What warning did Coronado get before the expedition left?

On January 6, 1540, Mendoza commissioned him expedition commander and captain-general of all the lands he might discover and claim for Spain. The viceroy, however, counseled Coronado prior to his departure and cautioned him that the quest was to be a missionary undertaking, not one of military conquest.

Coronado was warned that his expedition was a missionary one and not a military conquest.

Explanation:

Francisco Coronado was a Spanish Ruler and an explorer. He started his expedition through Arizona in 1540. Then he trekked through the areas which are present day New Mexico, Texas, and Kansas.

Mendoza, Viceroy of Spain at that time wanted to explore the new cities of Cibola. He chose Coronado to lead this expedition and discover the new lands. He warned him that it was a missionary expedition to search for transportable resources (as there were stories of goldsmith shops, large streets etc. in the seven cities of Cibola) and that it is not a military acquisition.