After a long sleepless night, the morning star appears in the distant sky; the sky is slightly bright, and the morning sun appears at the end of the east. Soon, a bright red sun slowly rose from the clouds, illuminating the boundless wilderness, shining on the magnificent capital, and bringing new light.
With a smile on his face, Shulot admired the beauty of the sunrise and the capital city at his feet.
The fires in the four cities gradually subsided, and only the great temple in the center was still emitting thick smoke. The palace and temple areas were firmly under control, and thousands of warriors gripped their weapons and were conducting a rigorous search. At the top of the majestic Palace of Winds, two flags of the Mexica royal family were flying high, and next to the bloody sun was a black wolf with its head raised. Not far away is the main god flag of Sun Hummingbird.
Most resistance in the capital was put down. Order has been completely restored to the civilian and artisan quarters. The narrow streets were filled with torrents of marching warriors, patrolling spear militiamen, and small teams escorting loot and prisoners. Only the last few solid stone mansions remain in the aristocratic district. Dozens or hundreds of noble private troops relied on the terrain to make desperate and futile struggles.
The young king whispered a few instructions, and then the guards left with the jade talisman.
Soon, a group of tall warriors hurried away, carefully holding the sealed wooden box in their hands. After another moment, a loud "boom, boom" sound exploded in the noble mansion, accompanied by a shrill howl, and the last resistance finally collapsed.
Xiulote laughed and raised his head. The Sun God had ascended the throne in the middle, and the royal capital of Tarasco, Qincongcan City, was finally completely pacified in his hands!
"Your Highness, congratulations on your glorious victory! You are the invincible Wolf King!"
Toltec had been arriving for a while. He hid behind Bertard with a sullen expression, until he saw that His Highness was happy, then he dared to step forward and knelt on the ground.
"Black Wolf begs you for forgiveness!"
Shulot smiled and looked at his beloved general.
"Oh, excuse me? Toltec, have you captured the chief and the prince?"
"I don't."
The Black Wolf Warrior looked ashamed and glared at Chihuaco with hatred.
"Your Highness, I fought hard and killed more than a dozen warriors with my own hands! But I never thought that a despicable mouse would steal the fruit!"
"Oh? Chihuaco, what do you have to say?"
Facing the ferocious gaze of the Black Wolf Warrior, the old militiaman shuddered. His thoughts were spinning and a smile appeared on his face.
"Mighty black wolf warrior, you are a leopard in the jungle, biting a running rabbit. The rabbit hid in the hole and was eaten by the mouse. This does not mean anything. We have indeed picked up a loophole and are willing to give up the victory to You, please don’t keep it in your mind.”
After hearing Chihuaco's words, Toltec's expression softened slightly. He calmed down his anger and thought about the old militiaman's proposal, but was discouraged again. He raised his head and replied.
"Forget it, why would I, the Black Wolf, want someone else's credit? What's yours is yours, and I, Toltec, will catch the prey with my own hands! With His Highness here, I am destined to dominate the world!"
Shulot watched Chihuaco's response and listened to Black Wolf's reply, smiling and nodding. Then, with a straight face, he lectured Toltec.
"Toltec, you are a warrior who is invincible to a hundred men, and you have thousands of elite men under you. Chihuaco is just an ordinary militiaman, with only a dozen people in total. However, he can take away the most important things in front of you. The spoils of war have not even been discovered by you!... Toltec, my black wolf, you have to think carefully about the truth!"
"Fighting is hunting! In this battle, you have at least three problems. First, you did not lower your head and ask your guide to understand the situation in the Wind Palace; second, you did not pay attention to the situation around you and watch your guide. ;Finally, you don’t completely surround the prey and find another passage.”
"My black wolf, you are brave, this is your advantage! But people who are good at bravery often rely on bravery to self-sustain, thereby ignoring the wisdom of the mind and flexible means. People who are good at swimming will drown in the water, Those who are good at fighting must not just fight!"
"My black wolf, the last time you went to hunt down the hounds alone, you would have died in the wild if it hadn't been for the rescue by the samurai commander. This failure is a good lesson. I have high expectations for you... Trust me Ertech, when you can put aside your blind bravery, fully consider the situation you are facing, and rationally use everything in your hands, you will become a true commander! At that time, I will also trust you with a legion! "
"Yes, Your Highness, I was wrong."
After hearing His Highness's admonishment, Toltec fell to his knees in despair. Not far away, Ezpan watched all this, but his eyes were full of envy.
"Well, Black Wolf, I'll give you another mission! Take your thousand elites and continue to search for the whereabouts of Prince Tarasco! Chihuaco and Puap are locals, and they will serve as your deputies. Remember , you should ask them for more advice!”
After hearing His Highness's order, the old militiamen and the gray warriors had a grimace, bowed their heads in response, and the group left quickly. Shulot turned his head and looked at the most trusted warrior captain.
"Bertard, you come to preside over the pacification and aftermath of the city, and count the population and loot. Ezpin will be your deputy and translator. It's time for the warriors to put away their weapons. Organize people and use sand to extinguish the burning temple. Five days later, the conversion ceremony and enfeoffment ceremony will be held in front of the Temple Square in the center of the city!"
The warrior commander bowed his head and obeyed. The young king turned around and walked down the tower. He wanted to meet Avitt in person to report the latest situation and discuss follow-up arrangements.
Five days passed in a hurry, and the May wind blew from the east. In front of the ruins of the Temple of the House of Winds, under the magnificent reflection of the pyramid, nearly 70,000 city residents were driven around the square. Twenty thousand Mexica troops held shields and clubs, three thousand archers occupied important positions, the temple area was tightly controlled, and the world was full of killing.
A high altar was erected on the Yaka Tower, and a blazing sacred fire was lit under the pyramid. Shulot, wearing a feather crown sacrificial robe, stood at the top of more than 40 meters, looking down at the continuous ant colony at his feet. The turbulent heroism echoed in the heart of the king, as if he held the world in his hands. Behind him, Avitt was wearing the divine attire of a king, sitting on a golden throne, looking at the young man officiating with a smile on his face.
The spices are thrown into the sacred fire, and the winding smoke rises, and the pleasant breath spreads. Hundreds of war priests sang hymns of blessing, and the solemn praises echoed in the capital, drowning out the faint cries. Then, Shulot raised his hands, and 20,000 warriors knelt down on one knee at the same time, shouting and praying to the pyramid.
"Praise the supreme God! Praise the majestic king! Praise the heroic Highness!"
Amid the thundering cheers, Avitt stood up, solemnly raised the topaz scepter in his hand, and shouted loudly.
"The Lord God issued a decree! He conquered the three gods, and His throne was raised high again! The Lord God said, the light of the sun enveloped the land in the lake, and the Kingdom of Tarasco perished today! From now on, the Prepecha people are members of the alliance People, believers who convert to the Lord God, partners of the Mexica people! The glorious Western Expedition is victorious, and the warriors of God's war will be blessed by the Lord God!... The Divine Blessing Alliance will rule the entire world!"
"The Divine Blessing Alliance will rule the entire world!"
The boiling shouts shook the world and the Prepecha people in the square. Twenty thousand Mexica warriors beat their shields and, under the leadership of the priests, prayed to the Lord God in unison and sang praises to God's light.
"Praise the sun god Huitzilopochtli! His light falls on the ground and in the hearts of believers! He is the god who dominates everything and also determines the fate of unbelievers! Offer sacrifices and pray for the coming of the Lord God!"
"Bang! Boom! Boom!" The priests poured large cans of carbon powder into the holy fire, and the flames suddenly rose higher. Then, two wooden cannons were fired into the sky at the same time. The thunder resounded throughout the capital, and the residents in the city trembled in horror. They fell on the ground in fear, in awe of the power of the gods, and finally prayed to the main god of Mexica.
With the holy fire burning and the roar of cannons, 584 temple guards dragged the same number of royal and noble prisoners to the priests. This is the cycle of Venus, heralding destruction and rebirth. The divine prisoners were dressed in gorgeous clothes, their hands and feet were tied, and their mouths were blocked with cotton cloth. They are the ritual sacrifices, huge clay pots are ready and tequila has been poured into them.
After a moment, the priests' singing suddenly rose to a high pitch, the warriors' cheers also roared suddenly, and the residents of the capital widened their eyes. The sharp obsidian dagger cut across the arc of the sacrifice with unusual precision. Then, the noble vitality moved upwards, the vigorous life downwards, and large jars of blood wine were prepared to supply the converted warriors and militiamen.
"Praise the war god Huitzilopochtli! He uses the blood and soul of the sacrificer to give courage to the warriors, promises victory to the warriors, and controls their bodies and minds! ...Drink the blood wine and shine the glory of the Lord God !”
Under the guidance of Mexica warriors, more than 10,000 captured Tarasco warriors, militiamen, and Tecos tribesmen took the lead in converting. Soon, the first one thousand warriors knelt down in front of the holy fire. Their hair was cut off by a thousand war priests and thrown into the fire. They then drank the red blood wine and repeated their oath of loyalty to the Lord God. Then, in a daze, they were led to retreat to both sides and kneel down.
Ezpin led the militiamen from the kingdom to guard the side. They shouted loudly in the Prepecha language, telling about the power of the Lord God, praising the believers' future, and then threatening the fate of the unfortunate ones. Hundreds of elite warriors looked solemn, hanging their copper axes low, with bright red dripping down the ax blade. The consequences of unwillingness to convert were clear at a glance.
Green smoke rose, carrying the smell of burning hair. The nobles and high-ranking officers among the prisoners have been taken away, and the remaining soldiers can only drift with the crowd. Large numbers of soldiers came like water. They knelt down, cut their hair, saluted, drank wine, prayed, and finally retired. Occasional resistance and noise are like insignificant waves, dyed red in a moment.
Shulot looked solemnly from the high pyramid. Tens of thousands of Tarascan soldiers were like tiny dust gathered together. Swept by an irresistible force, they changed their appearance, their hearts were shocked, and they scattered to both sides in silence. At this moment, the king is high and easily controls everyone's life and death. This strange feeling makes people intoxicated, drifting, and a little trance-like.
Shulot turned back and looked at Avitt who was sitting upright. The true king has an indifferent expression, looking down at the world, looking directly at all the people like grass and grass. Only when he met the young man's eyes did he nod slightly and smile gently.
"Praise the Lord God Huitzilopochtli! He brings light to all the lost, allowing them to feel the warmth of God, and also saves the souls of all people! ... Convert to the Lord God and remember His name!"
In the chanting of the priests, more than 10,000 warriors completed their conversion and knelt down on the bluestone ground. Next, it was the turn of nearly 60,000 civilians. The priests removed the blood wine and replaced it with slightly warm corn cakes, and the fragrance of the food spread instantly. There was another commotion in the crowd. The temple warriors strode forward. They waved their war clubs in the air and blew terrifying death whistles, easily suppressing the commotion.
Conversion rituals for commoners were simpler. One priest can be responsible for seven or eight people at the same time. The civilians trembled and knelt before the sacred fire. They cut off a bunch of hair and threw it into the fire, listening to the prayers of the priests. They need to remember the name of the main god and repeat it three times before they can hold the tortillas and go to both sides.
The sacred fire was lit twice, and the sun slowly went west. In the glow of the setting sun, the pyramid casts a tilted shadow, covering the crowd on the ground. Tens of thousands of "ant colonies" flowed slowly, stopped in front of the holy fire, and then gathered in all directions like dust. They are like toy hourglasses in the hands of gods, flowing away silently.
The setting sun was stained like blood and fell into the eyes of the young king. Shulot lowered his head slightly and looked at his hands, which seemed to hold the fate of countless people.
Avitt slowly stood up from the golden throne. He looked around, the guards were far below, and the kings were high above. At this high place where there were only two people, he took out a newly made emerald staff and asked with a smile.
"Xulot, my child, are you ready?"
"Avit, I'm ready."
Shulot turned around, faced his teacher, and slowly knelt down on the ground. His eyes were calm and happy, but his shoulders were getting heavier and heavier.
"The sun opens its red eyes, and the Lord God witnesses the bloody future!"
Avit raised his hands, the priests shouted in unison, and a hundred thousand people fell silent at the same time. At this moment, under the magnificent pyramid, no matter the nobles, warriors or civilians, they all knelt on the bluestone ground. One hundred thousand people looked up, watching the red sunset fall on the top of the pyramid, and the blood-colored brilliance appeared on the bodies of the kings, which was heart-shaking. The sacred heaven and earth are closely connected at this moment, and the incarnation of the gods comes to the world!
"Witness the Lord God! He took the bright red sky away, and He left the earth to the world!"
"He said that the alliance is destined to conquer the world, and the king is born to rule the world! The leader of Mexica is the ruler of the world, and the king of Mexica is the king of the world!"
"In the name of the divine king, in the name of the king!"
King Avit looked like a god, with his hands clenched in fists, looking down at all directions like an eagle. Wherever the king looked, tens of thousands of people bowed their heads and fell to the ground. They offer heartfelt reverence and obedience to the incarnation of the gods. A smile appeared on Avitt's face, and then the smile shrank, becoming solemn and sacred again.
"In the name of the king! I, Avit, the king of the world, entrust the land in the lake of Mikencho to my successor, the 'divine enlightener' Shulot! To the north is the river mouth fortress and to the south is Tarsus. The river, reaching the Sitacuaro mountains in the east, and the endless lake in the west, will all become his fiefdom! He will control the mountains, rivers, vegetation and wild animals in this lake area with the authority of god and king, and rule the cities in this land. The village, and even all the people, exercise power second only to me!”
Having said this, Avitt finally came to Shulot. There was a smile on his face. He raised his right hand and handed the emerald scepter into Shulot's hand, letting the young man feel the coldness of the tentacles. The dazzling emerald gem shines brightly, flows with infinite wisdom, and also heralds the infinite future!
"Xulot, I hand Tarasco's artifact into your hands! From today on, you are the king of the land in the lake!"
Xiulote nodded and saluted, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and tightly clenched the magic staff in his hand. Then, he slowly stood up, faced the 100,000 people under the pyramid, and slowly opened his arms!
The staff was raised high, the gems shone, and the cheers of the Mexican Legion boiled in an instant! The sky-wide cheers swept across the capital, shaking everyone's hearts, until they converged into a shout that drowned everything:
"The Divine Priest, the King of the Lake! The Priest King!"