The sun shines on the earth again. The ground is not much different from yesterday, except that there are more extinguished bonfires and shallow earth bags. The traces of death have been buried underground, and the living continue their conquest.
After a breakfast of corn tortillas and black beans, the warriors shouldered their shields and war clubs.
The relics of warriors on both sides were collected. Otomi's warriors suffered many casualties, and many samurai equipment were left on the battlefield.
Extra weapons were carried on the warriors' backs. Then the excess leather armor was handed over to more than a hundred Otomi militiamen to carry on their backs. These lucky men were promised that they would be released as long as they brought their equipment back to the Mexica camp.
Next to them were escorting jaguar warriors, carrying guns and wary of the prisoners' movements.
This is an era of extremely scarce productivity. Every pair of leather armor and every obsidian battle stick is precious. Broken equipment will not be thrown away casually, but will be brought back to the camp for repair.
The legion captured a total of 3,000 Otomi prisoners, 1,000 warriors, and 2,000 militiamen. The Mexica warriors took out the prepared sisal ropes, connected the prisoners' hands, tied them into a bunch of twenty people, and escorted them in the middle of the team.
The captives had to go through a long journey, through mountains, through forests, across rivers, through lakes, and finally arrived at the capital of the empire, waiting for the end of everything.
The army is packing up and will be leaving soon.
At this time, more than a hundred warriors automatically gathered in front of Shulot. They knelt down on one knee and bowed their heads in salute to Shulot. Shulot has seen these people before. They are the warriors who sacrificed their hair at the end of yesterday's sacrifice.
The leader was a middle-aged man with a weathered face and a calm expression. He wears a yellow-striped battle armor and a beast helmet with hanging feathers on his head. He is tall, has thick knuckles, and has red-striped armbands on his arms. This turned out to be a senior fourth-level warrior, qualified to join the Eagle and Jaguar Chapters, and only one step away from being a first-level military noble.
The man walked up to Shulot, knelt down on one knee again, and bowed his head deeply. Shurot subconsciously imitated his grandfather's actions, and the young man put his hand on the warrior's hair.
"In the presence of the Patron Saint Huitzilopochtli, the holy, victorious, merciful Coyote Priest. I, Bertad, warrior from Tenochtitlan, would like to guard you and fight for you , until the last drop of blood is shed.”
The sudden confession left the young man a little overwhelmed.
Hulot stood for a while, composed himself, and then asked: "Bertard, can I ask you a question?"
"In compliance with your will, I will tell you everything."
"We have only known each other for two days, why do you want to be loyal to me? Is it because of last night's sacrifice?"
"Thank you for your kindness in guiding my brother's soul to the realm of the dead."
"Is that so...are there any other reasons?"
"Under your leadership, we were victorious yesterday."
"Hmm...is that so?" Shulot didn't know how to reply. Yesterday, he just stood on the top of the mountain, as a spectator priest, watching the battle begin, progress, become fierce, climax, and finally end at the curtain call.
"Also, you are born holy, born not long after the death of the great Montezuma I." At this time, Bertard raised his head, with a hint of excitement on his quiet face, but his voice became lower, and finally it was so low that there were only two people. Hear. "I remember that night when the evening star shone in the sky and death brought new life."
Shulot was shocked. He remembered that in Teotihuacan, the king and his grandfather also talked about Montezuma I and the Evening Star, and believed that his birth was due to the blessing of the Tengu Shulotel. Then he was given the Tengu sacrificial robe and was taken away by the king. Not long ago, the king asked himself what he knew about the sun and the earth.
All of this connected together like lightning, ending with Avitt's meaningful smile: "You passed the test."
Shulot was silent for a moment, his body stiffening slightly. A boy's body is not really a boy. His face took on a deeper look for the first time.
So, he said in the same low voice: "So, Bertard, are you willing to accompany the newborn sun?"
Seeing the change in the young man's expression, excitement spread on Bertard's face. "I do."
"Whatever the future holds?"
"No matter what the future holds!"
"Until when?"
"Until the old sun sets and the new sun reigns in the sky!" Bertard's face is already filled with enthusiasm, "and Montezuma returns to the throne!"
Fierce conversations are cryptic and rapid-fire. After Bertard finished the ritual of allegiance, his face remained as usual, he stood up and left quietly.
Next, more than a hundred warriors paid tribute to Shulot in turn and swore an oath to follow him.
Most of the samurai were relatives and friends of those who died in the war and expressed their gratitude to him for yesterday's funeral. Others believe that as a priest, he was blessed by God and brought victory to the war. No one ever mentioned the astronomy of his birth again.
Maybe I don't know, or maybe I just keep it in my heart.
Soon the army set off and embarked on the journey back to the siege camp of Xilotepec. There are still a few days left on the way back, and the large group of people have to cross mountains and forests, which is destined to be more difficult than when they came. Especially for prisoners.
The warriors escorted the prisoners in a long queue in the mountains. Avitt was always at the front of the column, discussing with the commanders the transportation of prisoners and the handling of loot.
Shulot walked behind and chatted with the first batch of warriors who followed him.
He found that the warriors who followed him were relatively simple in clothing and decoration, and most of them were born in ordinary civilian families. Their promotion is not easy. Although they are skilled in martial arts and good at fighting, they are no more than fourth-level senior warriors at most.
It is extremely difficult to move up a level to become a first-level military noble and have land privileges in the city-state. Luck, strength, and background are all indispensable.
In other words, the reason why the warriors spontaneously followed him was partly because of their faith and emotions. On the other hand, it is a desire for a future in my heart.
Xiulote gained a clear understanding: faith and reality, both of which are parallel and equal, are the foundation of loyalty.
And communicating with experienced samurai is actually a very interesting thing.
Shulot listened to the warriors talk about life in the city-state, such as the kickball game that was popular in the city-state. Everyone competes for a rubber ball in a rectangular flat court. Then, like racquetball, throw into the goal high on the wall. Typically, losers are reduced to slavery and winners gain wealth and honor.
The loser of the competition on the sacrificial day will become the sacrifice of the ceremony. This is the famous "Human Sacrifice Stadium".
There are also mirrors made of ground obsidian, which can see people's faces like water. They are expensive and are especially sought after by nobles.
There is also cochineal, a small red insect that lives on the cactus. It secretes white hairs as fine as dust. It feeds on the juice of the cactus and grows into a round shape.
If the adult worm is ground into pulp, it will be the most magnificent carmine red color. This is the finest dye, extremely valuable, and used in the most exquisite robes.
Hulot also listened to people talk about the capital of Tarasco, Qin Congcan, a city built on copper mines. Qin Congcan strictly restricted the outflow of copper mines in the city-state and also controlled the sale of copperware.
People there not only make hard copper daggers, spears and axes, but also copper helmets and leggings. It seems that the Tarascans have mastered the method of making bronze and have also begun to make copper armor.
"Actually, copper mines are not only found in Qincongcan, which is tightly controlled by the Tarascans." Bertard, who had been quiet, suddenly interjected, "As a scout, I once traveled along the west side of the Balsas River where the Qontals settled. Go down, pass through the highland forest, and walk westward for a month, you will be able to penetrate deep into the southern territory of the Tarascans, the Huetamo area."
Shulot was refreshed and heard new information about the metal mine.
"There are undulating mountains and dense forests. There are many small city-states of the Tarascan people with strong autonomy. These city-states also use copper, and most of the copper blocks come from the mountains. There are many open stone mountains where vegetation cannot grow. There are a lot of granite stones, and the surface of the stones is gilded with patterns, some of which are like golden threads, shining in the sun."
"Large-scale porphyry copper mine, which can be mined in the open. And it is not tightly controlled by the Tarascans." Shulot quickly captured three key points.
"Dear Priest." Bertard suddenly saluted Xilot in a formal manner and spoke for the first time: "The copper equipment is both hard and durable and will be of great help to your future. Yes. With a copper spear, even a militiaman can threaten the samurai."
"When this war is over, I am willing to sneak into the south of Tarasco for you and purchase this important ore from the local village kingdom."
Seelot looked at Bertard's calm and serious speech, telling himself the importance of copperware, and wanted to laugh at first. But when I heard that he was willing to take great risks and sneak into the territory of the Tarascans for the source of the ore, I felt a little moved.
He nodded vigorously, stood on tiptoes, and patted Bertard on the shoulder.
The warriors continued talking and laughing until the sun set and a dark cloud came from the distance.
Only then did Avitt appear. He came with a smile, then was stunned for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and carefully took a look at the calm and vicissitudes of Bertard who was guarding Xiu Luote.
Then he looked at the more than a hundred warriors gathered behind Shulot.
Finally, he looked at Shulot, who was also smiling, and said with a smile:
"It seems that you gained a lot from this expedition."
