The sunset faded away, night was approaching, the busyness of the capital gradually stopped, and the group set out on their way home. On the way back, surrounded by warriors and saluted by passers-by, Shulot's thoughts were racing.
The Artisan District is located in the northeast of the capital and is crisscrossed by waterways. In Mexican society, the status of craftsmen is actually higher than that of merchants and farmers. They are far away from the war, their lives are relatively prosperous, and their communities are full of order. Skilled feather craftsmen will be unanimously sought after by all nobles, and can even be exempted from paying tribute and corvee.
Shulot walked beside the gurgling waterway, with the swaying shadows of rushes and flowers in front of his eyes, the melody of ocarina and conch playing in his ears, and the aroma of corn and black beans floating in his nose.
A smile gradually appeared on the young man's face.
"Warriors and craftsmen are the most stable foundation in the empire's pyramid and the source of power for the war machine."
Soon, everyone returned to the high priest's house. Shulot went to bow to his grandfather and reported back.
In the main hall, High Priest Shuter, dressed in casual casual clothes, had returned from the temple. He smiled gently and touched the boy's head.
"My child, you have been quite tired during this period, so you might as well take a rest. The teachings are on the right track. You can walk around, visit the capital and surrounding areas, or go to the nearby sacred mountains and holy lakes. But you must Bring a full bodyguard!"
Then, the high priest looked at Bertard, and the vicissitudes of the warrior chief nodded. The high priest continued to give instructions.
"With God's will as the core, a general legal framework has been established. The new law will absorb existing customary provisions, and the specific details will be slowly filled in. After the New Year, the Commercial Law that suppresses the interests of businessmen will be implemented first, and then the behavior of civilians will be managed The civil law, and finally the aristocratic law that restrains the power of the aristocracy.
Village priests from all over the country will come to the capital after the New Year to understand God's will. They would 'co-manage' villages with the nobles throughout the Texcoco Lake area. In order to ensure the friendship and cooperation of the nobles, the temple guard has been expanded and formed, and the royal warriors will also gather after the New Year. "
Having said this, the high priest smiled gently and calmly regarded life as nothing.
"My son, as you once said in a funny saying, kill the turkey and make the monkey obey. The priesthood of the Twelve has selected several high-ranking sacrifices from Tlacopan. Prince Totoki is knowledgeable and knowledgeable. , also nodded in acquiescence.
These offerings included a large number of enfeoffed villages on the western shore of Lake Texcoco. They withheld alliance tribute and treated the priests as useless. Once the Law of Nobility was enacted, the Temple Guard acted under the guidance of the local priests.
My child, you have a special status! Don’t go to the villages in the West Coast city-state of Tlacopan until the weeds are rooted out. "
Shulot nodded calmly. He suddenly remembered Bravo, a smart middle-aged priest he had met in the village of Tlacopan. The young man casually mentioned it to his grandfather and recommended it. The high priest nodded slightly and simply wrote down the name.
"The compilation of religious classics is still going on, and it will take a long time for the fundamental doctrines to be perfected. The ten commandments of King Moushi that you mentioned last time are very good, but they just need to be revised and supplemented. The priesthood decided to add these to the myth, As the patron saint, he promised the Mexica people a contract with the world.”
Having said this, the high priest pondered slightly. He chanted slowly and loudly in the ancient accent of a priest.
"The first article is that God is the only one and God is omnipotent. The second article is that the gods will gradually ban idols in order to obey God and later become saints. The third article is that the name of God is supreme and cannot be used in vain. Swearing in the name of God must be obeyed. Article 4: Pray and worship God. Three rituals a day, one breath every ten days, a big ritual. At least once in your life, go to the holy temple to worship.
Article 5: Honor your parents and obey the priests. Article 6: Killing is forbidden, but you can sacrifice for gods and participate in divine battles. Article 7 prohibits adultery and restrains sexual desires. Article 8: Theft is prohibited. Theft is the same crime as cowardice. Article 9: Prohibit perjury, be honest and trustworthy, and repent regularly. Article 10: Do not covet others and devote yourself wholeheartedly to God. "
Xiuluo nodded, these are the proper meanings.
In polytheism, God is just an assistant to humans, a being with extraordinary power and worthy of awe. Gods have specific images, flaws, and desires. People can also ignore, fear, or hate gods. Because in essence, man and God are equal to each other. This is a personal freedom of belief.
In monotheistic religions, God becomes the supreme authority. He established laws and morals that cannot be questioned and guide people's lives. People love Him with all their hearts and obey His church. This is an organized collective belief.
This is the most essential difference between multiple gods and one god. Polytheism is loose and free, while monotheism is centralized and organized. The combat effectiveness of the two churches and believers will be very different.
In monotheism, God is supreme, distant, sacred and untouchable. Therefore, no idols are established, and one god is elevated to the supreme conceptual god. The priestly group, as the only link between gods and humans, has naturally become a clergy class with divine power, and a powerful organization that controls supreme religious power and huge interests!
The future religious reform in Europe will be to dismantle powerful theocratic organizations and return power to the secular world.
"Religion is an inverted worldview. God did not create human beings, but humans created God according to their own needs."
Shulot recalled the words of the future philosopher, with mixed emotions and full of emotion.
"Now, in this land where ignorance is emerging, we will establish a powerful kingdom of God on earth in the name of God!"
Then, the high priest thought for a moment, his face extremely serious.
"Article 11: The end of the world will be reincarnated once every fifty-two years, and all souls will be judged. Warriors who died fighting for God and women who died giving birth will be the first to ascend to heaven and live on the top floor. They can be reincarnated in the human world and enjoy endless beauty. Be pious. The believers follow closely behind and live on the bottom floor of the heaven. They pray to accumulate merit and gradually make their way to the top.
The unbelievers and disbelievers will fall into the land of death. They seek long-term relief from the wind knives and cold disasters, and only conversion can save them. Those who committed serious crimes fell into the lowest level of Hell, where they suffered eternal torment and gradually burned away their guilt. Only high-level priests can save them from death. "
Hearing this, Shulot raised his head suddenly, and the hall was solemn for a moment.
His face was solemn. This is the true Mexica religious view of life and death, which solves the problems of salvation, reincarnation and the hereafter of believers. Here, the priests and elders left much of their own interpretation. And the warriors who died fighting for the gods are included in the highest level after death... In the foreseeable future, the Mexica monotheism will have infinite aggression and combat.
Sure enough, my grandfather pondered for a moment and continued to recite aloud.
"Article 12. Every fifty-two years in the calendar, the Great Temple will listen to the will of the god and ignite the sacred flame. Then, the twelve-man priest group will announce the god's message to all believers and pass the holy fire Everywhere. God’s will will serve as the highest instruction and the fastest ladder to the Kingdom of God! At the end of the reincarnation in 1453, God’s will is for the Mexica Alliance to conquer the world!”
Hearing this, Shulot finally looked at his grandfather in shock, his face full of disbelief.
"Fifty-two years of reincarnation decree? Regular holy war?!"
The high priest also nodded majestically. The old man's expression remained unchanged, and endless blood rushed toward his face from the future.
"This is the meaning of the elder. He praised your concept of divine warfare and agreed to gradually reduce the huge cost of human sacrifice. The priests and elders decided to increase the size of the priests accompanying the army and popularize the concept of divine warfare in the army first to strengthen the warriors. The will to fight will increase the war power after the autumn harvest."
Having said this, the high priest gently touched the boy's head again. The old man felt the softness of the black hair with his hands, just like the child's soul.
"My child, you must be prepared. This year's war of conquest of Tarasco will be extremely cruel. The Tarascans are complete believers in alien gods and believe in the evil moon goddess... In the battle between gods, No one will hold back!”
Shulot pursed his lips and lowered his head in silence. The high priest smiled slightly and changed the subject.
"When the world is conquered, the purpose of the temple can be changed to self-cultivation. Or decrees can be issued to weaken the great nobles in various places... Also, the four-character poem you recited last time was very good. The ancient West, really Is there a city-state alliance between Shang and Zhou? The Shang alliance is really similar to us Mexicans! How could the powerful Shang perish at the hands of the weak Zhou?...
According to your suggestions, the priesthood is already revising the history of the alliance and writing mythology. We will include the Olmecs of rubber, the Teotihuacans of the gods, and the Tula Toltecs of craftsmen in the ancestral genealogy of the Mexica! Totonac must hand over the remains of the Olmecs and is not allowed to claim to be descended from their ancestors.
We Mexicans will become the sole successors of ancient civilization, an alliance destined to rule the world! And so do you, my child! "
Having said this, High Priest Shuter laughed loudly, his old voice carrying a youthful dignity. Immediately, he hugged Shulot into his arms, interrupting the young man's thoughts.
The young man felt his grandfather's long-lost arms and the thin but firm body under the god's robe, and warmth flowed in his heart. After a while, he calmed down, hesitated for a few breaths, and then asked in a low voice.
"Grandfather, who is higher than the king or the priests? How to coordinate between the nobles and the priests?"
The high priest put away his smile and thought seriously. Behind this issue is the relationship between religion and secularity, the struggle between divine power and royal power. It is also the most important internal conflict in Eurasian countries, except for the unique civil dynasty.
"This is also what worries me. According to the custom of the alliance, the patron saint gives the priesthood a sacred scepter, and the priesthood then transfers the scepter to the king. And the great Montezuma I once made another scepter and directly held power. .
Now the elders dominate the world and stand at the top of divine authority. So the power of Mexica is granted by the Lord God to the twelve-man priesthood, the priesthood is granted to the king, and the king grants it to the nobles everywhere. The great nobles were autonomous in their fiefdoms, and only the priests could intervene in the name of the gods.
Once the elders go to the Kingdom of God, the big nobles will inevitably fight back for their own benefit. And the king’s attitude will be difficult to judge by then! The priests need a supreme pope, and the Mexica people also need a true king to rule the priests and nobles at the same time and maintain the balance between the two classes! "
Having said this, the old Shuter lowered his head and stared at the young man in his arms. His eyes were filled with excitement and high expectations, which stung Shulot's eyes. The boundless pressure came from my grandfather's eyes. The young man was silent for a long time, then slowly nodded, his shoulders suddenly felt heavy.
The high priest smiled slightly. Then he lowered his voice meaningfully.
"Currently, the twelve-member priesthood will fully assist King Avit, obey the king's orders, and expand the power of the center. The center needs to gain control of the great nobles, which is the common interest of the king and the priests.
Shulot, the teaching work is on the right track. Next, you need to participate more in the king's military and political meetings and master an army that is only loyal to you! I will give you my greatest support, and so will the city-state of Teotihuacan. The Mexican Alliance has always valued the military talents and war power of the heirs, which is the highest source of legal principles!
As for the rest of the time, you can spend more time with the king's daughter, your fiancée. That's the king's only weakness! My child, don't complain about your grandfather's arrangements. Power is always above all else, and your marriage is inherently incapable of independence. When you reach a high position, you will naturally understand your grandfather's good intentions! "
In the end, the high priest's smile remained unchanged, but he spoke solemnly and silently.
"As for those other voices from the royal family... My son, I will pave the way for you..."
Shulot thought silently. He felt his grandfather's warm embrace, but did not see his cold gaze. The alliance's succession rules are similar to the Ottoman succession law. Only by showing sufficient war power can one secure the throne. Therefore, Avit must also conduct a successful coronation war to gain the complete conviction of the nobles and warriors.
The boy cherished his friendship with Avitt, loved the pure girl, and did not want to bring political considerations into it. But the real world forced him to do this. In the cruel power struggle, only the truly strong can retain a trace of warmth.
"Now, the power that truly belongs to me is only five hundred Longbow Guards, mostly from civilian followers. Then there are four thousand Teotihuacan warriors, under the firm control of my father and Teacher Orosh. Finally, there is the Tongren The more than 10,000 warriors I have conquered will have a sense of obedience to me. But this obedience will only take effect when the general situation is dominant.
I need a truly loyal core. The warriors have long belonged to different noble groups, and it is difficult for even the king to command such a powerful noble war group. The power of the royal family will have other voices... This power can only come from the civilian class, from the neglected groups. They will use new weapons and organizational forms to compete with the powerful traditional warriors! "
Shulot straightened up and looked solemn. In front of his eyes, formed warriors holding longbows and loose militiamen holding longbows appeared. Then, he thought of the elite Mexica warriors holding war sticks and shields on the banks of the Leman River, fighting against the Tarascan militia with a forest of bronze spears... Thinking of this, he nodded silently and paid more attention to tomorrow's trip.
The high priest is also sitting upright, with gray hair. The old man's eyes are filled with warmth and coldness, light and shadow. He thought about the future battles of blood, fire and gods, planned ruthless daggers and poisons, and thought about the young man who was going to the highest place... and smiled slightly.
The grandfather and grandson smiled at the same time, looked at each other solemnly, and then nodded slightly. Their thoughts are like eagles spreading their wings, flying towards the same but different lofty future!
