The night has come. Darkness fell from the ventilated ceiling and enveloped the corners of the tent. A slightly cold breeze blew in, and the bonfire swayed dimly, creating a deep silhouette on His Highness's face, like an invisible black hawk on a high mountain.
Following His Highness's inquiry, the hall became quiet for a moment. Ezpin was shaken. He raised his head and opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but inexplicably no sound came out. He peeked at His Highness's expression again, and felt that it was as difficult to distinguish between joy and sorrow as a sculpture, and he could not figure it out. Looking at the warrior captain next to him, Bertard just had a calm expression on his face, standing guard beside His Highness like a centuries-old tree.
Ezpin opened his mouth again, only uttering "uh-huh" words mixed with Tarasco's dialect. He shut up in fear and kowtowed to the ground again. The impact and pain on the head made him wake up, and also allowed him to reorganize the language and remember the pronunciation of the Mexicans.
After kowtowing ten times, he finally gathered up enough courage, looked up at His Highness's still calm face, and shouted as loud as he could for his own destiny.
"Your Highness, I want to be the commander of the new army! I can lead the new army well!"
Shulot looked at the Tarasco man kneeling in front of him. There was no emotional ups and downs in his eyes, and there was no obvious change in his expression. After a long while, until Ezpin's courage was exhausted and he fell to the ground powerlessly again, he heard His Highness's divine words.
"Ezpin, how can I trust you?"
Ezpin was refreshed, as if illuminated by light. He firmly grasped the sun amulet on his chest, raised his head and spoke eagerly.
"Your Highness, although I am from Tarasco, my parents died when I was young. Since I was fourteen years old, I have entered the mines of Qin Congcan, digging from the open-pit copper mine to the dark underground. I work from the time the sun rises to the The sun set and I didn’t have a full meal. I worked like this for eight years. Later, I was recruited as a spear militia and followed the kingdom’s army to conquer the Tekos people. I never had a decent cotton armor, only the one in my hand. Spear. We were at the forefront every time we charged, and we fought like this for another eight years."
At this point, Ezpin's voice gradually became louder, bringing with it a bit of anger and true feelings.
"I served for the Kingdom of Tarasco, and I never received preferential treatment! The spear militiamen did not have armor or shields, and they were always used in the most difficult battles, with heavy casualties every time. Almost all the old brothers in the mine died. There was no pension, and there was no pension. Many times I was able to survive just by luck!"
As if to prove something, Ezpan suddenly took off his Mexica uniform, revealing his chest covered with scars. There was one largest wound, which was cut along the shoulder to the lower abdomen.
"Your Highness, you also know that in the last battle, we were sent to the other side of the river as stepping stones for the warriors and as firewood for the army. I have no nostalgia for the Kingdom of Tarasco!"
Seeing the scars all over Ezpan's body, Shulot was slightly moved and silent.
Behind him, Bertard looked solemnly. He took a step forward, stretched out his strong and strong hand, and scratched the large diagonal scar on Ezpin's chest. He asked seriously, gesturing at the width and continuity of the wound.
"Is this just a blow? What kind of weapon is this? Is it so sharp that it can make continuous and extremely long wounds?"
Ezpin's full of emotions were momentarily interrupted. He looked at the warrior commander in astonishment, confirming that the other person's question was not a joke, and then tried hard to remember.
"We were responsible for attacking a large Tekos tribe. There were thousands of them, and their camp was built in the mountains, making it difficult to attack. Most of them only had wooden sticks or stone spears, and a few had obsidian war clubs. Only the tribal leaders There is a very sharp black knife. It is said to be black, but the area around the edge is actually white.
The wound on my chest was when I besieged the strongest chief, he cut off his spear with the first blow, and then cut through the cotton-padded clothes with the second blow. However, he was also stabbed to death by the brothers."
Hearing this, Shulot looked solemn. He had some vague guesses and immediately asked in a deep voice, his voice rising slightly.
"Where is the Tekos tribe you mentioned? Is it Colima State? Is that black knife on you?"
Ezpin tried to remember, with a wry smile on his face.
"Your Highness, I don't know where Colima State is. We disembarked at Lake Chapala, and then were directed to go southwest for more than ten days. There are continuous mountains there, not many people, and the roads are very long. It’s difficult to leave. The tribes of Tekos gathered in the mountains. The outer tribes surrendered to the Kingdom of Tarasco, but the inner tribes refused to pay tribute and often came out to plunder. But I remember the location of that tribe. If I can get there again, I should Can find it."
For the first time, Ezpin noticed the ups and downs in His Highness's expression. He was slightly happy and continued.
"As for the black knife, of course it was taken away by the nobles of Tarasco. After I was cut, I immediately bleed into coma and couldn't move. My brothers bandaged me up and even captured a tribal witch doctor to help me heal my wounds. .Some of them tried the black knife. It was said that it was only slightly sharper than the bronze spear. It was taken away before they had time to hide it.
Later, the nobles asked the militiamen to search for it, and the entire tribe only had this black knife. The tribe’s witch doctor said that this was an artifact made by the previous great witch with the power of the gods as a symbol of the tribe’s inheritance.”
Shulot's heart was filled with confusion and he fell into deep thought.
According to Ezpan's description, it must be the Colima area, with rolling mountains and complex terrain, as well as the rebellious Tecos tribe. The black knife should be an oxidized iron knife. With the metallurgical level of the tribe, the iron knife is indeed not much sharper than the bronze weapon. According to the local mining capacity, only sporadic iron ore picked up from the surface could only be used to forge one weapon.
The iron ore in Colima is buried deep beneath the earth's surface, ranging from tens of meters shallow to hundreds of meters deep. These scattered iron ores are just a drop in the bucket for the alliance. But their existence is of great significance. They can help determine the location of shallow iron deposits before the Alliance can invest huge manpower and force in digging them.
Thinking of this, Shulot looked at Ezpin again, his eyes already a little gentler. He smiled slightly and nodded.
"Ezpan, the Lord God has blessed you, allowing you to survive a hundred battles, fall into the arms of the Great Alliance, and also allow you to meet me. Put aside the matter of the black knife for the time being, and continue to prove your loyalty!"
Seeing His Highness's smile, Ezpin breathed a sigh of relief. Although I don't know where to cater to His Highness's wishes, the future seems to be suddenly much brighter. He answered loudly and excitedly.
"Your Highness, the great alliance is far more powerful than the decadent kingdom. The capital in the lake is unparalleled. It is the kingdom of God on earth that I have never seen in my life. There are hundreds of thousands of warriors in the alliance, and no one in the world can stop it.
And your highness, your wisdom is divine, and you are far more wise, decisive, simple and kind than the nobles of Tarasco. You hire people based on ability, regardless of birth. You can not only promote craftsmen to military nobles, but also promote civilians to serve as battalion commanders and regimental commanders. You are the only hope for civilians to witness the supreme god. I am willing to dedicate my loyalty and life to follow you forever! "
Having said this, Ezpan once again knelt on the ground and kowtowed vigorously. Then, he looked at His Highness with longing, and his heart was full of expectations.
Shulot's face was already calm, and he looked at the Tarascan in front of him with indifferent eyes, also waiting for something.
Seeing His Highness's unmoved gaze, Ezpin felt cold in his heart. As a soldier of Tarasco, it is so difficult to prove your loyalty and gain the trust of the king!
Ezpin gritted his teeth. He thought of the recent rumors that had spread from the priesthood, and thought of the ceremony in which the northern warriors pledged their allegiance to the alliance. He suddenly lowered his head and saluted deeply to the warrior chief.
"Please lend me a dagger. Under the witness of the Lord God, let me sacrifice my flesh and blood to prove my loyalty!"
Bertard was startled for a moment, and he looked at Hulot. The young man thought for a moment and nodded. The warrior commander then took out his war club, held it in his hand for warning, and then handed the obsidian dagger at his waist to Ezpin.
Ezpin took the dagger and fell to his knees. He stretched out his non-dominant left hand, stretched out his little finger, curled up the other four fingers, and then pressed them on the ground. Then, he held the sharp dagger in his right hand, first made a gesture on half of the finger, then gritted his teeth again, moved to the weak joint at the base of the finger, and then cut it off with force.
Tarasco's training adjutant's face suddenly became ferocious. With his slow but firm exertion, fine beads of sweat quickly seeped out from his forehead, and then gathered into small streams on his face and flowed down. When the flesh and blood finally separated, he let out a low roar, and his face turned pale in pain.
Xiulette nodded, approving of Ezpin's determination and perseverance, thinking highly of him in his heart. Then, the young priest stood up, moved the brazier to the center of the tent, and softly sang the Lord God's prayer.
"Praise the Lord Huitzilopochtli! I pray to Him, the Most High, offering the flesh and blood of the devout and the souls of the converts. This is loyalty under the gaze of the Lord God!"
Listening to His Highness's prayer, Ezpin dropped the bloody dagger and took two steps closer with difficulty. He held the little finger of the sacrifice with his good left hand, looked at it one last time with nostalgia, and then threw it into the fire. Soon, a burning smell of burning sebum came quickly, and then drifted away in the wind. The vague green smoke rose, taking away a part of his body forever, and also truly took away a part of his soul, ascending to the distant kingdom of God.
Seeing Ezpin's performance, Shulot smiled in praise and said gently.
"Ezpan, my child, from now on, under the witness of the Supreme Lord God, you will swear to Him and obtain the sacred responsibility to shine the glory of the Lord God! Come, recite His name with me and praise the Supreme Lord. Huitzilopochtli!”
Ezpan obediently knelt down again, raised his head slightly, and looked at the burning "Holy Fire". He was a little confused, but also a little expectant, and whispered softly with the satisfaction of finally being recognized.
"Supreme Huitzilopochtli, I devote all my loyalty to fight for the Alliance!"
"Supreme Huitzilopochtli, I devote all my loyalty to fight for His Highness!"
"Sovereign Huitzilopochtli, I dedicate all my loyalty to His Highness and fight for His Highness!"
Listening to Ezpan's prayer for a conscious change, Shulot was stunned for a moment and smiled with satisfaction. He waved to the warrior commander.
"Bandage him with the best wound medicine."
Bertard nodded calmly and took out the boiled cotton cloth and delicate herbs from his arms. Then, he bent down, held Ezpin's left arm, helped the limp Adjutant Tarasco to stop the bleeding, and then bandaged it carefully. On the ground, the drops of blood gathered into a mirror, reflecting Ezpin's strangely smiling face.
After a while, Ezpin knelt down again, his expression returning to normal from the baptism. Shulot looked at him with a gentle smile deciding his fate.
"Ezpan, you have shown your ability and loyalty, but it is not enough. The commander of the new army has been determined in advance, and it is impossible for you to take the position with your qualifications. However, as long as you do what you should do and train the spear well Legion, keep proving your piety to the gods, and you will have a new starting point! When the legion is officially formed, I promise you the position of deputy commander!"
Listening to His Highness's decision, Ezpin looked gloomy at first, and then his face was filled with surprise and his face glowed brightly. He said "Yeah" a few times, not knowing what to say, and then he knelt down hard and kowtowed "bang bang" on the ground with all his strength.
This time, Shulot didn't wait. He continued to promise the future and inspired the generals in front of him.
"Ezpin, I have high hopes for you. I don't care about your birth as a foreign miner, but the Alliance will, and so will the other warriors and militiamen! So, you need to prove your ability twice as much as you loyalty
You were once a Tarasco, now a Mexica, and you must make a difference in the Alliance's Western expedition! And when the Alliance conquers Tarasco, I will also form the Tarasco Legion. That is your truly great future! "
Hearing His Highness' bright promise and thinking of the ups and downs of this life, Ezpin suddenly choked up. The smooth road of hope was right in front of him, but he couldn't help but shed tears. He kowtowed hard, held the wound on his broken finger, and woke himself up with pain again. After a while, he could speak in a hoarse voice.
"I am willing to die for His Highness!"
Seeing Ezpin's true feelings revealed, Shulot suddenly felt a little emotional.
"If I was also born in a poor civilian family, when would I be able to struggle and step onto the world stage?"
After thinking for a long time, the young man laughed at himself. He looked at Ezpin with gentle eyes and waved.
"Go down, Ezpin, and take this bottle of medicine with you. I will leave the camp tomorrow, and you should complete the training first. Soon, the new legion commander will arrive to replace the training chief Barda."
Ezpin knelt on the ground respectfully and backed up to the door on his knees. Then, he stood up, carefully exited the tent door, and disappeared into the night.
Shulot watched the tent door close again, and the darkness was isolated in the distant world. He thought for a long time and shook his head.
"Barda was born into a noble family and is an eagle noble warrior. After all, he is not suitable to lead the civilian army Bertard. Are you willing to serve as the commander of the new army? This is a bit unfair to you, but this new army will be better in the future. If we continue to expand, I will also make you the marshal during the Northern Expedition."
Shulot looked at the warrior commander. This was his most trusted subordinate, both in terms of loyalty and ability. In fact, deep down, he even regarded Bertard as half a teacher.
Bertard looked solemn. He has been following Shulot for a long time, and he can already judge the young man's thoughts, and can also confirm that His Highness attaches great importance to the new army. After thinking for a moment, the warrior commander shook his head.
"Your Highness, I am willing to always be by your side. I can serve as the leader of the new army for a short period of time, but it is not suitable for a long-term appointment. As your captain of the bodyguard, I should not serve as a marshal and have too much exposure to military power."
Shulot lowered his eyes, thought for a moment, and nodded slightly. Then, he said with a friendly smile.
"Bertard, you have followed me for many years and we know each other's thoughts. There is no need to worry too much. I have no experience in commanding an army. This northern expedition will definitely rely on you and Teacher Orosh. And you are the best in my heart. The candidate for marshal!"
Bertard pondered for a moment and then spoke slowly.
"Your Highness, as a warrior of civilian origin, I am not qualified to serve as a marshal. In fact, there is a noble person who is most suitable for the position of marshal."
Shulot was stunned for a moment. He looked at Bertard's vicissitudes of face and asked in a deep voice.
"who is it?"
"Your father, Captain Shusok." Bertard bowed his head respectfully.
Hearing this, Shulot suddenly stood up and looked to the north. The young man's thoughts drifted far away, and as his memories flickered, thoughts came flooding in.
After standing still for a long time, he muttered to himself.
"Want to let father be my assistant? It's really good."
