“What a magnificent city!”
Shulot was wearing armor and holding a bow, looking at the capital city not far away with a smile of admiration on his face. He closed one eye, stretched out his left arm, and raised his thumb. Just by looking at it for a moment, he realized that the city wall was eight or nine meters high and an astonishing two or three kilometers wide.
The bluestone walls are painted with symbols of gods, and the broad city gates are carved with gold and silver patterns. On the tall city walls, there were many militiamen with spears in their hands and warriors with bows and arrows on their backs. Among the guarding militiamen, there were piles of bricks, wood, stones, and clay pots filled with lime.
Shulot's gaze paused for a moment among the defenders on the city wall. He estimated the ratio of warriors to militiamen, then looked at the large number of tribesmen in Tekos costumes, and his smile became brighter.
"What a majestic spectacle!"
The young commander raised his head, crossed the high city wall, looked up at the even taller "House of Winds" Akarta, and continued to smile and admire.
According to reports from the scouts, Qincongcan City covers an area of six to seven square kilometers, with more than 40,000 residents living there on a daily basis. It is the largest city in Central America. At this time, including the people around the lake area, the number of people in the city must at least double.
In the center of this vast city is the ancient and vicissitudes of the Yakata Pyramid "House of the Wind". Five circular Yakata pyramids are connected in a line, plus the expanded affiliated temple and priest's residence, the length is nearly two miles! The lowest sides are about thirty meters high, and the three main pyramids in the center are nearly fifty meters high. Looking up, the huge pyramids look like majestic mountains or entrenched giant beasts. The blazing sacred fire lit on the temple at the top of the pyramid, like the burning eyes of a giant beast.
"A great city that has been prosperous for thousands of years and the capital of a kingdom that has lasted for two hundred years, it truly deserves its reputation!"
With a smile in his eyes, Shulot looked at this ancient city as if he were seeing his own treasure. Then, he tilted his head slightly, looked at the generals who were being taken beside him, and asked with a smile.
"Ospai, Horta, why did the people of the lake build such a magnificent pyramid? What is the status of this wonder in the hearts of the Prepecha people?"
"Your Highness, in the myths of the old gods, Qincongcan City is the center of the universe, and the pyramids are the source of heaven and earth. The power of the three main gods, the sun, the earth, and the moon, stays in the pyramids, driving the sun to rise and the moon to set. , withered grass and trees, maintaining the movement of the world. Ordinary civilians have never come into contact with the supreme main god. The old three gods are their beliefs that have been passed down for thousands of years. Of course, the power of the main god is supreme and powerful, and it is omnipresent. In my opinion, the main god of the sun Ricaveri may be just an incarnation of the main god Huitzilopochtli.”
Orta, the head of the Sky Family, spoke respectfully. After finishing speaking, he bent down deeply and saluted Shulot.
Xiulote nodded, patted the other party's shoulder, and looked at Ospie with a smile.
Ospie's face was full of complicated expressions. In front of him is the glorious royal capital of Tarasco, and behind him are tens of thousands of Mexica warriors. How could he not be filled with emotion when he returned to the capital in this way? After a few breaths, Marshal Crocodile sighed. He bowed his head in salute and explained in a deep voice.
"Your Highness, the Yakata Pyramid was built by the ancestors of the lake area and has been passed down for thousands of years. It is not only the seat of the gods, but also the mausoleum of the royal family and nobles, the venue for festival ceremonies, and the spiritual place for the people in the lake. Where!
For the high-ranking priests, the pyramids were also star observatories and a sacred place for establishing the heavenly time. The corridors between the pyramids point in a fixed north-south direction. The masonry in front of the pyramids has an exact width and is cut in strict hierarchical order. Every rise and fall of the sun will leave changing shadows in front of the masonry, specifying the precise time. Two days a year, the pyramid's projection is directed toward the center of the masonry. The first day is to prepare for spring plowing, while the second day is to prepare for autumn harvest.
Your Highness, every Prepecha people believe that the departed souls will follow the Yakata Pyramid and be guided by the Moon Goddess to the kingdom of the dead underground. The temple on the tower can be modified, but the pyramid itself remains in people's hearts. After capturing the city of Qincongcan, if you want to rule the land in the lake firmly and long-term, please show mercy to this wonder..."
"The vernal and autumnal equinoxes...it turns out to be a large corona plus an observatory, a classical wonder...".
After listening to Osipai's story, Shulot pondered for a moment, smiled and nodded.
"Very good! Don't worry, crocodile. The Prepecha people will be my people, and I will also respect the cultural heritage of the people in the lake!... I am a firm control of wonders..."
When he said the last sentence, Shulot's voice was already inaudible. Osipai didn't hear clearly, but didn't dare to ask any more questions. He just saluted again gratefully.
Shulot looked around. Next to the magnificent "House of Winds" was the magnificent palace of the kingdom, "Palace of Winds". The height of the "Palace of Winds" is similar to the central pyramid, surrounded by a circle of solid stone buildings. Above the palace are pavilions built of stone and wood, and balconies with flying curtains. On the highest pavilion, a tall old man wearing gold and silver robes was looking at the legions outside the city from half a distance across the city.
Shulot stared for a moment. The old man was just a dot the size of an ant and could not see anything clearly. He withdrew his gaze and continued to observe the defenses of the city wall. After a while, he smiled and said,
"The troops are deployed rigorously and in good order. The chief minister of Tarasco is indeed the mainstay, and he deserves his reputation! What do you think is the weak point of this city and how to attack it?"
Upon hearing His Highness's inquiry, young Horta raised his head and hesitated to speak. After a moment, he lowered his head and said.
"Your Highness, now that Kason Chisuangua has been captured by you, the authority of Chief Zinzini is just a stream of water without a source. He cannot truly unite the nobles and suppress the priests. Although this city is strong, the people are in chaos, and the key points are Just among the nobles and priests!”
"Well, people are in turmoil. Well said!"
Shulot nodded in praise and looked up at Ospai. The crocodile marshal lowered his head and said nothing.
"I have already seen this city, let's stop here today!"
Shulot chuckled and shook his head. He turned and walked away, admiring the scenery around the capital. There are lakes with convenient transportation, fertile and cultivated fields, dense villages and towns, and lush spring scenery. The young king finally couldn't help but laugh, his laughter filled with joy.
"Located in the northwest of the world, the terrain is high and broad. It has abundant water and soil, and is densely populated. There are big rivers in the north and south, and there are mountains in the east. The mountains and rivers are intertwined, and the fortresses are tight. The culture is profound and long-lasting, but the nobles have wiped it all out, and there is also the benefit of copper, iron, gold and silver! This lake The land in the middle is really the fertile land in Guanzhong, the foundation of kings and hegemons!"
Shulot laughed and walked away, followed closely by his guards. Although the generals did not understand, they could feel the pride and joy in the king's heart, and they all smiled happily. The laughter blended into the spring breeze and gradually flew away until it reached the entire lake.
The next week was uneventful. Nearly 20,000 Mexican legions were fully deployed around Qin Congcan. The vast siege camps were layered on top of each other, and elite scout warriors patrolled all directions, completely cutting off the royal capital's connections with the outside world. The north and west sides of the royal capital are close to the lake and the terrain is narrow. Mexica craftsmen built earthen siege platforms in the east and south of the city, and began to build wooden equipment.
Qinchongcan City lacks elite warriors and cannot attack and harass, so it is absolutely on the defensive. Under the chief's order, the four gates of the royal capital were blocked with bricks and stones and completely sealed. The defenders on the city wall could only watch as dozens of earthen platforms were slowly piled up. Even though there was sufficient food in the city and it would take a long time for the earth platform to surpass the city wall, the atmosphere of anxiety spread little by little. With the powerful chief in charge of the capital, the nobles could only gather secretly. Whenever night falls, there will be secret messengers walking through the darkness, conducting discussions in the shadows.
Xiulote was sitting in the commander's camp in the east of the city. He just summoned the surrendered generals every day, chatted about Tarasco's stories, and asked about history and humanities. He was having a banquet and drinking in the evening, and seemed not to care about the siege at all. Another week passed like this, and when the May wind blew from the east, a messenger finally arrived in a hurry, shouting with joy on his face.
"Your Highness! The Supreme King personally leads a vanguard of 10,000 warriors and has marched to the east twenty miles away!"
Hearing this, Shulot threw away the Prepecha board in his hand and stood up with the same joy.
"After waiting for a long time, the king is finally here! Bertard, go prepare the banquet and check the camp again. The other generals, make preparations and then go with me to greet the king!"
The golden sunset shines on the vast land. On the green land are huge camps and tens of thousands of Mexican legions. Shulot, wearing the uniform of a commander, stood outside the camp gate, waiting for the king whom he had not seen for a long time.
The bloody sun flag first appeared from the horizon, followed by tens of thousands of elites who were killing them, and finally a noble battle group of two thousand people. The mighty jaguar warriors wear colorful tiger skins, and the proud eagle warriors wear gorgeous feathers, all surrounding the king at the center.
Avitt, wearing a white-patterned "Evil Spirit" leather armor and a hideous "Skull" helmet, strode out of the battle group. His face was filled with the solemnity of a god. He held the topaz's inheritance staff in his right hand and stared majestically at Shulot and the generals who were leaving the camp.
Shulot suppressed his inner excitement and slowly knelt down on the ground. He bowed to the king dressed as a god, held up the marshal's scepter with both hands, and shouted respectfully.
"God bless you! Shulot, the commander of the North Road, offers my most sincere greetings to the Tratoani of the Alliance! Supreme King, you are my monarch, father and teacher. I give you the honor of victory and the command of the legions. , dedicated to you together!”
Hearing Shulot's call, Avitt's solemn face showed a smile. He took two steps forward, took the scepter from Shulot's hand, and gently shook the boy's hair.
"Witness the gods! Shulot, you are my most outstanding minister, son and student. I accept the honor of your victory!"
Then, Avitt put the scepter back into the boy's hand, smiled and shouted.
"My son, you are my most outstanding general! I hand over the command of the North Army Corps, together with the advance army of the South Road, into your hands again!"
Then, without waiting for the boy's reply, Avitt stretched out his hands and lifted him up from the ground. Under the gaze of all the generals, the king gave the boy an equal and solemn hug. Faced with this extraordinary etiquette, Shulot opened his eyes wide in surprise, and was at a loss for a moment. Avitt laughed loudly, held the boy's left arm tightly with his right hand, raised it high together, and announced to everyone.
"Witness the gods! The young eagle of Mexica has flown into the sky and turned into the golden sunrise. His light is unmatched, and his glory is with me!"
"Witness the supreme Lord God! I am the sun at noon, ruling the vast world and leading the great alliance! And Shulot is the rising red sun in the sky! In the distant future, when I go to the Kingdom of God, he He will take my place, sit high in the highest sky, and continue to guide you forward! The Lord God bless us, and God loves our people!"
The witness of the gods is the most solemn oath, and the sun is the symbol of the king. Faced with this sudden announcement of inheritance, the generals of the northern and southern armies looked at each other for a moment, then fell to the ground and saluted together.
"Praise the Sun God! God has blessed the King and His Highness! ...The Lord God bless us, God loves our people!"
The loud shouts spread far away. A few hundred steps away, intelligence officer Gillim looked gloomy. He stood in the shadow of the crowd, gritted his teeth, and sighed deeply. The passionate shouts continued to drift away, waking up Suangua who was sleeping in the camp, and also alarmed Zinzini who was patrolling the city wall.
Witnessed by the setting sun and everyone, Shulot finally raised his head. He showed a bright smile, looked at the vast sky, towards the supreme Sun Throne, and took the second step that everyone expected.
