The drizzle always falls tirelessly during the rainy season in June.
The raindrops fell on the wide surface of the Leman River, creating ripples. The breeze is blowing the new buds in the field, and the corn seedlings are growing taller happily. Underneath the corn are sprouting beans and pumpkins.
Shulot stood on the lookout of the cottage, huddled with Avitt, looking at the lake and camp on the other side of the long river. The Tarascan patrol was patrolling in the rain on the river bank, as was the Mexica army here.
"I finally know the benefits of this flag. At least it can keep out the rain." Xuellot reached out to hold the command flag on Avitt's back, letting the umbrella cover on top of the flag shield the two of them. "You just said that this camp is the most important?"
"Yes." Commander Avitt carefully observed the Tarasco Camp in the distance. "Have you seen this lake? This is Lake Quiceo. Its northernmost end is connected to Lake Leman, and then it extends westward to the interior of the Tarascans. From the southwestern end of Lake Quiceo, climb It only takes a week to reach the core hinterland of Tarasco, the Lake Patzcuaro area in the Patzcuaro Valley.”
"Patzcuaro." Xiulote repeated the word twice and came to his senses. "Plepecha people?"
"Smart." Avitt smiled slightly, "The Tarascans don't call themselves Tarascans, but Prepechas. They call themselves the most prosperous capital city and the center of the rise of the ethnic group. , the Patzcuaro Valley named itself. In fact, hundreds of years ago, they were just one of the Chichimec descendants who went south, conquered the prosperous local Bajo and Michoacán tribes, and also inherited the Pre Petra’s name.”
"That's it! Just as we emerged in the Mexica Valley, we call ourselves Mexica, or Tenochca. And foreigners will say that we are the Aztecs, coming from the distant Aztlan. So Come on, our ancestors were also part of the Chichimec descendants who went south?" The smart boy drew inferences from one example.
"This is not what a priest should say." Avitt laughed, "When the patron saint promises us, our name will no longer be Aztecs, but Mexica, with the destiny to conquer the world. .”
The world of the Mexicans is the Greater Mexico region of Central America.
Xuelote smiled in agreement and changed the topic to a more important topic: "The Tarascans are our biggest opponents, so how many people do they have? How many troops can they mobilize?"
Avitt pondered, writing and drawing in the air with his fingers, and after a while he answered: "To the north of the Leman River, to the south of both sides of the Balsas River, to the east of the Mexica city-states, and to the west of Lake Chapala. , is the territory owned by the Tarasco City-State Alliance: the Mickencho region. The Tarasco Alliance controls a population of more than 1.6 million."
"Mickencho? Land of fishermen?"
"Yes. The Tarascans control the territory of eight states. There are about 800,000 people in the three states in the Patzcuaro Lake area. The core are the three cities of Chinconcan, Ivacchio and Patzcuari. Among them, the Qinchongcan City is the largest, with a population of 50,000.
To the west of the Tarascans, in the two states of the Lake Chapala region, there are approximately 600,000 people. However, these two states were relatively far away from Qincongcan, and King Tarasco could not effectively control this area.
The remaining 200,000 people are distributed in the three states between the lakes. In general, the population always clustered near lakes, because only lakes could build productive chinampa. "
In this era, state was a vague regional division. It can be a city-state with attached villages, it can be an area where ethnic groups gather, or it can be a small area divided by terrain. Shulot regarded it as a "county" in the Chinese concept. The Tarasco Federation controls eight counties, with the capital being located in Chin Cong Canbang.
"The Tarasco League of 1.6 million people has an estimated 50,000 warriors in total, 25,000 of whom are from the Patzcuaro Lake area and are directly under the control of the king. The other 20,000 warriors belong to the Chasa, which has a high degree of autonomy. Pala Lake area. The remaining five thousand belong to the three states between the lakes." Avitt continued to count.
"There are 50,000 warriors out of 1.6 million people. That means there is one warrior for every 32 people?" Xiulote thought for a moment. This was really the "Warring States Period" in which all countries fought and fought with each other. It was not based on high-yielding crops. Can't sustain it.
Avitt thought for a moment and nodded: "In general, it is almost the same ratio. In the core of each tribe's capital, the ratio of supporting warriors is higher, while in other areas, the ratio of warriors is slightly lower."
Shulot expressed his understanding. The capitals of each tribe always have more materials, wealth and population to support stronger force and maintain suppression of other alliance city-states.
Simply put, the strong is the king, and the king is the strongest.
"How many militiamen are there in Tarasco?" the boy asked again.
"It's hard to say how many militiamen there are. It depends on whether the farming is busy or slack, and the strength of the tribe's rule. It's even more extreme when it comes to emergency mobilization." Avitt thought for a while, "Generally speaking, the food of each tribe can support it as much as possible. There are twice as many militias as there are warriors. More than twice that will seriously affect the food storage and production of each state, and famine will inevitably follow."
As he spoke, Avi looked pointedly at the city of Otopan in the north.
Shulot nodded knowingly and sighed slightly.
At this time, the various tribes in Central America were somewhat similar to the daimyo of Japan during the Warring States Period. There were only relatively wealthy city-state samurai and very poor village militias, who jointly formed a two-level military system of samurai and peasant soldiers.
Unlike the Celestial Empire, there was no developed small peasant class here. Homeowner farmers have just sprouted economically and politically, and the number of "good family sons" or "government soldiers" they can provide is very small.
"Tarasco Alliance, eight kingdoms, 1.6 million people, 50,000 warriors/25,000 direct subordinates, 100,000 militiamen." This is the first time that Shulot has a specific military strength of a tribe. A clear understanding.
Naturally, he had a more concerned question: "How many people are there in our Mexican Alliance? How many warriors?"
Avitt smiled confidently: "Not counting those vassals, the great Mexican Union actually controls eleven states. The core is the Texcoco Lake area in the Valley of Mexico. There are four prosperous large states in the entire lake area, about There are 1.5 million people.”
"The state of Mexico where the capital is located has more than half a million people. And the capital of Mexico, the city of Tenochtitlan in the lake, has an unparalleled 250,000 people! It is the ancestral land of the Mexica people , the sanctuary in the lake, the giant city of white stone, is also the center of the world! No other city can compare with it." Unknowingly, Avitt's voice contained sacred chanting.
Shulot also nodded longingly. At this time, Tenochtitlan was the miracle city of Mesoamerica and the most magnificent city in the entire Americas. Rather than the ruins of ruins hidden underground that he saw in later generations.
The young man woke up from his memories with some curiosity in his heart: "Avit, how do you know so many numbers?"
Avitt smiled slightly, and his confidence made the commander's smile full of charm: "In the entire Mexican Alliance, you can only know these specific numbers by asking me. I am the chief intelligence officer of the alliance. And in mathematics, he can surpass me. Yes, you are the only one here."
"Great! Please continue." Shulot stood on tiptoe and wanted to pat his teacher and friend on the head, but Avitt brushed it away.
"There are 1.5 million people in the Texcoco Lake District. This is an area directly under the royal family. It can mobilize an overwhelming 50,000 direct warriors. For this expedition, the king brought a total of 40,000 direct warriors to control various areas. City-state. Of course, after several divisions and casualties along the way, he now only has ten thousand direct warriors at his disposal."
Avitt winked at the boy, and the boy nodded to acknowledge receipt.
“With the lake area as the core, there are 500,000 people in the two western states, 700,000 people in the three southern states, 300,000 people in the two northern states, and more than 3 million people in the entire Mexica Union, which firmly occupies a rich and prosperous state. The plateau valley!”
"What about the eastern city-states?"
"To the east of the Texcoco Lake area are towering mountains, and in the mountains there are demonic mouths that spit out smoke and fire. Where are the eastern city-states? Further east is the territory of the Tlaxcala people."
Shulot was stunned for a moment, and then realized that to the east of the capital was the towering Popocatepetl volcano. It is also one of the few places on the entire Mexica Plateau where you can see ice and snow.
"The seven states in the west, south, and north add up to 50,000 warriors, which is similar to the four states directly under the royal family. The city of Teotihuacan is also one of the origins of the royal family." Avitt looked at the boy with a smile.
The young man was calculating seriously: "Mexican Alliance, eleven states, three million people, one hundred thousand warriors/50,000 direct subordinates, two hundred thousand militiamen." Sure enough, it is the absolute hegemon of Central America.
"What about the situation of the Tlaxcalans, our enemies for generations?" Xiulote couldn't wait to learn more about this world.
"The people of Tlaxcala have four large states. The status of the four states is actually not much different. They support each other and have no concept of direct jurisdiction of the capital. The state of Tlaxcala in the north is stronger than the state of Tepeyacac in the south. Some, 400,000 each. The middle states of Wesochinko and Cholula have 200,000 each."
"The center of Cholula State is Cholula City, the holy city of Nahuat religion. Its status is much more transcendent." Avitt told the information about the old enemy seriously.
"Like us Mexicans, Tlaxcala has an efficient military mobilization system, and the ratio of warriors is about one to thirty."
Xiulote nodded to express his understanding that the two races had similar cultural and blood ties and were actually relatives who killed each other but did not love each other.
"The Tlaxcala Union, four states, 1.2 million people, 40,000 warriors, 80,000 militiamen."
"What about the Otomi people we are conquering?" The young man looked to the north.
"Otomi people, they are a very loose alliance. They just use the city of Otopan as the core of their ancestral homeland and defense. There are four main states, Xilotepec State with 300,000 people, and Otopan with more than 200,000 people. , two hundred thousand for Parmus and three hundred thousand for Guamare.
Among them, there are many Chichimec dog people in Pamus and Guamare. They do not obey the Otomi alliance, but just mix with each other. Sometimes they communicate and merge, sometimes they fight each other. In fact, the Otomi people have intermarried with the Canine tribes for a long time. The name of Guamare State comes from the Guamar Canine tribe. "
Shulot was a little surprised. There were nearly one million Otomi people? Now...he thought of the red-circled plank in Totec's hand and the brutal sweep of the army along the way, and could only shake his head.
"Otomi Alliance, four states, about 600,000 people, more than 20,000 warriors, unknown militia."
Standing on the high watchtower, the boy and the teacher discussed the world selflessly, as if the world was in their minds. In front of them is a complex and vast world. The desire for the world is burning fiercely!
"Chichimec descendants are everywhere in the northwest plateau and desert. They are constantly migrating and are roughly divided into eight tribes. They have no formal warriors, but all the people are soldiers. There are at least seventy people in the four states close to the Otomi people. The descendant of ten thousand dogs.”
"Chichimec dog descendants, known to four states, at least eight tribes, about 700,000 people, nomadic herdsmen without horses, all the people are soldiers."
"The Huastecs are relatively loyal vassals of the alliance. They are close to the lake at the eastern end of the world and live scattered in the northeastern plains. There once was an alliance, but it has long been disbanded by our conquest.
They are born musicians, have a tradition of naked worship, and rarely wear any clothes. Well, their girls are slender and good at rhythmic dancing. Avitt looked at the boy and smiled meaningfully.
"The Huastecs are spread across six states, with about 600,000 people, 15,000 warriors, and 30,000 militiamen."
"The Tecos live to the west and north of the Tarascos, near the lake at the western end of the world. They have a loose alliance and have been constantly conquered by the Tarasco Alliance. Colima State is their ancestral land , there are nearly 200,000 people, and there is a crack in the world that is smoking and spitting fire."
"Tekos Alliance, four states, 700,000 people, 20,000 warriors, 50,000 militiamen."
Colima? This name sounds familiar. Shulot recalled hard and searched for the memories of the past.
Colima, Colima volcano? The famous "Fire Volcano" is very active. When he was traveling in Mexico, he saw the eruption of this volcano. The thick smoke billowed out, covering the sky and covering the surrounding areas. It was extremely spectacular. It even led to the closure of nearby airports, ports and iron mines.
iron ore? iron ore! A flash of inspiration flashed across Xilot's mind, and he suddenly remembered a piece of information that he didn't care about at the time, but was now crucial.
"Pea Colorado Iron Mine!" Xiulote was so excited that he almost jumped off the watchtower. Fortunately, Avitt caught him.
Because it is located in a volcanically active geological zone, Colima State is rich in minerals. There is the largest iron ore in Mexico and even Central America, Peia Colorado (magmatic hydrothermal apatite) magnetite. The mineral reserves are astonishing. The surface mineral layer is fifty to three hundred meters thick and extends for more than ten kilometers.
"Colima, the Iron Age, hope!" Shulot couldn't help but whisper, and gave Avitt another hug. Teachers have long been accustomed to students' nonsense and occasional excitement.
After calming down a little, Shulot realized that things were not that simple. Historically, the Colima Iron Mine had to wait until modern times to be discovered and mined because of three disadvantages.
First, its main mineral layer is more than 100 meters underground. There are only scattered iron ores on the surface. Of course, one hundred meters underground will be nothing to future generations, but it is indeed a big problem now. It requires sufficient manpower, material resources, and copper picks, and several years of mining.
Second, this large iron mine is located in the mountains, and transportation is very inconvenient. To transport iron ore, roads in the mountains must be built.
Third, the large iron ore was formed by the influence of magma, and it is nearby the active Colima volcano. The mining process has potential risks.
However, no matter what, Shulot will not let go of this large iron mine. This is the dawn and hope of a new era!
The young man became a little absent-minded in the conversation that followed. He only roughly recorded Avitt's introduction to each tribe.
"The Nahua-Totonac people, seven states, 700,000 people. 20,000 warriors, 40,000 militiamen. On the eastern coast, there is a loose alliance of city-states, integrating some Toltec people.
Chungtar people, four states, 200,000 people. Five thousand warriors and ten thousand militiamen. In the southern part of the Mexican Union, on both sides of the East Balsas River, there are no urban settlements. Mexicans continued to move in.
Mixtecs, five kingdoms, 800,000 people. Twenty thousand warriors and forty thousand militiamen. South of the Tlaxcala League, a loose alliance of city-states. They are the "people of the clouds" in the mountains and the "best goldsmiths", with Tototepec State as their core ancestral homeland. One of the Empire's disloyal vassals.
Zapotecs, three states, half a million people. Fifteen thousand warriors and thirty thousand militiamen. To the east of the Mixtec League, a loose alliance of city-states, was rich in rouge. The second disloyal vassal of the empire. Further east from Zapotec is the terrifying vast rainforest, which leads to the unknown Mayan hinterland.
Trapanic people, four states, two hundred thousand people. Five thousand warriors and ten thousand militiamen. To the southwest of the Mixtec Alliance, on the Pacific coast, the weak ones can be ignored.
There are also savage tribes in the mountains and forests, large and small, it is impossible to count clearly. As long as sweet potatoes can survive, there are people. "
"There are eighty nations in the world, divided into five regions far and near. In the fifty years of the world, a hundred battles have united the nine tribes!" The young man was so excited that he couldn't help but recite a crooked poem. Then I thought about it, fifty years in this world? Bah, this is a bad sign. It was a slip of the tongue just now.
"What about the more distant Maya?" After a moment, Shulot asked Avitt curiously.
Avitt racked his brains and thought for a long time. He just replied: "That's the end of the world, the boundless southeastern rainforest. The Mayans are roughly divided into three types, the Yucatán people in the north, the Itza people in the middle, and the Quiche people in the south. Well, Corn People is what the Mayans call themselves.”
"As for the more specific number of people?" The commander finally shrugged, never saying that he didn't know. "When we conquer the known world, let's go see the end of this world!"
Shulot then laughed, and the two looked south again. Tarasco's scouts were running toward the main camp to the south. After a long time, a large group of elite warriors wearing armor and helmets filed out. They were holding huge bronze axes that shone with cold light, filled with awe-inspiring murderous intent, surrounded by another tall back flag, and went straight to the Leman River.
The drizzle finally stopped. Separated by a river hundreds of meters away, the top commanders of the two armies faced each other across the river, with huge back flags swaying in the wind, saluting each other for the start of the battle.
