Year 11 of the SuaChie Calendar, third month, Tenochtitlan.
One month had transpired since Menasuca had ascended as the new nobleman of Tenochtitlan and the head of the Triple Alliance's naval industry. The strategic plot of land ceded to him by Ahuízotl was situated on a strip reclaimed from the water on the great lake's western shore, offering a clear view of the Twin Temples and the metropolis's bustling canals.
In merely thirty days, the area, which Menasuca had christened the Lake God Shipyard (Ateskatl Teotl), had transformed from a squalid mud pit into a hive of tireless activity. The initial structures were already being erected: a rudimentary forge, a drying shed for cedar and pine timbers brought from the west, and a small, yet sturdy, meeting hall built of basalt stone to withstand the lake's pervasive moisture.
This shipyard, along with several of its auxiliary workshops, formed part of his commercial endeavor, 'Tonatiu in Metztli in Ateskatl' ('Sun, Moon, and Lake'), a name that suggested an ambition that spanned the earth, the sky, and the water of Anáhuac.
Menasuca stood in the meeting hall, an austere space where the only concession to luxury was a handful of detailed maps depicting the lake and the coasts. He observed his gathered lieutenants. These were not mere servants, but his carefully cultivated network of companions and partners, forged over years of silent infiltration into Mexica territory.
He recalled the tedium of those early years, when he was a nineteen-year-old youth with a false name and a fabricated history of a fallen noble. He remembered the calculated desperation he had used to attract the right men: those who, like him, felt the oppressive atmosphere of Tenochtitlan, yearning for a path to advancement unburdened by lineage or sacrifice. He had offered them commerce, not war; growth, not subjugation.
He had instructed them in the fundamental lessons of the Suaza Kingdom's Simte Academy: inventory logistics, market analysis, the philosophy of shared gain, and resource maximization.
He had scrupulously adapted the Suaza knowledge to fit Mexica cultural and technological limitations, eliminating any trace of anachronism. His lieutenants, now influential merchants in their own right, were extensions of his own will, and their allegiance rested not on fear, but on the enduring prosperity Menasuca had afforded them.
"We must commence," Menasuca announced, his voice resonating with calm authority. "I require the reports. Let us discuss the ties that bind us, externally and internally."
The first to speak was Coatl, a robust man in his thirties, entrusted with long-distance trade. He stepped forward, unrolling a papyrus scroll.
"Lord Painalli, foreign trade with the Suaza Kingdom has grown by a third this month since the Tlatoani granted you your new station. The duties have been paid to the collectors of Tenochtitlan and Texcoco without delay, securing the goodwill of both."
"The primary flow is focused on key materials for the Shipyard," he continued. "Three shipments of bronze tools—axes, saws, hammers—and, crucially, the tars and specialized fibers for sails and ropes. Suaza paper inventory is at an all-time high in Tuxpan. We have initiated the construction of three new dry warehouses to safeguard these materials in the coastal cities."
Menasuca nodded, his mind already calculating margins and delivery speed. "And the books from Texcoco? Are they still popular?" he inquired. His interest was not purely commercial; the sale of Nezahualpilli's poems and historical records subtly disseminated Texcoco's culture, reinforcing its influence against Tenochtitlan's cultural centralization.
"They sell with fervor, my lord. As for internal commerce," Coatl continued, "our construction and repair services are sought everywhere. In particular, the construction of the new palace for Quetzalcóatl in Tenochtitlan and the expansion of the Great Temple demand a great quantity of labor and materials. We are strategically positioned to be the principal suppliers for Nezahualpilli's works."
Menasuca, ever guided by the Suaza principle of 'Never hoard, always share,' had deliberately allowed other merchants to participate in the provision of basic food and labor. This not only averted the risk of monopoly in the court's eyes but expertly created a network of favors and political dependencies around him.
The Simte Academy is correct, Menasuca reflected. Power resides not in possessing everything, but in controlling the flow that sustains others. Thus is a web of dependence woven, unbeknownst to those ensnared within it.
He concluded the conversation with Coatl and addressed Xochitl, an intelligent and calculating youth who had rapidly ascended within the company, now in charge of physical expansion projects.
"Xochitl, show me the map of the Alliance," he commanded.
Xochitl unfurled a woven cotton map. "On the lake, my lord, we have completed the basic workshops in Texcoco, Tlacopan, and three more smaller, strategic points. These are not full shipyards, but sites where we can rapidly assemble small lake boats, utilizing only local materials—a key advantage for Lake commerce."
He pointed to the eastern coast. "The Mid-Eastern Shipyard is underway. It is our first true oceanic shipyard. We have found the ideal location near Cempoala. The terrain is perfect, and we have secured it with the authority granted to us by the Tlatoani."
"And the southern one," Menasuca asked, contemplating the potential trade with the Suaza routes on the Sunset Ocean.
"The southern project, on the coast, is planned. We will require at least six moons to commence construction, given the remoteness and the logistics of moving construction brigades. Though difficult, it is an ambitious long-term undertaking."
Menasuca made a swift decision. "Excellent. Xochitl, this southern project is vital. It demonstrates our long-term vision to Ahuízotl. I place you in complete charge of the project." Xochitl bowed low, a mixture of surprise and profound pride on his face. He was one of the most loyal, and Menasuca trusted him to execute a project that, in secret, would serve the Suaza diversification strategy.
Finally, Tlatoatl, the pure logistics and warehouse manager, took the floor. He reported on the construction of secure waystations and warehouses along the main terrestrial routes, "especially those heading toward our Suaza sister-city in the north," a euphemism understood by all in the room. Menasuca nodded, satisfied.
The network was complete. The 'Sun, Moon, and Lake' endeavor was not merely building ships; it was weaving a logistical net that secretly linked the Suaza Kingdom with the heart of the Alliance.
"One last point," Menasuca announced, with a calculated smile. "We have received two important pieces of news. The first is a generous shipment of commercial aid for our constructions from Tlatoani Nezahualpilli of Texcoco. The second comprises the private orders for the first of the large boats."
The lieutenants, while pleased by Texcoco's support, displayed no surprise regarding the connection to their Tlatoani. Coatl offered a knowing smile but offered no comment. All knew what they suspected: the relationship between Painillu and Chimalatl.
Menasuca returned a smile of practiced nobility, allowing the misinterpretation to propagate. The perception of an emotional tie—his supposed concern for Chimalatl—was the strongest shield he possessed.
Let them believe it is for love or personal ambition, Menasuca thought as he dismissed his lieutenants. In the meantime, the Lake God Shipyard is constructing the first vessels that, with small modifications, will become the backbone of our future fleet, replicated with Suaza technology and ready to defend Texcoco.
He approached the window and gazed out at Lake Texcoco, where the first silhouettes of his ships were beginning to take shape. They were Mexica vessels in their appearance, but Suaza in their soul.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
Excuses first: I was watching a series for the first time since the start of the pandemic. It's called Newtopia, a Korean series, and I binge-watched it in the middle of the night and ended up very tired.
By the way, the reason this episode is short is because the rest of what I had planned for it was boat-building reports, and it was actually very boring. Also, considering the previous episode, it's almost two normal chapters just in word count.
By the way, there are mentions that Menasuca, who is Painalli in the alliance, isn't involved in all businesses. The glass, weapons, and jewelry industries are missing. But instead of these highly profitable areas, he's focused on less profitable ones.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future. (Chapter 86)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis. (Chapter 33) (INTERMITTENT)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 12) (INTERMITTENT)
You can find them on my profile.]