Atrukutu and his warriors’ suicidal charge ended in complete annihilation under the expedition force’s crossfire.

The surviving Mexica warriors continued their desperate rout, dying continuously under the expedition force’s artillery and gunfire.

The frantically fleeing Mexica warriors were already gripped by terror and had lost all reason.

Wounded comrade warriors fell and reached out their hands pleading for help. But the terrified Mexica warriors roughly shook off these hands and ran madly to escape the expedition force.

Their destination was Tenochtitlan.

***

While the Mexica warriors’ rout continued, the command group led by Lee Jing-ok had arrived at the jungle entrance to assess the situation.

“Should we pursue the fleeing enemies?”

To the staff officer’s question as he confirmed the fleeing Mexica warriors through his monocular, Lee Jing-ok shook his head.

“No, there’s no need to chase them now. Rather, letting them go now is better.”

“Sir?”

Seeing the staff officer’s puzzlement, Lee Jing-ok continued.

“Those fleeing now are terrified, aren’t they?”

“Seeing their disorderly rout, they’re definitely terrified.”

“When they meet us again later, do you think those bastards can fight properly?”

“No.”

“And what do you think will happen to other bastards who see those terrified ones?”

After pondering Lee Jing-ok’s question briefly, the staff officer’s face brightened.

“They’ll be intimidated and cower! It will become what Sun Tzu calls the highest victory—’winning without fighting’!”

At the staff officer’s words, Lee Jing-ok smiled slightly and shook his head.

“We still have to fight. What’s our reason for coming here? Didn’t we come to punish these unhuman bastards who eat people? Just accepting surrender would only lose us our justification. The reason we’re letting those fleeing bastards go is to easily crush them later. Whether they run around in terror until swept away, or desperately charge like cornered rats to die—either way reduces our trouble. Right now we’re on expedition to a place with no proper roads. Minimizing our efforts is best. So…”

Pausing briefly, Lee Jing-ok turned toward the jungle and continued.

“Right now, dealing with those watching from the jungle comes first. There seems to be someone capable of thinking. In war, the most troublesome opponents are those who can think.”

“Understood. The wagons are almost ready, so I’ll have them depart as quickly as possible.”

“Tell them to hurry.”

“Yes, General!”

Shortly after, wagons mounted with military fire carts and carrying soldiers began moving along the jungle’s border.

Thanks to observation balloons revealing the positions of Mexica warriors led by Akon, the wagon-borne expedition force could save time.

Simultaneously, soldiers defending the expedition camp’s flanks left their positions and began entering the jungle.

With help from balloons and the Dark Strike Unit, the expedition force advanced rapidly toward the Mexica warriors even in the jungle.

***

“The thunder is subsiding. Is it already over?”

As artillery and gunfire sounds from beyond the jungle decreased, Akon’s expression darkened.

“I thought it would last longer… Incompetent fool!”

Cursing Atrukutu, Akon ordered his subordinates.

“Immediately withdraw from the jungle and retreat to Tenochtitlan!”

“Without even fighting?”

To his subordinate’s question, Akon gestured toward the expedition force and asked back.

“With Atrukutu defeated, do you think we can win if we attack?”

“…No.”

“If Atrukutu had fought properly, the thunder wouldn’t have subsided so quickly. That incompetent fool ruined things. In this situation, retreat is best.”

However, the subordinate continued his objection.

“Couldn’t Atrukutu’s force have routed the enemies?”

“If so, we’d hear friendly drums and trumpets. Do you hear any?”

“…No. But if we retreat, you might face humiliation.”

At his concerned subordinate’s words, Akon answered with a deliberately resolute expression and voice.

“I can endure that. Right now, we must save as many warriors as possible and return to Tenochtitlan. The Great Han warriors will definitely target Tenochtitlan. We must stop them. Compared to the danger approaching Tenochtitlan, my shame is nothing.”

“Sir Akon…”

At Akon’s answer, not only the subordinate who had spoken but all surrounding warriors looked at Akon with respectful expressions.

Just then, scouts sent to the expedition camp came running back with urgent news.

“The Great Han warriors we were targeting have left their camp and are moving!”

“Where are they going?”

“They’re coming straight toward us!”

At the scout’s answer, Akon urgently ordered his subordinates.

“Retreat immediately!”

“Yes!”

At Akon’s command, subordinates quickly returned to their units to prepare for retreat.

“Our position is already discovered! No need for stealth! Retreat as fast as possible!”

“Yes!”

At Akon’s order, the Mexica warriors began retreating at maximum speed.

While running through the jungle with his subordinates, Akon continued analyzing the situation.

‘The enemy commander seems very capable. Usually when leading such a strong army, they get drunk on that power and neglect observing their surroundings. But the biggest problem is…’

Since hearing the scout’s report, Akon had been troubled by a question he couldn’t answer.

‘How did they pinpoint our location exactly?’

While Akon puzzled over this unsolvable problem, the observation balloon in the sky was busily transmitting information via light signals.

Since Akon’s force had abandoned stealth movement, the balloon could more clearly spot the Mexica warriors’ movements.

When tens of thousands of warriors moved at full speed, even the jungle’s dense trees couldn’t conceal them.

Thanks to this, the expedition forces pursuing the Mexica warriors could track their enemies more easily.

***

Even while frantically running through the jungle, Akon didn’t forget to send out scouts.

The problem was that the news these scouts brought was far from good.

“The Great Han warriors are blocking the jungle exits.”

“Already? How? Are you certain?”

Seeing Akon’s disbelieving expression, the scout answered again.

“Certain.”

“How?”

“They used those strange vehicles and beasts they rode when coming to Tenochtitlan.”

“Dammit…”

At the scout’s answer, Akon bit his lip.

***

When the Great Han warriors first visited Tenochtitlan, they had come riding vehicles pulled by beasts never seen before.

Ironically, while decent road networks existed between Mexica and surrounding cities, they had no wheeled vehicles.

This was partly due to lack of concept, but mainly because they lacked large, strong beasts to pull such vehicles.

After contact with the Great Han warriors, attempts were made to create vehicles. However, these continued to fail.

***

At the scout’s answer, Akon looked seriously at the sky.

Gazing at the sky visible through dense trees, Akon asked his subordinates.

“How far behind are the Great Han warriors pursuing us?”

“They’ll likely catch up by sunset.”

“Shit…”

Looking troubled, Akon lamented inwardly.

‘Night raids would also be problematic…’

After pondering briefly, Akon stood up resolutely.

“I need to see for myself.”

Secretly approaching the jungle entrance blocked by the expedition force’s flanking unit, Akon hid in shadows while assessing the situation.

The expedition force was building a blockade line using their wagons as fortifications.

After observing the expedition force’s movements, Akon returned to his main force and gathered his subordinates.

“The Great Han forces are creating a blockade, but it’s not complete yet. However, seeing wagons continuously arriving, the blockade will strengthen over time. We break through that blockade now.”

“Now? The warriors are exhausted.”

At his subordinate’s words, Akon shook his head with a regretful expression.

“There’s no opportunity except now. Initially hearing the scout’s report, I considered night raids, but thinking of those pursuing us from behind, night raids are impossible. We might be caught instead.”

“Ah…”

At Akon’s explanation, desperate sighs came from his subordinates.

Seeing such subordinates, Akon continued.

“I wanted to avoid battle as much as possible, but now it’s unavoidable. We’ll break through them with full force and retreat. Fortunately, the blockade isn’t complete yet. We’ll push through with everything we have through gaps not yet sealed.”

“…Understood.”

“Prepare.”

“Yes.”

Hearing Akon’s orders, subordinates returned to their units to prepare for the breakthrough.

***

Meanwhile, learning of the Mexica warriors’ movements through the balloon, Lee Jing-ok nodded.

“As expected, they’re preparing to break through.”

“Indeed. They seem unaware it’s a trap.”

“They’d have no answer even if they knew.”

The gaps in the blockade were Lee Jing-ok’s trap.

—Based on experience, battles in jungle inevitably became close combat.

—Close combat and melee fighting could cause greater losses than expected.

—Night battles would also be problematic.

—The decisive battle must be fought at their capital anyway.

—Therefore, the more terrified enemies there were—like soldiers who fled from the earlier battle—the better.

After such considerations, he created those gaps in the blockade.

The gaps in the seemingly incomplete blockade were results of meticulous calculation.

Enemies approaching to pass through those gaps would have to endure the expedition force’s crossfire.

Any enemies surviving passage through those gaps would certainly harbor strong terror of the expedition force.

And through those who returned, fear would spread larger and faster.

This was Lee Jing-ok’s calculation.

Confirming Akon’s force moved as he expected, Lee Jing-ok ordered his staff.

“Tell the pursuit force to pressure the enemies more. I know it’s hard, but ask them to work a bit more.”

“Yes, General.”

***

Receiving Lee Jing-ok’s orders through balloons and the Dark Strike Unit, the expedition force’s pursuit team increased their speed.

Receiving reports through scouts, Akon gritted his teeth.

“I wanted to recover more strength before starting… Can’t be helped!”

Steeling his resolve, Akon shouted to his subordinates.

“Break through!”

At Akon’s cry, subordinates shouted to the warriors.

“Break through!”

“Break through!”

“Just run straight ahead no matter what!”

“Hooooaaa!”

Hearing the orders, Mexica warriors charged out of the jungle with war cries.

The warriors bursting from the jungle held only macuahuitl in their hands.

They had discarded their shields as useless burdens against enemy weapons. Food pouches were also abandoned as hindrances.

Only macuahuitl were needed.