Seelot watched Gillim salute and apologize, and immediately understood the reason for the matter. This time, he didn't return the favor. He felt awe-inspiring and was very wary of Gillim.
Although he was wary of Gillim, the young man did not look at the intelligence leader again.
After thinking for a moment, he grabbed Avitt's arm and complained helplessly: "Avit, you actually drugged me! At least tell me first."
The king's smile suddenly solidified. He tilted his head slightly and looked at the intelligence chief with a guilty conscience.
"This is just a psychedelic potion commonly used by priests. It can make people open their hearts, trust each other, relax and get drunk, and can also make the banquet more enjoyable. Your Highness, rest assured that the dosage is very small and will not harm the strong body of the warrior. This It was Your Majesty’s suggestion, and I apologize to Your Highness again!”
Gilliam continued to salute and apologize. His face was solemn, as if he was dealing with state affairs, and he had a magnanimity that came from his heart.
Shulot looked at Gillim's magnanimous expression, thought for a moment, and bowed his head again in return.
He smiled bitterly in his heart. Avitt's old subordinate was indeed not simple. He knocked everyone down when they first met. He conducts state affairs magnanimously with a gentleman's heart, but he does everything by any means. If you still live a simple life and love your work...
The young man continued to look at Gillim's simple warrior robe and meticulous luggage, and suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. After a second thought, I raised the danger level of the intelligence chief to the highest level. He secretly marked in his heart: a saint who can survive as long as water, bread and work.
Avitt chuckled and stood up from the throne. He once again grabbed the two of them one by one. He also asked his bodyguard to wake up Akapu, who was sleeping soundly.
Acap looked a little dazed after being hungover. He blankly took a bowl of sober tomato juice, drank it all subconsciously, then rubbed his forehead with his hands, and then slowly woke up.
"Tonight's banquet is really fun! I have never been so drunk. It seems that drinking victory with everyone is indeed a joy in life!"
Seeing the three people waiting for him, Akap's gentle face turned red. He continued to put his hand on his forehead, still feeling a little dizzy.
Shulot glanced at Gillim subconsciously, but the other person's face remained as usual, solemn and solemn.
Avitt smiled softly: "Let's go, let's go to the side tent to discuss the follow-up plan."
Entering the tent, the bonfire has already been lit. The four of them sat around the firepit.
The last meeting was before the decisive battle. At that time, everyone was full of excitement and nervousness. But now, everything has changed. The teenagers looked at each other's calm faces and felt a sense of excitement from within. This was confidence and expectation for the future.
Military power is the basis of war. Everyone first discussed the casualties of the battle and the existing strength of the troops.
"In the battle between the two kings, more than 300 of the king's family warriors were killed, and only 80 of Tisok's broken-haired guards were left. No one in the noble battle groups on both sides was injured, and dozens of direct warriors died in the battle. More than 400 people were slightly injured. After this battle, Tisok's Thousand Eagles and seven thousand direct subordinates surrendered, and about 10,000 militiamen surrendered."
Gilliam reported the statistics respectfully. He was very good at mathematics, and Avitt was happy to leave the complicated statistical work to him.
"The peripheral city-state legions have surrendered. However, due to lack of food and guerrillas, the city-state legions have suffered heavy losses and must now rest and recuperate. Of the 20,000 city-state warriors who returned from the Otopan camp, there are now only 17,000 left. Among them, Teo The Tihuakan legion suffered the greatest losses. Four thousand warriors had a difficult journey and participated in the decisive battle, and now only a little over three thousand remain."
Acap reported seriously and glanced at Shulot. The young man also looked up at him. The two of them looked at each other, feeling a little distressed.
Avitt thought for a moment, then reached out and patted Shulot on the shoulder.
"The Teotihuacan Army contributed a lot in this battle! Captain Shusok was also injured in the camp. I have asked the best war priest to treat him. I will promote Captain Shusok to a third-level honorable noble. Give him two more prosperous villages along the lake, and give him six thousand men of cloth to give to three thousand warriors. I will also make up for the loss of one thousand warriors!"
Shulot bowed again and thanked the king for his generosity on his father's behalf.
Gillim watched the two people getting along, his eyes lingering on the faces of Avitt and the boy, silently thinking about something.
Gillim didn't report again until the boy finished his salute.
"Your Majesty, we now have 2,000 noble battle groups, 27,000 direct subordinates, 25,000 city-states, and a total of 54,000 warriors! There are also nearly 50,000 militiamen. The entire Mexica Alliance has seven Four-quarters of the power is gathered in our hands. This is an invincible army. No force in the world can compete head-on. Congratulations to the king!"
Hearing the number of fifty-four thousand warriors, Shulot was extremely excited. He looked at Avitt and Akapu, and their faces were also full of heroic and confident smiles.
Only Gillim still looked solemn. He made a congratulatory gesture and continued to speak seriously.
“However, this war among the Otomi people has lasted for a year and a half. The soldiers are mentally exhausted and their hearts have long missed their hometown.
We lost more than four thousand warriors in the long siege of Otopan, and another thousand warriors in the confrontation between the Tarascans on the Leman River. On the way to retreat from the city of Otopan, three thousand city-state warriors were separated and lost, or were captured due to lack of food. Then eight hundred elite warriors were killed in the royal civil war. Including other scattered battles, this expedition has already lost a total of nine thousand Mexica warriors!
Now Cassar is still leading three thousand direct warriors to camp in the westernmost mountains to fight against thousands of Otopan warriors led by Giowa. As for the loss of the militia, although it is not important, it must have exceeded 20,000. "
Shulot nodded. In this Otomi battle, only half of the warriors died in battle. Among the losses during the siege of Otopan City, more than half of the warriors died from the harsh environment in the rainy season and diseases caused by acclimatization. When the army retreated, the warriors were separated due to the difficult marching environment in the mountains and forests.
Nine thousand warriors suffered casualties, of which nearly four thousand were lost due to the harsh rainy season in the mountains and forests, as well as food shortages caused by the harsh environment. The Otomi guerrillas amplified the power of the environment. This shows that environmental terrain has a huge impact on army attrition.
In fact, once the two armies formed a battle, the battle-hardened Mexica warriors were often able to defeat more with less. With their higher level of training and braver morale, they achieved a beautiful kill ratio with less losses! Just like the boy's first battle, there is also the battle of the Leman River.
"This time when I went south, I got new news from the 20,000 warriors who had dispersed. The navy troops had picked up 6,000 militiamen from the Leman River. Of the 4,000 militiamen who had been lost, 2,000 were killed in battle and captured. There are two thousand lost, scattered in the mountains and forests on the north bank of the Leman River, and the specific situation is unknown.
The navy is now waiting for the next order at a river mouth three days away from the south.
The Tarascans crossed the river very late and did not pursue the militiamen in the rear. They just occupied the camp by the river, spying on the weakened city of Otopan, waiting for news from the Mexica army.
I think it is likely that the Tarascans would have continued the siege of Otopan. Relying on Lake Quetseo and the Leman River, their food routes are much more convenient, and it is the dry season now. The food in Otopan is estimated to only last three months. The Otomi people are frantically searching for food. The Otomi city-states further west and north should also be organizing assistance. "
Shulot reported the latest information on the Leman River Basin.
Avitt frowned and pondered. If the Tarascans besieged the city of Otopan, would this be a benefit or a disadvantage? He hoped to consume the strength of both sides as much as possible, but could not really let the Tarascans pick up the peaches and completely conquer the Otomi people.
Now beyond his reach, the king did not think about it for too long. He smiled loudly and inspired his three confidants:
"This expedition indeed suffered a lot of losses, but our enemies suffered even greater losses! All four states of the Otomi people were completely crippled by us. The warriors lost more than 10,000 people, and the village population was reduced by half.
In the coming years, the Otomi people will be plagued by famine and will be unable to support the current number of warriors. Two entire generations will be unable to recover. They are no longer a threat! Similarly, the Tarascans did not take advantage. The battle on the riverside resulted in the loss of ten thousand elite militiamen and one thousand warriors. "
Hearing this, Acap smiled in agreement, and Gillim nodded seriously.
The young man's expression remained unchanged, but a sigh sounded in his heart: "Fight for land, and kill people to fill the fields; fight for cities, and kill people to fill the city. The war has been going on for two years, and famine has begun. The original one million Otomi people , there will never be more than 400,000 left in the end.”
Gillim bowed his head and saluted again, and spoke seriously.
“In addition, with the army gathering, daily food supply is a big problem!
The news of the royal civil war should be on its way to the capital. Next, the army's food transportation will inevitably be affected. We now have enough food for 120,000 people for one month. In the dry season, grain storage loss is less, more than 10% per month, while transportation loss depends on the distance. I roughly estimate that the food can sustain the army for one month.
Now, in order to save food and grass consumption, I have two suggestions: First, move the army to the Herotepec Camp, relying on waterways that facilitate transportation. Second, disband most of the militia and dismantle the mountain camps.
At the same time, the king had promised the warriors to end the war and let them go home. The king cannot break his promise easily, and it is imperative to disband some warriors!
And the most critical thing is to ask the king to quickly unite his army and move south, directly into Tenochtitlan, the city in the lake. Officially ascend the throne in the capital and control the heart of the alliance! If you control the capital, you will control the hearts of the people; if you control the granary of the capital, you will control the army.
Wait until the capital is in hand and control the alliance's food. On the front line currently confronting the Tlaxcalans, Atotonilco State's sixteen thousand warriors and four eight thousand regiments will automatically surrender! "
Xiulote nodded in approval and also made new suggestions:
“We can negotiate peace with Otopan, but Hilotepec should be surrounded.
As a result, the city of Herotepec was extremely short of food, with at most four months of food reserves left. Secondly, it has the advantage of being connected by waterways, which facilitates food transportation. Communication is easier, and it is easier to be directly controlled by the capital. Third, by capturing this place and garrisoning troops, we can completely drive the Otomi people back to the western mountains and forests, and at the same time deter the Huastec people in the north. Fourth, this was also punishment for the city of Hilotepec for betraying the alliance.
If we miss this opportunity and wait until the city of Xilotepec has replenished its food supplies and want to besiege it again, we will have to wait a long time and face unpredictable changes. "
Avitt nodded slightly, lost in thought. Everything awaits the king's decision.
