dialect similar to ours are constantly moving, so our peace negotiations with a specific community can be invalidated by another community settling nearby at any time."
"I see… We will attempt a combined approach. Establish fortified coastal settlements to safeguard the replenishment points. The approach to these new nomadic tribes will remain unchanged," I ordered after pondering it for a moment.
"Understood, Young Chuta."
"Anything else to report involving the northeast zone?"
"No."
"Then, let us proceed with the reports concerning the Southwest Zone, which you lead… Are the shipyards constructed?"
"Yes, Young Chuta, but we have not yet been able to manufacture large-draft vessels, although in the coming months we could conduct offshore trial voyages."
"Speaking of ships and boats, have you already determined the standardized names for the vessels?"
"Yes, Young Chuta. For the boats: the small one will be called Yagual, in allusion to the palm leaf in the Taíno language; the medium one will be called Arara, like the bird; and the large one will be called Kaimán, like the beast of the eastern rivers and lakes. For the ships: the small one will be called Guaraguao, as the Taínos name the hawk; the medium one is called Wayamú, as the Arahuacos designate their guardian spirit; and, finally, the large one will be called Tequendama, like the majestic waterfall of our territory."
"So, in order, they would be Yagual, Arara, and Kaimán for the boats, and Guaraguao, Wayamú, and Tequendama for the ships. These are very apt names… According to your report, do you mean that you have already put the Guaraguao and Wayamú ships into service in the Western Ocean, is that correct?"
"It is exactly as you have inferred, Young Chuta, but I must emphasize that both types of vessels have only made short reconnaissance and trial voyages for the safety of the crews. Nevertheless, all voyages have yielded positive results, and we were awaiting your determination to continue with the exploration of the western coast."
"If the trials have yielded such favorable results, you may immediately commence with the exploration and establishment of supply points along the coasts. However, we will proceed as planned and only explore our coasts and those to the north, as I do not wish for conflicts with the Incas at this time."
"We will execute it as you command… Secretary!"
"I am here, sir!"
"Deliver order 96 without delay!" he commanded with a firm and somewhat euphoric tone to a soldier who quickly entered Umzye's office.
"Yes, sir!"
"Did you already have the message prepared?" I inquired, perplexed.
"Yes, Young Chuta. I apologize for having anticipated your words," Umzye apologized, averting his gaze.
"I am not upset by that; in fact, I appreciate the proactivity. It's just that… I didn't imagine you would be so enthusiastic to begin this exploration," I commented with a casual tone, while letting out a soft laugh.
"Hahaha… It's just that the Southwest Zone Navy has been waiting for this mission with great anticipation, and I in particular," he expressed with an embarrassed tone, scratching the back of his neck as he replied.
"Hahaha, now I understand. It seems all members of the navy possess an adventurous spirit… Returning to the previous topic, I want you to map the entire west coast flawlessly; we now have experienced personnel and technicians for the mappings and be very careful with the time changes we have been studying over the last year."
"I have taken it into consideration, Young Chuta; the vessels now travel with adjusted and marked chronometers depending on the time of the different variations. The researchers from the Kingdom's Laboratory have set the central city's time as the primary one. The Aztecs would be one hour behind, the Taínos you just visited would use our same time, and the Caribes and the Northeast Region would be one hour ahead. Furthermore, I want to remind you, Young Chuta, that you ordered the envoys on the ocean-crossing mission to adjust extra clocks to determine the distance traveled."
"That's right, I had almost forgotten."
"I have already prepared mapping experts for this new coastal exploration. They know about the triangulation you taught at the Academy, so we will have an approximate idea of the northern territory's configuration. Additionally, they will also record storms, currents, and favorable winds, just like the rest of the expeditions."
"It seems you had everything ready… Since we are discussing the expeditions, I want you to prepare to travel across the western ocean as soon as the ships can set sail. Remember that you must first send reconnaissance expeditions. Although, if I'm not mistaken, the currents and winds will behave similarly to what we have discovered in the eastern ocean."
"We will take the necessary precautions, Young Chuta."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"By the way, Young Chuta, a message arrived for you from the Kingdom's Laboratory."
"What is it about?"
"They were reporting that they found the tree that produces the resin you had requested to find."
"Did they find the rubber? That's great news," I commented, excited by the prospects of rubber's application.
"Rubber? Is it a valuable material?" Umzye inquired.
"Yes, it is," I affirmed without hesitation. "This is an extremely versatile material that can even be used in sports. It will help improve the economy of the inland regions," I added.
"Incredible… Young Chuta, I forgot to mention a message from the Ministry of Commerce," Umzye commented with a guilty tone.
"Don't worry, no problem… What's the message?" I asked him.
"They wish to allocate ships and boats exclusively for private transport. They conceived this idea at the request of one of the Aztec nobles, named Nezahualpilli, who yearned to establish direct trade between us and his territory. Furthermore, according to what the envoys from the Explorer Division reported, he has been a leader since a very young age, treats his people with great benevolence, and has attempted to liberate his territory from Tenochtitlan's dominion."
"Oh! A fascinating man, no doubt. Send messengers to Central City to schedule a meeting with the Ministry of Economy. Also, speak with Governor Xiua so they can test commercial voyages with representatives from the Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, they must increase the number of Kaimán boats and Guaraguao and Wayamú ships manufactured for interior sea trade. Lastly, you must prepare the shipyards of the Western Ocean for analogous situations when we begin trading with the Tarascans."
"Everything will be done as you command, Young Chuta."
"Phew… That's all for today. Now I will go to rest; it was quite an exhausting journey."
"Rest well, Young Chuta."
"You too, Umzye. You've done an exceptional job."
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Thanks everyone for reading.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As I said before, the reports will no longer be in tedious meetings with many people, but rather these kinds of interactions with a lot of information.
Chuta begins planning the first expeditions across the Pacific Ocean. He explains a little more about trade with the Aztecs and about standardized things.
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: The Incas controlled a portion of the maritime territory near their empire, but more than a military position, it was just an area where their fishermen could do their work without the intervention of ships that didn't belong to the empire. They never developed any form of exploration or military control of their seas.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future.
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis from Visions of Future Saga.
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