The setting sun dyes the sky into a hazy red, like the eyes of gods staring at the earth, admiring the magnificent fight in the world and savoring the sacrifices and gifts of life. Then He smiled, made red ripples in the long river, swept away all the cold sacrifices, and finally closed his eyes with satisfaction, and the world disappeared into darkness.
The fierce battle finally came to an end, and bonfires were lit on both sides of the river. The militiamen had finished clearing the battlefield. They buried the fallen warriors, collected the remaining weapons and armor, and gathered the captives together.
The battle across the river lasted all afternoon, and the Tarascans suffered heavy casualties.
Due to the obstruction of the river, the spear militia and the alien mercenary group were completely annihilated. There were very few survivors who were able to swim across the long river and escape to the south bank. The casualties of the two elite militiamen were 10,000, and the last batch of landing warriors also suffered nearly 1,000 casualties. At this moment, on the south bank, the priests once again ascended the altar, lit blue flames, and led the souls to the infinitely beautiful underground world.
The losses of the Mexicans were also considerable. Three hundred samurai were killed in the battle with the pike militia, and nearly four hundred were killed in the battle with the mercenary group. A total of 700 samurai were killed, as well as 1,800 militiamen. The casualties were mainly concentrated in the brutal stalemate and entanglement stage, especially the fight with the canine. These fearless light infantry made Shulot quite afraid.
The Aztec Alliance was accustomed to conquests and also had a complete treatment system. At this time, the injured are being treated. Yucca juice and ink leaves, which stop and disinfect bleeding, are available in limited quantities and can only be supplied to the seriously injured. Shulot and his followers boiled water and boiled strips of cloth to perform simple disinfection and bandaging on the lightly wounded.
In this battle, the longbow warrior played a decisive role. In the Americas without cavalry, the tactical role of archers was irreplaceable. The close-range shooting of the longbow warriors completely shook the formation of the dense spear phalanx, allowing the warriors to rush into the spear formation and fight in close combat.
At the same time, the longbow's output is powerful enough, and its damage exceeds everyone's imagination. A mid-range longbow shot is enough to threaten leather targets. For the first time, the samurai's lives were so fragile. The landing warriors on the beach fell like cherry blossoms under the long bow, and the commander on the opposite side immediately wavered in his will to fight. After a rough estimate of the possible casualties of the warriors, the Tarascans simply withdrew to the south bank.
After nightfall, there was another grand funeral. When you are alone, the food in the camp is always limited. There were many prisoners captured, but the young priest only deliberately left dozens of spear militiamen behind. The rest is bonfires, dances, prayers, sacrifices, and blessings.
At the end of the sacrifice, the dawn lights up the sky. After the warriors shouted farewell to the patron saint, they added the names of "Avit" and "Shulote" with reverence. They blessed the victorious commander and the blessed priest with heartfelt admiration and loyalty.
A fierce battle, a sacrifice, a human heart, and a future.
The Mexica held the south bank, and a long confrontation ensued. The Tarascans first transported three to four thousand militiamen across the river upstream and downstream, and under the leadership of more than a hundred warriors, they made a gesture of going around and back.
Avitt remained unmoved and just gathered boats to block the upstream and downstream rivers. An enemy without a stable supply line is no threat. The three to four thousand militiamen crossing the river quickly lost morale and their ranks were scattered. The commander only sent five hundred Mexica warriors each to disperse the militia groups crossing the river and eliminate the core of the enemy's warriors. The remaining militiamen were left to fend for themselves.
The 10,000 main warriors in Mexico have always gathered together, relying on strong camps, waiting for Tarasco's army. However, the Tarascans seemed to suddenly lose their desire to attack aggressively. They just kept building strong fortresses on the south bank and gathering more boats.
The warriors on both sides faced each other across the river, and priests were performing rituals. The commanders faced each other from a distance, but maintained a strange calm.
For more than half a month, Shulot continued the arduous warrior training. A warrior's physique cannot be developed overnight, and a firm will must be shaped through sweat and training. Bertard's bow and arrow skills have improved rapidly. He has a foundation in spear throwing and is a warrior who has been training for thirty years. Now there is only one poplar tree that has not been found before we can cross the poplar tree in a hundred steps.
The young man also began to learn archery. In this era of military changes, even the reincarnation of Lu Bu and Zhao Yun is no match for matchlocks and cannons, but bows and arrows are relatively safe and powerful. The rest of the time, he kept an eye on Kuod's making of longbows. The old carpenter and other craftsmen were always taken by Avitt, who was nominally the engineer for the construction of the city wall. In the past half month, the Longbow Guard has acquired twenty more longbows.
In the afternoon, there was a new breakthrough in organizing the text. Shulot found that followers who learn Chinese characters will take the initiative to make some familiar pattern marks in their lives to help understand and mark the pronunciation.
Avitt also enthusiastically participated in the second stage of character development: relying on the complete Chinese character system, incorporating the original graphic characters that the Mexicans had sprouted, and sorting out simple symbols that aid sound and meaning to assist ordinary people in learning and understanding. , memory and pronunciation. In this way, for the priests and the noble class, they had enough culture to master the complete Chinese system. For ordinary warriors and civilians, they only need to master daily writing and traditional languages.
Shulot looked at it for a while and felt that it was very familiar: Isn't this the Japanese hiragana and katakana? It is also the acquisition of Chinese characters in the tribal era, and the understanding of the phonetic notation of the native language. In the end, they will embark on a new path of integrating Chinese culture and developing their own civilization.
And in the misty and rainy evening, the sun disappears into the clouds. The young man would stand on the high hill beside the river and watch the long river flow westward and flow into the ocean in his memory; watch the navies of both sides intersect on the river, performing martial arts battles like Maori people, and then disperse to salvage the militiamen who fell off the boat. Went back to camp for dinner.
This sudden calmness made Shulot a little confused.
He found Avitt. The teacher was recording the food consumption in Chinese characters and Mexica abbreviations. There was now more than a month's worth of food in the camp. A new fleet is gathering in the capital.
"Avit, what are the Tarascans on the opposite side doing? Why did they only attack once? There are obviously 70,000 of them." The young man asked in confusion.
"Because they can't find an opportunity to win easily. In other words, the price of winning the battle is too high." Avitt smiled slightly, showing full confidence.
"But last time they crossed the river, they had a chance to win." The young man thought for a while.
"At that time, their first group of spearmen and second group of mercenaries had already contained eight thousand of our warriors. When the third group of five thousand warriors crossed the river, they would fight with the remaining warriors of ours. Then the fourth group of five thousand warriors would Thousands of warriors can attack the four Mexica warrior battalions that have just wiped out the pikemen. The fifth batch of warriors will have the upper hand, and the sixth batch of warriors will definitely seal the victory!"
"Then how many warriors will they lose under the long bow, throwing spear and war club?" the commander asked with a smile. "Besides, I will not allow the fourth batch of warriors to be transported smoothly. The navy is ready to fully engage the enemy and block the transportation for at least three quarters of an hour. We will wait until we eat the pikemen, hold off the dogmen, and then encircle Five thousand warriors of Tarasco. The throne of Suangua will not be secure."
"That's right. If you want to defeat us, at least five thousand samurai will have to die in battle." The young man nodded, "The navy and the army can cooperate with each other to achieve greater effects. The boat division here is very important, and can hinder the transportation of enemy troops at any time. Let us gain local strength advantage, and then the superior army can easily annihilate the enemy."
"Then what if they abandon this ferry and cross the river from another place to go north?" the boy asked again.
"Our point is like a wooden thorn stuck in the waist of the Tarascans. The places within a five-day march are vaguely controlled by us, and their food routes are threatened by our amphibious and land forces at the same time. If The Tarascans went north regardless, but once the food route was cut off, the Otomi people would have no food to save them."
"An army without supplies has no combat effectiveness." Avitt explained patiently, taking this opportunity to teach Shulot basic tactical skills.
"So, they have to pull out this thorn in our side?"
"If they really want to go north, they must eat our stronghold." Avitt nodded.
"If they look for an opportunity to secretly transport all 30,000 warriors across the river, we should not be able to defeat them." The young man carefully deduced the casualties on both sides. He believed that mathematics would not lie to him.
"Haha. If they can really transport all the warriors across the river, it will be difficult for us to win in a frontal battle." Avitt smiled slyly, "At that time, we will all hide in the camp and defend. This camp is prepared for holding on."
"If we are surrounded by thirty thousand warriors, the food in the camp will only last for a month." The young man was inexplicably worried.
"It would be great if all the 30,000 warriors of the Tarascans really crossed the river and surrounded the camp!" Avitt laughed. "The Dun soldiers are under the fortress, with the river behind them and the enemy's fleet blocking transportation."
"At this time, Totec is still besieging the city of Otopan! He directly leads his army south and attacks both internally and externally. The fleet blocks the river. Once these 30,000 Tarascan warriors are eliminated, the Tarascans will perish!" Commanded Guan smiled happily, he was looking forward to this future.
The young man nodded understandingly: "It turns out that the Tarascans are not sure of defeating us. Then why did they send troops?"
"In a war, who can be sure of defeating the opponent?" Avitt stopped laughing and became more serious: "It's just a matter of controlling the mountains and rivers, taking advantage of the situation, and then waiting for the opportunity."
"What is a situation?" the young man asked half-understanding.
"The situation. This Leman River, this mountain camp, is the situation! Relying on this river, the enemy's army will not be able to swarm up and take advantage of its numerical advantage, and the boat division will interfere with the transportation of grain. Relying on this mountain stronghold, we can Stand firm and use a small army against a large army, and you can also give full play to the power of bows and arrows.”
"The situation in the mountains and rivers is to improve our army to play a greater role! Restrict the enemy's army to play a smaller role!"
Avitt concluded confidently: "Not occupying this strategic location in advance was Suangua's biggest mistake."
"So, what are the Tarascans still doing on the south bank?" The boy thought for a moment, and then an idea flashed. "There must be a purpose for gathering so many troops and consuming so much food and grass."
Hearing this, the commander's pupils shrank slightly, recovering from the pride of victory in the recent battle.
He put his hands behind his back and paced while thinking: "The Tarascans staying here can only have one effect, and that is to hold back our army."
Avitt clapped his hands suddenly: "It's very possible that this was their original purpose. The battle across the river should be Su Angua's impromptu idea after seeing my old friend!"
"It seems that although the Tarascans did not occupy the situation, they were waiting for the opportunity... So that's it!"
"What time?" The young man was a little curious.
"We will know soon." Avitt's eyes suddenly became dark, "Because Otopan City cannot delay for too long."
Time has arrived in August in a blink of an eye, and the rainy season has ushered in its most enthusiastic season. The pouring rain formed a thick line in the sky, and the swollen river flooded the previous ferry, and the camps on both sides completely calmed down.
Shulot quickly got used to a regular life: training, studying, teaching, researching, and meditating. Every day of his life is fulfilling and full of strength, and he is becoming the support of those around him. Confidence and perseverance permeated his face, just like destiny and fighting spirit burning in his heart.
That evening, when he stood on the high hill again, he looked at the boats in the distance. A small canoe suddenly docked lightly at the new ferry, and a young man with simple clothes and a gentle face got out of the boat.
Shulot rubbed his eyes, almost thinking that he had seen it wrong.
"Akapu! Why are you here?" The young man strode forward, hugged his friend who grew up together, and asked happily.
"Wow, I haven't seen you for a year. You have completely changed your appearance, Shulot. Now you look like the leader of the group." Akapu smiled slightly, with a gentle and jade-like smell.
"My coming here this time is a result of the previous agreement between the high priest and the king's brother." Akapu said seriously, "I also bring an extremely important news!"
