The April wind set off from the ocean and traveled thousands of miles to the lake in Mikancho. Under the warm sunshine, a light mist rises from Lake Patzcuaro, and there is a moist atmosphere in the air. The pines and cypresses by the water are swaying gently in the wind, and the morning dew condenses on the leaf tips and flows down the slender branches. The quiet time in early spring is soaked silently in the rising sun.
Shulot stood quietly by the lake, looking at the deep blue sky. The fresh wind blew by, carrying the fragrance of unknown flowers, blowing away the relaxing clouds. The sun fell on his face and around him, leaving a radiant peace.
However, peace and tranquility are only temporary appearances, and war and killing are the reality in the world. The breeze blows from the southwest, and the tip of the nose is filled with fireworks and the faint smell of blood.
Shulot sighed lightly. Then, he suddenly looked back, with burning flames reflected in his pupils.
"The long rainy season is coming, and the loss of food will increase exponentially. The horn of spring plowing will sound at the end of the month, and the manpower mobilized will begin to become tense. The war must be carried out quickly!"
A few dozen steps away, hundreds of personal guards wearing armor and holding bows stood silently behind His Highness. They were like suffocating pottery figurines, waiting for the commander's instructions.
Farther south, raging fires rose in Ivacchio. The firelight danced, connecting with the rising sun in the sky, reflecting the prosperous town in red. The wind blew by, bringing distant sounds, and the shouts of fighting resounded throughout the sky. The temples of priests, the manors of nobles, the houses of big merchants, wherever there was resistance, the Mexica legions would decisively kill, and even face the fire of destruction until there was no more sound.
After a few quarters of an hour, the sound of fighting gradually subsided. Toltec stepped on the sunshine and came from the burning town. His suit was stained with blood, his eyes were bloodshot red, and his face was full of cold murderous intent. It wasn't until he got close to His Highness that he knelt down on one knee and responded respectfully.
"Your Highness, our army launched a surprise attack at dawn, and now Ivacchio has been captured by the legion! The temple with the strongest resistance was burned down, and all the priests of the gods went to the abyss. Most of the nobles of Tarasco died in the battle, and the remaining All the prisoners became prisoners. The big merchants in the towns resisted for a moment and then surrendered. They put out their representatives and asked to negotiate with you. It is really fantastic to say that as long as they protect their property, they will surrender to you and then discuss the cost of labor. !”
At the end of the sentence, Toltec held the battle stick in his hand and let out a cold sneer. In the eyes of the warriors, the victor gets everything. These conquered merchants were already sacrifices for the Alliance prisoners and had no qualifications for negotiation.
Shulot looked calm. He raised his gaze and looked at the southern sky. Suangua's royal regiment is hidden somewhere within a hundred or two hundred miles to the south, and a war will suddenly come at any time. So, he shook his head and decided the fate of the prisoners.
"Toltec, I don't have much time to spend here. I just want the miners to dig the copper mines, the craftsmen to make the copperware, the food to supply the legions, the armaments for the battlefield, and the latest military information in the south! As for the entire town All the wealth will be rewarded to the warriors of the legion! Give you half a day to solve everything quickly, and then go out to investigate!"
“Do your will and thank you for your generosity!”
Hearing this, Toltec looked happy and bowed to the ground. Then, he stood up and returned, striding quickly, like a black wolf chasing its prey, pounced on the prey promised by the leader.
Soon, the warriors in the town burst into cheers, praising His Highness's generosity. Then the warriors got busy. They screened the prisoners, searched for supplies, and then divided the captured feathers, gold, silver, gems, and slaves equally among the battalions. After a while, a shrill cry broke out, and then quickly stopped quietly. The priests who accompanied the army sang the praises of the sun god and returned with blood-stained obsidian daggers. All the noble prisoners were sacrificed.
Shulot's expression remained unchanged and he continued to meditate. After a while, Ezpin came to him with a fat prisoner in his arms.
"Your Highness, I tortured the newly arrived businessman. This big businessman came from Trapanic and said that he had important military intelligence to report. He saw traces of a large group of legions in the south!"
Ezpin reported respectfully and then kicked hard. The prisoner's legs bent in pain and he fell forward on the grass, begging for mercy loudly and in panic.
After hearing the military news, Shulot was slightly moved. He waved his hand to signal the prisoner to be quiet. Ezpin knelt down on one knee and pushed the businessman's head into the grass, forcing him to silence him.
"Did you find traces of a large group of enemies? When, where, under what flags, and how many people were there?"
His Highness asked. Ezpin then repeated it again in the southern dialect of the kingdom. Hearing this, the businessman stopped shouting. His eyes flashed and he put on his accustomed smile.
"Dear Your Highness Mexica. I am a businessman from the Trapanic tribe. We Trapanic people have always respected the powerful Mexica Alliance and paid tribute to the alliance on time. In the war between the alliance and the kingdom, we also resolutely Support the alliance that believes in the Sun God and the Rain God...I am willing to use the latest information in exchange for your blessing on my property and a small reward."
Shulot lowered his eyes slightly and spoke in a low voice.
"The military situation is urgent, so we must keep it accurate."
Ezpin nodded, his expression cold. Then, he suddenly raised his knee and struck the businessman completely. Then he pressed the opponent's left hand to the ground and took out a sharp dagger. Under the fearful gaze of the other party, he cut it off with his blade without hesitation.
"Ah, ah!..."
Fear and pain caused the fat businessman to let out two short howls before being pushed into the grass again. Like Ezpin, he permanently lost the little finger on his left hand.
"Where is the enemy? What flag? How many people are there? Tell the truth, one lie, one finger!"
Ezpin let go and repeated the question. At the same time, he raised the dagger again.
"Your Highness, spare your life! I say, I say!..." The businessman opened his eyes wide in horror, begging for mercy loudly and full of pain.
"Nine days, no, ten days ago, I passed through Apachingan State in the south and met local merchants who were fleeing... A Mexica army landed at the ferry on the north bank of the Tulsas River and immediately defeated the nearby town. They executed a group of nobles and merchants, confiscated enough supplies from the town, and then began to march north. I hurriedly fled here before they arrived, but I didn't expect to escape this incident. ..”
"What, are you sure it's the Mexican Legion that appears in the south?"
Shulot looked surprised. He originally thought he could hear the traces of King Tarasco's army, but unexpectedly he heard the intelligence of friendly forces.
"It must be the Mexican Legion! I saw it with my own eyes from local merchants who are familiar with me. They held high the flag of the Sun God and also hung the flag of the fallen moon."
The fallen evil moon... There is only one Mexica commander who has this emblem, and that is...
"The Last Moon, Iskali, is the South Route Army!"
Shulot whispered to himself in a low voice, with an excited expression on his face. The appearance of such a new force in the nearby south will bring more favorable developments to the situation. If this is true, Suangua will not be able to detour from the south. The only way to retreat westward will be completely cut off!
"How many people are there in the Southern Army? Where is the last position? Where are the local businessmen you know?"
Shulot asked seriously with a serious expression.
Trapanik's businessman's eyes flickered again. He answered intermittently.
"The army from the south... several thousand people... slightly north of Apatchingam State... the army arrived and there was chaos everywhere. I and the local businessmen fled..."
Shulot lowered his eyes again and shook his head slightly. Ezpin shouted sharply, cut off the dagger again, and then spoke coldly.
"One lie, one finger. Three lies, and you die!"
The fat businessman howled miserably and burst into tears from the pain in his eyes. He cried softly and spoke in fear.
"Ah, ah! I...I don't know! A large army appeared in the south. We merchants had no time to escape, so how could we get closer and take a closer look. As for the local businessmen...he, he escaped in a hurry, and there was no The samurai hired to protect him only had a few servants, and he was full of precious stones and treasures... I met him in the wild, and no one knew about him in this chaotic time... I, I naturally killed him and accepted the property with a smile. A servant was also sent to the Kingdom of God... Your Highness, I tell the truth and I am not lying!"
Shulot watched for a moment and nodded.
In this era, businessmen are not good at anything. Big businessmen raised warriors, colluded with tribal leaders or local nobles, and often engaged in smuggling and private trade. In tight towns, businessmen can be good, law-abiding people. In the desolate wilderness and weak villages, as long as they have the upper hand, they will reveal their ferocious minions and obey the laws of the jungle.
"Bandage his wounds and imprison him. Send out elite scouts and take the merchant's servants to the south to establish contact with Iskali's legion!"
"Tell Iskali to lead the army north quickly and join my northern army. Be careful, Suangua's army is somewhere not far to the south. If there are traces of the enemy, inform each other in time, and then join together. Military attack!"
"Yes! Your Highness, may your light shine on the heaven and earth!"
Ezpin paid homage. Then, he grabbed the merchant captive and left quickly without looking back.
Not long after, more than a dozen teams of scouts hurried south. They have different military orders, the most important one is to find the King of Tarasco's army.
Shulot looked into the distance. The sun rises high, and the light shines on the earth, making all shadows unable to hide. The young commander muttered to himself.
"Suangwa, the army has blocked the southwest road. Where can you go?"
The sun rises and sets, and one day passes in a blink of an eye. The bright sunshine shines hundreds of miles to the southeast, reflecting the green mountains and forests. In a undulating forest valley, the stream flows quietly, passing several neighboring noble manors. This is the woodland where nobles show off their martial prowess and hunt in autumn. Commoners have always been prohibited from entering and exiting, and it is always desolate in spring and summer.
However, at this moment, if someone can pass through the hidden sentries and walk into the seemingly peaceful forest manor, they will find thousands of strong warriors. They held bronze axes and big bows, wore bronze helmets and leather armor, and maintained a neat military appearance. Tarasco's most elite royal army is currently stationed in the hidden valley, waiting for the king's decision.
King Suangua was wearing a war uniform and standing on the high ground of the manor with his hands behind his back. He was silent, looking at the northwest sky, and then sighed quietly for a long time.
"When the fire breaks out, the wind should stay away. Let the wildfire sweep across and burn up the weeds, corn and even cocoa outside the city. As long as the sacred wind is still there, new seeds will always be sown!"
The King of Tarasco whispered metaphorical words. This was the secret letter from Chief Minister Zinzini a few months ago, and he had already memorized it by heart.
"Chief Hummingbird, did you predict today's situation a few months ago? In just one year, the kingdom that has been inherited for two hundred years will be in danger. Where is my way forward, and where is the kingdom's turning point? Woolen cloth?"
The young king looked grave. Since retreating from the southern front, the royal army has secretly traveled southward along remote paths, quickly heading west along the rivers in the forest. By virtue of his status as king, the army used the nobles' estates as a base and obtained supplies from the great nobles in the south. For safety reasons, he took all the heirs of these nobles with him. On the surface, he trusted them to win over them, but in fact, as hostages, he never let the news of the march leak out.
Along the way, military intelligence from all over the place continued to gather, and the king's plans continued to change. When leaving from the southern front, he prepared to lead his army back to the royal capital and hold the entire army, waiting for reinforcements from the Tlaxcalans. Soon afterwards, he encountered a large number of Mexica scouts and learned that the area around the royal capital was already under the control of the Mexica Northern Army.
The most secure northern route was defeated one after another. Although Suangua scolded Ospai and Pengguari, he no longer dared to underestimate the young His Highness Mexica. The Royal Legion does not have an advantage. Once it encounters an enemy in the wild, the outcome is unpredictable. So, he turned southwest, preparing to take a detour to the south and head to the city of Ivacchio in the hinterland. On the one hand, they obtained supplies there, and on the other hand, they coordinated with the northern capital.
The young king was determined and prepared. Once the royal capital is besieged and cannot be rescued, or the people are too disorganized to garrison, he will lead the royal family and the chief family southward and retreat to the Colima Mountains in the southwest. The Kingdom of Tarasco has been conquering mountainous tribes for many years and is well aware of the advantages of mountainous terrain. Defense is based on danger, and guerrilla attack avoids the real situation and attacks the weak. These are all suitable strategies for using a weak enemy to make a strong one and waiting for the current situation.
However, the southern scouts soon received information that a Mexica regiment of about 5,000 people had landed in Apachingan state, only more than a hundred miles away from the royal army.
"What's even more deadly is..."
Suangua turned around and looked at the scout who was kneeling on the ground. The loyal scouts traveled hundreds of miles a day and brought the latest bad news.
"The Northern Army of Mexica quickly moved south, captured the city of Ivacchio, and moved forward to block the passage to the west. The enemy's scouts moved forward for nearly a hundred miles, and were within easy reach of the royal army!"
The young king waved calmly, telling the scouts to retreat and rest. Then, with a determined look on his face, he looked at the re-erected royal eagle flag.
"Now that things have happened, there is only one way!"
