The curls of green smoke rise, accompanied by the singing of priests, dedicated to the gods in heaven. Shulot stood under the banner of the gods and silently looked at the sky. After a long while, he answered slowly and clearly.
"Bertard, you are right to warn me. I cannot accept Suangua's surrender."
Shulot lowered his eyes slightly, and when he opened them again, there was a burning desire to fight.
"The royal family of Tarasco must not be preserved! This is not only the will of the elders, but also the need to rule the land in the lake. The Mexica Federation does not want the nominal submission of the Tarascans, but direct control of every conquered country The city-state is truly rooted in this fertile land.”
"The conflict between me and Suangua is irreconcilable. The Lake Patzcuaro area should become my foundation and lay the foundation for my future career. The southwest mountainous area is an opportunity for great social development! Eliminate the royal family, relocate the nobles, innovate the priests, develop iron The mine...plan cannot be changed. Only a blank piece of paper can create a grand picture!"
Listening to the young king's declaration, Bertard bowed his head and made respectful suggestions.
"Your Highness, in this case, there is no need for you to meet with Suangua. The nobles of Tarasco are like the crocodiles in the Talsas River, fierce, savage and cunning. The great Teotihuacan Empire has disappeared for thousands of years. The noble kingdom of Tula has also been reduced to ruins. Ancient etiquette has no practical meaning to the emerging alliance."
The warrior commander paused, the arrow wound on his back still seemed to be aching. His face was as calm as water, with the stoicism unique to civilian warriors.
"Your Highness, you are the sun of the future. You should not easily meet with the enemy royal family alone, and you must not lose the king's most important credibility! You hope that Suangua will sincerely surrender and end the war as soon as possible; but you cannot truly accept his surrender. I swore an oath to him before joining the army."
At this point, Bertard's eyes stern, revealing the ferocity of a senior warrior who regards life and death as ordinary.
"Then, let the distinguished royal members of the legion meet with the King of Tarasco on your behalf! If the King of Tarasco is really willing to lay down his arms, let this man accept all the treaties and make peace with Suangua. Make an oath to the gods!"
Shulot was slightly startled and looked at his trusted warrior captain.
"The distinguished member of the royal family? Who is it?"
"The glorious nobleman of Tlatelolco, Tepopolo the Destroyer. The Tlatelolco family has been married to the royal family for generations. Tepopolo's mother and grandmother are both princesses of the Mexica royal family. .And in the legion, he often regards himself as a member of the royal family."
"Anna mentioned it to me. There are rumors from the nobles in the capital that Tepopolo intends to hand over the family territory and seek a suitable fiefdom in the vast territory of the Kingdom of Tarasco. He has deep roots and is the first to take the initiative. The honorable noble who surrendered his territory. Neither King Avit nor the immortal elders will treat him badly."
"Although he cannot be compared with His Highness and does not have access to the rich Patzcuaro Lake area, he will definitely be able to gain a foothold in the land of Mickenche. In this way, he is a potential competitor for His Highness. He does not know the elder's will , let him go and surrender King Suangua!"
At this point, Bertard remained silent. No matter whether Tepopolo succeeds in surrendering, breaks his promise or breaks his promise, or fails in surrendering and dies in an attack, it will be beneficial to His Highness.
Shulot's eyes became dark. After a moment, he nodded slightly.
"As you say."
Then, the young commander shouted an order.
"Inform the envoy of Suangua. Tell him that according to ancient etiquette, the royal family of the Mexica will meet with the royal family of Tarasco in front of the two armies!"
"Call the glorious noble Tepopolo, I will personally give him orders!"
The sun reaches the high zenith, sitting majestically on the clouds, watching the world patiently. The vast military formation was fully deployed in the wilderness. Two huge legions, separated by miles, are waiting for the fateful decisive battle. The senior warriors sat on the ground with their weapons in front of them. They looked calm, building up their fighting strength, chatting and laughing with each other from time to time, and already regarded death in battle as normal. The pike militiamen were highly disciplined and of low status. They continued to maintain the integrity of their formation, just relaxing their legs and feet in place, silently waiting for the gods' decision.
After a while, two teams of nearly a hundred people slowly walked out from the military formations on both sides. The flags of the Mexica and Tarasco royal families flew in front of the team, and elite warriors surrounded the leader.
"The Destroyer" Tepopolo, wearing a gorgeous noble battle suit and an upside-down battle feather crown, walked in the forefront with high spirits.
Since leading three thousand warriors to participate in the Western Expedition, Tepopolo has been full of setbacks, and most of the expected power and glory have failed. First, he failed to propose marriage to Annatri, the commander of the navy, and failed to get a chance to join the alliance's navy. Then, he was stationed at the North Shore Fortress for several months, suffering from mold during the rainy season, practicing the ignominious bow and arrow practice with the royal warriors. Then, there was a big battle on Lake Eureria, and he fought as a frontline soldier, and half of his men were killed in the first battle. Looking back now, I still feel frightened by the tragedy.
What followed was a long period of repairs. It was not until the Hekou Fortress was captured that his army moved there to control key logistics nodes. He had just been very active and had several banquets with the surrendered nobles of Tarasco. The veteran Shusok took advantage of the opportunity of capturing Huayamo to leave his army in the river mouth fortress and send himself to the frontline legion to participate in the "glorious battle to siege the royal capital."
As a reinforcement sent by the king, Tepopolo understood the fears of the Holy City. He had no chance and no intention of fighting for military power on the Northern Road. Seeing that the victory of the Western Expedition was certain, his eyes were already set on the future. The latest envoy sent months ago has returned. Through the relay of the intelligence officer, the king gave him a clear commitment.
"Although it's not the best, it's still acceptable."
Tepopolo thought with a smile.
"Whether Marshal Hulot is cautious and timid, or avoids suspicion, the opportunity to meet finally fell to me! The singing of the epic is something for the future. If I can recruit the royal army of Tarasco, I can truly Establish a foundation in the land of Mickencho and establish contact with the nobles of Tarasco. As a brave warrior, how can we look forward and backward? Why not take some risks for such meritorious deeds!"
Tepopolo held his head high and looked forward. Tarasco's royal flag was already a hundred steps away. Surrounded by the bronze axe guards, a tall king wearing golden bronze armor and a purple bronze helmet held a sapphire scepter in his hand, greeting him from a distance.
Tepopolo looked solemn. He raised the family scepter in his hand and solemnly returned the salute to the polite King Tarasco. At the same time, he greeted the approaching team with a loud and glorious greeting, his voice confident and loud.
"Members of the royal family of Mexica, the glorious nobles of Tlatelolco, Tepopolo the Destroyer, pay tribute to the ancient royal family of Tarasco! This is a noble tribute from the descendants of the gods, and it is also witnessed by the gods. meet!"
Then, the glorious noble Tepopolo put down his scepter and nodded slightly towards the opposite side. When he raised his head, the king opposite had not yet replied, still holding the staff high. Tepopolo thought for a moment and thought that this was the ancient ceremony that the Tula people were waiting for, so he raised his staff again and shouted loudly.
"Under the witness of the Lord God, the great divine war is about to come to an end! The Sun God has enough holy blood and continues to burn and shine on the world! The supreme alliance assumes the responsibility of commanding the world and saving all ministries and people!"
After a long time, until the two teams came within sixty steps, the Tarascans' reply came belatedly.
"King of Tarasco, Kazonchi of the Prepecha people, Eagle of the Land of the Lakes, His Majesty Suangua is here to pay his respects to the emerging Mexica royal family!"
"The Sun God watches us and leads the destiny of all things. The sacred blood flows in the descendants of God and determines the fate of the world. Only the future king can talk to the supreme king. May I ask His Highness Shulot of Mexica? , are you in the front team?"
Tepopolo's face darkened, and he felt slightly angry. He gritted his teeth and shouted loudly.
"According to the practice of the alliance, His Highness Hulot carries the banner of the coach and the glory of the God of War. Once he takes a stand in the legion, he will not move another half step until the battle is over! Tlatelolco's line With a history of hundreds of years, it is one of the oldest families in Mexico. As an honorable noble of Tenochtitlan, I will fully represent the alliance and the royal family!"
There was no answer for a long time. Tepopolo's heart sank. With his last hope, he made a promise.
"I swear in the name of my family that in the land of prickly pears and rocks, there will be a place for the eagle on the lake to live!"
After sixty steps, Suangua stopped. He did not reply to the call from the other side, but carefully observed the leader of the Mexica people. Through the feather helmet, he saw the face of the middle-aged man. Then, he scanned the Mexica warriors behind him one by one to judge their height. After searching for a few breaths, he finally sighed in disappointment.
A few steps behind Suangua, the "hound" warrior Yuku held the long bow in his hand tightly, staring at the leader of the Mexica people, and looking at the magic staff instructed by the king with his peripheral vision. He understood the importance of the mission and had been rehearsing it in his mind along the way, estimating the exact distance. For a senior hunter, the opportunity to hunt flying birds is always fleeting, and shooting quickly with a bow has long been his fighting instinct. With a steady hand, sharp eyesight, and close coordination, the bow can be drawn with half a bow, and the prey will fall down at the sound.
However, Yoku waited nervously for a long time, but did not wait for the staff to fall. He hesitated for a moment and made a waiting gesture to the sharpshooters behind him. Then, he took a few steps forward and asked in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, the Mexica marshal should not have appeared. Who is this member of the royal family? Do you need me to stay?"
Su Angua shook his head, showing a little helplessness, and finally dropped the magic staff in his hand.
"What's the use of catching a chirping cardinal if the proud eagle can't catch the noble quetzal?"
Then, Su Angua looked solemn and shouted to the opposite side majestically.
"The glory of the king is inviolable! Since the black wolf of Mexica is unwilling to meet, the condor of Tarasco will never fall to the ground! In this case, let the sacred battle decide our destination!"
Su Angua paused, looked at the cronies beside him, and asked in a low voice.
"I'm sorry that your journey was in vain. When will support from the capital arrive?"
The confidant looked grateful, bowed his head respectfully, and replied softly.
"The scouts have contacted the capital. The chief has mobilized three thousand warriors and is on the way to support. In the past two days, the reinforcements have been kept hidden, and there are still more than twenty miles away."
"Three thousand warriors, more than twenty miles away... In that case, let's challenge the Mexicans on the opposite side to a fight!"
Su Angua nodded, the doubts in his eyes flashing away. At this time, the capital can still mobilize three thousand warriors? The warriors traveled dozens of miles, how much fighting power did they have left? He forcibly put away his thoughts, showed a confident smile again, and shouted loudly to the other side.
"The Mexicans are the most warriors, and so are the Tarascos. According to the ancient etiquette, the fearless warriors of Tarasco challenged the Mexica warriors who are good at fighting to a fight! Under the gaze of the God of War, let The bravest warriors fight against each other, offering the highest salute!"
