The brilliant morning sun rose into the sky, and Dadan's feast came to an end. In the vast camp, the smoke from the cooking pots dispersed into the sky, and the priests' songs floated far away. Soon, tens of thousands of warriors, led by war priests, began to line up and pray in low voices. They face the red sun in the east and praise the light radiated by the Sun God; they sing about the victory bestowed by the God of War, and they also look forward to the grand ceremony after the war!
In this barbaric Warring States period, low productivity levels restricted the hedonistic atmosphere. It is difficult to get drunk with light water and wine, and the function of food is mostly etiquette and satiety. Both civilians and warriors lived a difficult life, were hierarchical, believed in life and death, and believed in gods. The military society of the Alliance requires militiamen to continue farming and fighting; while for noble warriors, abstinence, fighting, sacrifices, and worship of gods are required. Therefore, the truly fascinating public activities throughout the Alliance were the wide variety of religious ceremonies.
"The most important affairs of the country are military service and sacrifice. The same is true for the alliance!"
Under the new rising sun, Shulot was wearing the priest's uniform of a black wolf, a slender priest's feather crown on his head, and holding a jeweled priest's staff, sitting on a three-meter-high altar. Even though he had not slept all night, he was still in high spirits with a bright light in his eyes. Under the guidance of his grandfather, the young priest clearly understood that controlling people's hearts through religious rituals was the foundation of his long-term existence. No matter how great the military achievements are, religious power cannot be left in human hands, and important rituals of the legion must be presided over by him personally.
Thinking of this, Shulot raised his head and held up an obsidian lens in front of his eyes. He observed the position of the sun and gave a solemn order to the low-level priests under the altar.
"The sun rises, the gods rise, light the sacred fire!"
The blazing holy fire was immediately lit, and warm heat waves were carried in the wind. A large amount of spices were thrown into the fire, burning out a rich fragrance, just like the breath of the gods.
"The earth shakes, the warriors dance, the priests sing!"
The temple warriors danced feverish war dances, and the priests sang ancient songs. The earth is shaking and the white clouds are drifting into the ancient distance.
"Bury the dead, and their bodies will return to the embrace of the earth, giving birth to prosperous fields!"
A huge pit had been dug at the edge of the camp. Thousands of warriors surrounded the pit and put the bodies of the dead into it. A distant mournful song floated in the camp, accompanied by whispered messages and blessings.
Shulot stared at it for a moment, his expression heavy. The Royal Tarasco army was extremely tenacious, and this decisive battle was also extremely brutal. Both sides fought until the last moment. The total number of troops invested by the Mexican Alliance was about 18,000, and the casualties reached a staggering more than 5,000. Due to the brutality of the battle, the death rate was particularly high. There were more than 3,000 corpses buried at this moment, and half of the remaining 2,000 wounded were seriously injured.
Calculating carefully, the three thousand religious legions on the right fought to the death with the enemy, and were broken through by the Bronze Ax Guards. They were the unit with the heaviest casualties, losing almost half. The 3,000 Holy City Legion on the left wing fared slightly better, suffering nearly a thousand casualties. The Chinese army's 6,000 spear corps withstood a large number of bow and arrow fire, and was attacked once by the Bronze Ax Guards, with as many as 1,500 casualties. Fortunately, with the obstruction of paper armor and shields, most of the injuries caused by the arrows were not serious, and most of the wounded in the Chinese army could recover. The 3,000 shooting troops in the rear also suffered more than 600 casualties, one-third of which were close soldiers whom Shulot valued.
In Yuku's final assault, more than 60 of the 500 Jaguar warriors were killed. More than sixty military nobles went to the Kingdom of God! In the eyes of the nobles of the alliance, this was the most significant loss in this battle. In contrast, Black Wolf's two thousand longbow militiamen suffered seven or eight hundred casualties in order to block the reinforcements from the royal capital, but they were not taken seriously by the commanders at all.
After thinking about it, Shulot looked solemn and sighed softly in his heart.
"The Bronze Ax Guards are the real tough guys, and the Royal Tarasco Army was the first powerful army that was destroyed in my hands!"
Soon, Shulot's spirit was lifted again. He raised his head and looked around at the tens of thousands of Mexican legions. This was a force loyal to him! Then, the young priest's eyes lingered on the prisoner in custody for a moment, then he raised the staff in his hand and started chanting again with an expressionless face.
"Sacrifice the enemies, use their blood, and call for the coming of the sun god!"
Along with the shouts of the priests, the warriors' war dance became more and more enthusiastic. The fierce war drums beat, and the senior warriors imitated the calls of jaguars and eagles, howling to the sky. A desperate commotion broke out in the prison camp not far away, and was quickly suppressed by the alliance warriors. Two thousand elite warriors dragged the same number of prisoners until they reached the huge pit.
Shulot raised his eyes slightly and continued to look at the distant sky. Including the capital reinforcements, the Tarascans invested 13,000 legions in this battle, of which 10,000 royal troops were absolutely elite. After the war, the entire Tarasco Guard was wiped out, not a single royal warrior remained, and the spear militia also suffered all casualties. Under the pursuit of the Mexican Legion all night, the last more than 10,000 Tarasco Legion was destroyed. Only less than two thousand defeated soldiers escaped and ascended to heaven, most of them were reinforcements from the capital.
In the post-war count, about 7,000 enemy troops were killed and about 4,000 royal troops were captured, most of them wounded. It has always been the alliance's practice to sacrifice after the war, and it is difficult for the seriously injured to escape the fate of death. Shulot only left behind two thousand strong warriors and militiamen. And the remaining two thousand prisoners...the faint howls of misery were drowned in the sound of shouts, and the dazzling bright red poured into the deep pit. Then the voice was weak, the bright red flowed away, the sacrifices turned to ice, and the sun god descended to the earth!
"At noon, God descends, and the kingdom of God opens! God has arrived to pick up the souls of the deceased!"
Qingyue's shouts echoed under the sky, and the sky-shaking shouts rose accordingly. The warriors in the camp suddenly made a noise. They shouted out their last blessings and bid farewell to the souls of those who died in battle as they rose up to the red kingdom. After a long time, the shouts gradually fell silent.
Shulot once again raised the staff in his hand and sang his final farewell.
"God has left, taking with him the souls of the dead! The warriors who died for God have gone to the glorious kingdom of God, turned into beautiful flowers and plants, and will enjoy peace and joy forever! Praise the Lord God and call God's name three times!"
"Praise the Lord God Huitzilopochtli! Praise the Sun God Huitzilopochtli! Praise the God of War Huitzilopochtli!"
The shouts in the camp boiled to the extreme and turned into shocking and neat prayers. All the Mexica warriors fell to the ground at the same time. They pressed their faces deeply to the ground and offered the most devout salute to the Lord God! Soon, there was silence in the camp, leaving only the distant flute and the distant sound of wind.
Shulot closed his eyes slightly and chanted silently for three minutes before finally singing.
"The ceremony is completed! The Sun God returns to the sky, promising a bumper harvest this year; the God of War blesses us, and the Western Expedition is about to be victorious!"
The deafening cheers sounded again, and even the air became lively. The warriors got up from the ground with smiles on their faces. They greeted each other, clasped fists and crossed arms, looking forward to a good harvest in the fields, and even more eager to win the war. The samurai in charge of the funeral began to fill the pit with soil. Alliance warriors were buried in the main pit, and symbols of the sun and hummingbirds were carved on the soil. The dead of the kingdom were hastily buried in the surrounding auxiliary pits, and they lived with their enemies in life for a long time.
At the end of the ceremony, Shulot slowly walked down from the altar, sweating all over his back. The weather in April has become hot, but the solemn sacrificial attire does not allow for any carelessness. Accompanied by Bertard, he returned to the commander's tent, changed into comfortable single clothes, rested for a while, and then went to a partial tent in the rear camp again.
The tent is not big, but it is firmly guarded by more than a dozen warriors. Shulot opened the tent door and looked directly at the straw bed in the tent.
King Suangua of Tarasco was lying peacefully on the bed with his eyes closed tightly and a peaceful smile on his face. His injured right arm has been carefully bandaged, the arrowhead has been removed, and he has been put on a clean white robe. At this moment, it looks like a sleeping white deer. Next to Suangua, an old priest saluted respectfully, and the young priest nodded in return.
"How's the situation in Suangua?"
"Dear Chief Priest, all the wounds on his body have been carefully treated. I gave him powerful knife water last night, and he has been sleeping until now."
"Okay! Don't stop using the priest's potion. If it's not enough, send people to the rear to recruit. Remember, he is the most sacred sacrifice. You must maintain his life and never let him commit suicide!"
Hearing this, the old priest nodded fearfully and replied respectfully.
"Please rest assured, Chief Priest! Use the psychedelic holy water and the anesthetic knife water alternately. He will never have a chance to commit suicide, and he will soon lose his conscious thoughts!"
"Well, okay. Now, wake him up!"
The old priest took out a jar of light yellow potion and fed it into Suangua's mouth. After a while, the young king coughed hard several times, shook his head in pain, and finally woke up from his deep sleep again.
"Yuku... put some armor on me..."
Shulot stood quietly, staring at the pale king, without saying anything.
"Bring me honey water... Guard? Yuku!"
Suangua shouted out, his eyes suddenly opened wide, and he met Xuelote's eyes. His expression was first surprised, then confused, then confused, and finally turned into anger.
"Damn! You are..."
"Commander of the North Route of Mexico, Xiulote."
Hearing this, the young king's pupils contracted violently. He subconsciously touched his waist and felt a sharp pain in his right arm, but he felt nothing. He looked at the clothes on his body again and looked at the Mexica warriors on both sides. Suddenly his face turned pale and he lost all his strength.
Shulot shook his head slightly. Many of the priest's medicines act on the nerves. Although the effect is powerful, it will seriously affect the user's thinking and make the memory confused. The high-ranking priests and senior warriors of the alliance will use potions carefully to avoid adverse effects.
"The gods wish us to meet! Hello, Casonchi of the Prepecha people, Condor of Tarasco! Salute of Mexica greets you!"
Upon hearing the familiar greeting, Suan Gua pursed her white lips tightly and lowered her head in silence. After a while, the pride of the royal family forced him to raise his head and replied in a low voice.
"Three Gods Witness! Hello, Commander of the Northern Route of Mexica. The King of Tarasco greets you!"
Shulot smiled and nodded. He smiled and studied the king's expression before speaking gently.
"Your Excellency Suangua, how do you feel physically? Are you feeling uncomfortable? The Alliance advocates etiquette. If you have any requests, you can make them here!"
Hearing this, Suangua gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. After a while, he replied in a low voice.
"I'm fine. Your Highness, Mexica, if you have anything to say, just say it!"
Shulot pondered for a moment, he did have some ideas... The young priest smiled again and spoke.
"In that case, I will speak frankly. Your Excellency, you have been defeated, and the Kingdom of Tarasco no longer has an army. Although the royal capital Qin Congcan is a powerful city, it cannot withstand the attack of the alliance army. The war has come At the end of the day, enough lives have been lost. For the lives of the residents of the capital, and for the sake of this year's spring plowing, are you willing to come forward and surrender Qincongcan City?"
The young king was silent. He raised his head and looked at the white tent, as if he was sitting on the clouds. Shulot waited patiently for a long time before asking again.
"Sir, what do you think?"
“What will the Mexican Federation do with me?”
Su Angua looked at the young man and asked coldly.
Shulot lowered his eyes slightly and continued to speak gently.
"The Alliance will try its best to meet your requirements. You will be the most sacred guest of the Alliance until you go to the Kingdom of God with glory."
"Meet my request and go to the kingdom of God with glory?... Damn it, greedy hyena! Do you treat me as a sacrifice for sacrifice?! Cough, cough..."
Su Angua thought for a moment and suddenly understood. He roared angrily, waved his arms, and then coughed violently.
The Mexican warriors on both sides immediately drew out their war clubs and took a step forward. Shulot waved his hand and told the warriors to retreat. Then, he looked at the king of Tarasco calmly, with a touch of pity in his eyes.
This look seemed to have a stinging power. Suangua coughed and turned his head, avoiding the boy's eyes. The young king continued to think for a long time before looking at Shulot again.
"If Qin Cong Can City surrenders, can the Tarasco royal family be saved?"
Hearing this, Shulot slowly shook his head.
The young king fell silent again. He thought carefully for a long time before looking at Shulot expectantly.
"Landing into your hands, my fate has been decided, but the bloodline of the Condor cannot be cut off in my hands. I can give you the city of Qincongcan, and I can also recruit the nobles of the south to surrender for you! I don't ask to save the entire The royal family, please leave a bloodline and entrust it to the remote southwest. Your Highness, Mexica, I beg you, please have a kind heart like Quetzalcoatl, to grant my reasonable request!"
This time, Shulot thought for a long time. Keeping the royal family is contrary to the instructions of the elders; enfeoffing the southwest is inconsistent with his own plan. And such a promise must be sworn to the gods and made under the witness of nobles and priests... After careful consideration, he slowly shook his head.
"Your Excellency, please change your conditions!"
"I only have this condition! If the bloodline of the Condor is cut off, everything in the kingdom will have no meaning! All the civilians in Qin Congcan will die, so what?! If the Mexica people cut off the royal family of the three gods, they will definitely Suffer the punishment of the three gods! All the tribes in the world will unite to attack you, the brutal Aztecs!"
Suangua's words turned into a roar. He clenched his hands into fists, struggled to get up from the straw bed, and was about to rush towards Shulot. Shulot looked calm and took two steps back silently. The warrior captain Bertard next to him stepped forward at the same time, firmly restrained Suan Gua, and pinned him firmly on the straw bed. King Tarasco's eyes turned red as he recognized Bertard's identity and struggled again.
"It's you! The warrior who killed Yuku! Damn it, you Mexica Highness who has sunk into the abyss! I am the king of Tarasco. Give me back my kingdom, my legion, and my general!!"
Seeing King Tarasco falling into madness, Shulot shook his head helplessly. He made a gesture to the old priest, who took out a jar of light green potion again, then forcibly held Suangua's chin and poured it into his mouth skillfully. Within a dozen breaths, King Tarasco suddenly stopped, his whole body became weak, and he fell asleep quietly again.
"Forget it. Take good care of him and I'll come back to see you in a few days."
Shulot gave a few instructions and turned to leave. Things are busy after the war. He still has to prepare his army and send troops to the capital as soon as possible!
The long wind swept across, blowing the pines and cypresses by the lake; the sunlight fell and turned into ripples on the lake. The legion's messengers ran across the fields of the Lake District, quickly spreading the news of the Alliance's decisive battle to all directions. In the spreading news, people's hearts are shaking, the world is changing, and the alliance is moving forward.
Prisoners were sent north and food was sent south. After the decisive battle, the Mexican Army only rested for two days, then surged toward the northwest like a flood, arriving at the lakeside of Patzcuaro, eyeing the final city of Qincongcan. Soon, the 5,000 South Road advance troops, as the vanguard, first camped under Qin Congcan City, cut off the surrounding roads, and blocked the west side of the lake shore. Then, more than 10,000 Northern troops arrived one after another and surrounded the capital on all sides!
The royal army was destroyed, the enemy army besieged the city, and the shocking news hit at the same time. The majestic capital of Tarasco was suddenly in panic, and the nobles and priests were full of panic. The sacrifices on the Yakata Pyramid continued all night long, and the sacrificial rituals also continued for a moment. The chief minister immediately brought all the descendants of the royal family into the palace, and then vigorously organized the army in the capital.
There are only more than 2,000 warriors in Qincongcan City now, including the defeated troops who fled back. Most of them are private soldiers of nobles and priests and divine guards, with only a quarter of them being loyal direct subordinates. There are nearly 20,000 militiamen in the city, nearly half of whom are Tekos tribesmen who are ready to make a move.
Faced with this situation, Zinzini showed unprecedented toughness. He dispersed his direct samurai, took control of the city's militia, and then suppressed the unstable nobles and tribesmen. But in just two days, hundreds of heads fell to the ground. Under the chief's authority, the defense of the capital was barely established. But beneath the calm surface of Lake Patzcuaro lie invisible rapids.
Another day later, the Black Wolf's flag appeared in the east of Qincongcan City. More than four hundred jaguar warriors and more than two thousand shooting regiments surrounded the supreme Mexica commander and arrived three hundred steps away from the city wall.
Shulot stood under the towering city wall and stared at this magnificent city. At the end of April, after a full year of fighting, the Mexican Legion finally arrived at the city of Qinconcan and surrounded the capital of Tarasco! The kingdom of the Prepecha people is about to perish, and the massive Western Expedition is about to come to an end!
