The sun sets quietly and the stream flows silently. The rolling hills gradually became gentle, and the barren wilderness gradually opened up. The mountains and forests of Apatchingan turned into black shadows on the horizon, and the lake area of Patzcuaro was not far to the north.
King Suangua walked silently, wearing ordinary warrior uniforms, with his bodyguards carrying the royal flag behind him. The inherited eagle flag has been rolled up and put away, and the flag bearers are only holding high the sacred flags of the three gods. If you stand and observe from a distance, it will be difficult to identify the affiliation of the legion for a while.
However, once they get close, the identity of the Royal Legion cannot be concealed. The long bow, bronze axe, leather armor and bronze helmet, as well as the neat military appearance and silent march are all symbols of an elite warrior. The battalion commanders in the army all wore noble forked feather crowns and bright striped battle uniforms. The suit is embroidered with a yellow condor and the symbols of the three gods.
The 10,000 elite members of the Tarasco royal family were divided into two armies, with 5,000 men at the front and 5,000 men at the front and rear, and scouts probed out for dozens of miles. Suangua personally led the bronze ax guards at the forefront. In the past few days, under the golden sunshine, he had walked through familiar mountain roads and unfamiliar deserted villages and towns, and he had been silent.
Suddenly there was a slight commotion in the front ranks of the march. The scouts on the periphery waved warning flags, and hundreds of elite warriors quickly stepped forward and began to run quickly. Suangua stopped his formation and ascended the nearest hillock. A few miles ahead, several small green dots were seen retreating quickly, while the kingdom's scouts chased and outflanked them from both sides. The two sides chased each other until the end of sight.
The young king frowned and waited impatiently for a moment before his bodyguard walked over. He carried several bloody heads and long bows on his back, bowed his head and reported back respectfully.
"Dear King, the scouts encountered a small team of Mexica warriors and have killed them all."
Su Angua glanced at the hairstyle on his head, then at the captured longbow, and felt irritated again. These were not warriors, but tribesmen in the mountains. Even these militiamen could be equipped with longbows... The young king didn't say much, he just asked.
"Well done. Did the scouts detect any traces of the enemy group?"
"There is no trace of the enemy group within twenty miles, and no marching smoke can be seen on the horizon. This group of scouts carried very sufficient dry food. They were unable to run during the chase. They must have gone very far ahead."
The king nodded and waved his bodyguard to retreat. He looked at the distant sky. The royal capital was three hundred miles away to the northwest. A normal march would take about seven or eight days, while a forced march would take five days.
"I encountered enemy scouts here... The royal capital has lost control of the surrounding area! The enemy's situation is unknown, and a rapid march is too dangerous... No, the number of enemy troops should not be small, so it is not appropriate to entangle them at this time!"
Su Angua thought for a moment and made a quick decision.
"Come here! Give the order, the former army scouts disperse, the army remains quiet, and turns to the southwest. Then send two squads of 100 people to wander in the northeast and attack the Mexica scouts as suspected soldiers!"
Following the king's military order, tens of thousands of elites quickly changed their formations and turned to the hills and valleys in the southwest. This last elite of Tarasco continues to the heart of the kingdom, waiting for the battle that is destined to come.
The wilderness of the mountain forest was quiet again, and the low-hanging vegetation covered the traces of the fighting. It was not until one day later that several Mexican reconnaissance teams arrived in a hurry. They spread out, carefully searched for blood stains and corpses in the forest, and then gathered again. The captains looked solemn, discussed in low voices for a moment, and quickly divided into three groups. Looking for the figure all the way to the northeast, all the way to the southwest along the footprints, and all the way day and night, turning back quickly.
The sun rises and sets, and in the blink of an eye, two more days pass. The high sun illuminates the earth, and shallow streams flow through the river valleys. Toltec sat with his legs upright on the boulder by the stream, frowning like a big pensive dog. Beside him is a long bow and war stick, and in front of him is a row of bamboo baskets filled with fresh and slender spicy grass.
This is a temporary riverside camp, more than 150 miles away from Qin Congcan in the west, and over 100 miles away from Patzcuaro City in the southwest. Thousands of longbow militiamen were patrolling the perimeter in units of hundreds. There are hundreds of tribal hunters busy in the wilderness, collecting fresh chili grass. Soon, a tribal leader came with a bamboo basket on his back and respectfully handed over the harvest to the brave and 'erudite' Black Wolf leader.
Toltec reached out his hand, grabbed a handful of chili grass, stuffed it into his mouth and chewed it. The fresh stems and leaves exude a unique spicy aroma, and the refreshing spiciness spreads in the mouth, fresh and slightly bitter. Toltec chewed for a while, then nodded expressionlessly, waving the leader to leave, then grabbed a handful of "snacks" and chewed them slowly to refresh himself.
The army temporarily set up camp and collected spicy grass, certainly not for eating. This kind of spicy grass is actually hyssop. Although it was an excellent hot pot vegetable in later generations, at this time it was the most easily available medicine for stopping bleeding and wounding. Its stems and leaves can stop bleeding and reduce inflammation. They can be applied externally to wounds on the body surface, or taken internally to relieve inflammation in the body.
Toltec waited patiently while chewing his snack. During the recent robbery, he smelled a change in the situation, so he made a prompt decision, led the militiamen more than a hundred miles forward, and sent dozens of reconnaissance teams to extend the search to Apatchingan in the southeast.
"The congratulatory envoy should have met with His Highness and conveyed my suggestions. What was His Highness's reply? Faced with the threat of food shortage, what is the main force of Tarasco in the southeast doing? If they can seize the enemy's King, I, Toltec, will be the first person to conquer the West! When the time comes, what a sight it will be!"
Toltec is imagining the future. However, a reconnaissance team appeared from the end of the field. Their clothes were bloody, their heads were dusty, and their faces were dusty. They ran for two consecutive days and brought back an important message!
"What! A reconnaissance team disappeared. Later, you found traces of a large group of enemy movements? But you are not sure of the specific direction? You were also attacked by an enemy team!"
The scout captain nodded repeatedly. Toltec asked in detail for a long time before letting him go down to rest.
The black wolf of Mexico thought again and again. Although the scouts did not observe enemy flags, they did not know their number. But his intuition told him that if he could deal with the scouts so cleanly and march quickly without leaving too many traces, he must be an extremely powerful opponent. At this moment, there is only one such army left in Tarasco, the King's Legion!
"The key now is to expand the search, and the other is to convey the news to His Highness in a timely manner!"
Thinking of this, Toltec finally decided to pay attention. He stood up and quickly summoned his guards and leaders.
"You are divided into dozens of teams in units of fifty people. Expand the search to the east, northeast, south, and southwest! Once the enemy group is confirmed, quickly retreat to the old camp dozens of miles away from Patzcuaro City to report back. Don't be reluctant to fight. ! The first person to respond to the news will be promoted to a senior warrior. He will be rewarded with hundreds of baskets of food, hundreds of bolts of cotton, and hundreds of slaves! I will personally report his name to His Highness!"
Upon hearing the high reward, the eyes of the heads of the ministries flickered. They were like wolf dogs that smelled prey, looking at each other warily and howling in low excitement.
Then, without further delay, Toltec waved his hand vigorously.
"The remaining hundred personal guards, follow me and return to the old camp immediately!"
"Black Wolf" strode away, finally grabbed a handful of spicy grass and chewed it hard in his mouth. The spicy taste invigorated him, and the desire to fight made his blood boil. Immediately, he took the lead and started running at a constant speed, followed closely by his guards. The hunters in the river valley dispersed one by one, leaving only a row of bamboo baskets filled with spicy fresh grass by the stream.
Toltec ran continuously for half a day. It wasn't until night fell that he stopped to have dinner, found a high ground, and took his bodyguard to rest. When it was first light, he sternly urged the march to be the first to run ahead. By noon on the second day, the old camp was finally in sight. Marching hundreds of miles in one day has almost reached the limit of this era.
Arriving at the old camp in the forest, Toltec paused for a moment. At some point, there were many more guarding warriors in the camp. The patrol team was neat and tidy, with a solemn look unique to the elite. "Black Wolf" watched for a moment, then finally strode forward with a happy face. He lowered his head and saluted respectfully to His Highness's warrior commander.
"Captain Holy Eagle Warrior, your injury is finally healed? I have been worried about you for a long time! Well, seeing that you are rosy and energetic, you should be well taken care of by the Navy Captain."
Hearing this, Bertard was slightly embarrassed. Then, a smile appeared on his weathered face.
"Anna is a good woman with a cold face and a warm heart. I have completely recovered. After lying down for several months, I can finally return to the battlefield and catch up with the end of the Western Expedition! If I don't work harder, all the credit will be lost. You guys are done. Toltec, I heard that you captured Ospai alive, so you can avenge me!"
Bertard reached out and patted Toltec hard on the shoulder.
Toltec came from the ranks of His Highness's followers. He was a young general whom he personally trained and promoted. The other party was young and could be responsible for recruiting tribal hunters before going out for the expedition because of his recommendation. The relationship between the two is very close, and they can be regarded as a line of followers of His Highness.
Hearing this, Toltec was in high spirits and spoke loudly with a smile.
"Captain of the Holy Eagle Warrior, Ospai is just a gutless rat fish, and it is not easy to even commit suicide. Now, I, Toltec, have found a real big fish, which is probably the king of Tarasco! Your Highness is here In the big tent?"
"Big fish... king..." Bertard pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"His Highness is handling the military situation in the big tent. Military affairs are the most important thing. Please come with me to meet His Highness!"
When it came to business matters, the two of them stopped talking. Within a short while, they arrived at His Highness's tent together.
Shulot was wearing a black robe, holding a simple map in his hand, and was discussing with Ezpin, who was standing in front of him. Hearing the movement at the tent door, the young commander looked up.
Bertard entered first and bowed his head in salute.
"Your Highness, Toltec has an urgent military report."
Shulot smiled and nodded.
"Let the black wolf in!"
"Your Highness, Black Wolf Toltec greets you and congratulates you on your victory in the Northern War! I have brought you new good news!"
Toltec stepped into the tent. His eyebrows were flying, he knelt down on one knee and saluted loudly.
Shulot looked at his beloved general with a smile.
"Toltec, what good news do you bring?"
"Your Highness, I have discovered the traces of King Tarasco!"
"What!" Shulot stood up suddenly. He looked solemnly and stared at the young general.
"When and where? What are the specific circumstances? Tell them all in detail!"
Facing His Highness' gaze, Toltec shrank his neck and carefully explained all the information he knew.
Shulot pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
"So, the scout didn't see the enemy's legion with his own eyes?"
"Your Highness, in the east of Qin Cong Can, the only ones who can march in large groups without leaving many traces are King Tarasco's legion!"
Toltec continued to explain.
"The scouts I sent are all experienced hunters! Only the enemy's royal army can make them disappear silently."
Xiulote nodded and said nothing. He thought for a while and looked at Ezpin beside him carefully.
"If Tarasco's royal army is east of us, where can they be hidden?"
Ezpin thought for a moment, borrowed the map from His Highness' hand, and drew on the map one by one.
"Your Highness, there are many places in the east where you can hide your tracks. The first is the mountain forest border of Apacingan. Secondly, to the north, south of Sitacuaro, there are also many rolling hills and sporadic fortresses. But these places , they don’t have enough food supplies, and they can’t avoid our scouts when marching.”
Shulot nodded slightly. Then he continued to ask.
"If the enemy is in the south, where can they go?"
"Your Highness, the southern hinterland of Tarasco is still intact. The nearest is the city of Ivacchio, which is rich in copper mines in the south of the Patzcuaro Lake District. It is rich and prosperous there, and you can get a lot of supplies by raiding big merchants. .Then there is the valley on the north bank of the Talsas River, where there are many estates of great nobles. Between the Patscuaro Lake area and the Talsas River, there are also many marching channels with water sources. If the royal army starts from here "
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