Football is a popular traditional sport in Aztlán. Because the ball used is a solid rubber ball, which is extremely heavy and heavy, only strong and burly men can successfully dribble the ball through a game. Therefore, this sport is regarded as a sport full of honor, just like jousting.
The state of Texcoco where Nezahualcoyotl is located is the city-state that loves this sport the most. Although Nezahualcoyotl himself loves poetry and has little interest in playing football, his predecessor Tratoani But he is one of the most famous players in Aztlan. Ninety percent of the warriors under his command are masters of football, and they even have a special team. Its influence still continues to this day. Nowadays, most of Nezahualcyotel's personal followers are proficient in this skill.
But although this sport is full of honors, when it comes to choosing a team as a sacrifice, the situation is completely different. There was a record in the ancient stone tablets that "the winning team gloriously became a sacrifice to the gods", but people all knew that this was some kind of hypocritical cover-up. In fact, on all occasions where sacrifices were required, only prisoners of war and slaves were put into competition. A samurai who is really good at playing football will never be able to play unless he offends the local Tratoani.
-- Unless one wants to make sure a certain team doesn't fail.
A ragged team was herded into the middle of the venue. They are all figures with some status in this rebellion. If Nezahualcyotel wants to get in touch with the local people, there is a high probability that he will have to pass through some of these people. Tesosomoc watched Nezahualcoyotl's reaction closely. As long as he sent out higher-status warriors, he could be sure that he was involved in the local rebellion.
The other Tratoani present were already buzzing about picking the right player.
"Damn it, I've never heard of this." Masitra complained, "Those three countries often go to war with foreign countries, and there are as many prisoners of war as they want. My slaves were all bought with real money. This time I am accompanied by They are all clever people, and I don’t want them to be killed by the Aztlans.”
"It's the same. Who would take a slave they don't like on a long journey?" Tinaik sighed, "I only brought one slave this time. It's a pity that he has been saving money to redeem himself. I heard that I’ve almost finished saving my money.”
There are two types of slaves in the Aztlan Empire, one is prisoners of war, and as expected, they are destined to be sacrificed; and the other is bankrupt citizens, although they are also regarded as the property of their masters, but But you can own private property, work as an apprentice, work as a clerk, and even manage the owner's finances. They could have children, male slaves could marry free women, and female slaves could marry free men. Marrying a slave did not disqualify you as a free person, and the children of a slave were considered free persons rather than slaves. And that slaves could one day regain their freedom. Some prisoners of war who were sold on the market also fell into the latter category. Therefore, requiring the conquered states to regularly contribute slaves for sacrifice was actually a very cruel atrocity.
One after another, slaves were pushed to the venue by their masters. The sudden misfortune caused many slaves to collapse to the ground in fear, and some even hugged their master's legs and cried loudly, hoping to obtain forgiveness. But even if their master had mercy in his eyes, under the orders of the third most powerful man in the Aztlan Empire, they had no choice.
——This is also the scene Tesosomok hopes to see. He just wants these Tratoani to think that the loser will be sacrificed, so that they can remember the pain of human sacrifice. Then, at the most desperate moment when victory or defeat was decided, pardon was announced. In this way, everyone present at the meeting will be grateful for the grace of Quetzalcoatl, thus supporting the replacement of the sun war god with Quetzalcoatl.
To ensure that these city-states would fail at the ball game, Tessosomoc placed two of his own warriors in his team of prisoners of war. If coupled with the two masters sent by Nesa Hualcoyotel, his team will have an overwhelming advantage when facing a team made up of temporary slaves.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, the team members sent by Nesa Hualcoyotel were also driven into the center of the venue - the reason why they were said to be driven out was because they were driven into the venue by two samurai with whips. They knelt on the ground and begged Nezabarcoyotl loudly for mercy in the stands, but the only answer was an increasingly severe whip.
Tesosomoc was shocked—could Nezahualcyotel have noticed his intentions? He immediately asked the soldiers to help him to the edge of the pyramid, watching the reactions of those in his team from top to bottom. If they had contact with Nezahual Coyotel, there would definitely be something strange when they realized that they had become abandoned.
However, the prisoners of war in his group showed no reaction at all to the fact that Nezahual Coyotel had sent two slaves. Maybe they knew about the game several days in advance and were mentally prepared, or maybe the two warriors sent by Tesosomok to assist made them understand that they were the favored party today, compared to the slaves who were crying loudly. , each of them looked calm and composed.
——Did I guess wrong? Nezahualcoyotl had nothing to do with the rebellion on the island?
Tsosomok glanced at Nesa Hualcoyotel in the audience, but saw that he was also looking at him with a smile on his face.
On the way to the venue, Ella's pirates were carrying shovels and building a lot of construction.
Amy hurried back from the construction front on Fenrir to report the situation.
"Your Majesty! From the three hundred meters in front all the way to the venue, manpower has been deployed on all roads... Scared, Your Majesty, what are you doing?"
In the shadow next to the armored chariot, lying next to the wheel, was the King of Sweden lazily drinking freshly squeezed juice. Seeing Amy coming over, she drank the remaining juice in the cup in one breath and handed the empty cup forward: "Amy, give me another cup!"
"What kind of cup are you going to refill?" Amy was so angry that she jumped off Fenrir's back and snatched the cup from Ella's hand. "Your Majesty, do you still remember that you are going to the ceremony venue? The ceremony has already begun. ! It’s been a long time!”
"It's already late anyway, why are you so anxious?" Ella yawned, "The real exertion will be after arriving at the venue, so you need to recuperate and conserve your energy on the road. Berengar's armored paladin is here You also need to build up your power before entering the battlefield. Aside from that, Amy, do you have any snacks here..."
Amy was furious at Ella's lazy look.
"How about some snacks!" She stamped her foot angrily and waved her hand towards the soldiers behind the chariot. "Come here and push the cart! You must push the cart to the venue before the ceremony ends!"
"Don't worry, Amy... I told you not to push my car! I'm telling the truth! I'm just waiting for news from the other team!"
"News?" Amy signaled the soldier pushing the cart to stop, and then looked at Ella suspiciously.
Ella mysteriously motioned Amy to bring her head over, and then said in a lowered voice, "You guys dig the slope in front, and I'll drink the juice here, attracting all the attention of the Aztlan people. This move will It’s called concealing the truth!”
