The bright moon rises far away from the east, and the red sun slowly sets toward the west. The moon rises and sets, and the sky is half cold and half red. The dim light changes in the morning and dusk in the mountains, leaving an intoxicating scenery in my heart. This situation is like the journey of life, always reincarnated in encounters and separations again and again.
Shulot, dressed simply and lightly, stood at the boundary between the plains and hills, looking at the northern wilderness. Behind him is the sturdy Huayamo Fortress and the endless harvested farmland. It has been more than ten days since I traveled in early December. He traveled from east to north, inspecting the farms along the way and checking out the military camps in the lake area. He finally stopped here to wait for his father who was coming from the south.
The sky gradually dimmed, and a line of torches appeared in the north. The torches swayed between the hills and fields, like slowly drifting stars. Finally, a familiar figure was vaguely visible under the stars. Shulot could no longer suppress the excitement in his heart and strode forward.
The leading figure showed a big smile. He stretched out his arms and gave the young man a tight hug.
"Father, you have worked hard all the way!"
"Haha, Xiulote, my son. I haven't seen you for more than half a year, and you've grown taller again!"
Shusok let go of his hand, looked at his son's appearance carefully, then compared his height with his own, and laughed heartily.
"Olos, look at me, my body is as tall and straight as a green pine, and my appearance is as heroic as a golden eagle. It looks exactly like me when I was young!"
"Come on, you were thick and strong when you were young. You looked like a cactus, but you weren't so handsome... Those delicate eyebrows do look a lot like his mother..."
Orosh joked with Shusok with a smile. Then, he took a step forward and patted Shulott's shoulder affectionately.
"Teacher Orosh!"
Shulot was filled with joy and gave the other party a hug.
"How do you like this journey?"
"Farming is very good. The lake area is full of harvested farmland. No thieves were encountered on the road. The farmers stayed in the village honestly, full of peaceful joy...Wild deer were also foraging in the harvested fields. Yesterday I used I hunted one with a spear, and I will roast a deer leg for you later so that you can have a taste of my craftsmanship!..."
"Ah, my favorite roasted venison leg! Okay, put more chili powder and vanilla leaves..."
At this moment, the majesty and power of the king disappeared. In the rare warmth, he was finally able to easily take off his armor and become a cheerful young man again. Even though this time does not last long, like the rising and setting of the bright moon, it disappears like a night of ephemeral flowers among the bright stars. However, these memories can retain a rare softness and warmth in his increasingly hard and cold heart.
The group of people just talked and laughed and walked towards Huayamo Fortress together. The dinner was already prepared, the food was sumptuous and the atmosphere was relaxed. It wasn't until everyone drank a cup of hot cocoa and the smell of vanilla lingered in their noses that Shusok sighed with satisfaction and said seriously.
"Xulot, all things are constantly changing and reincarnating. When the jaguar grows up, he will become the king of the jungle. He will occupy the forest alone and face all challenges..."
"Well, Father?...Are you going back to the Holy City?"
After hearing his father's words, Shulot was stunned. He looked into the other party's deep eyes, savoring the reluctance contained in them, and had a vague premonition.
"Yes, I will leave soon... My son, you have become a brave warrior, an outstanding commander, and are becoming a great king... You are surrounded by many people, You have also gained their surrender...I am very relieved."
Shusoke smiled and shook the young king's hand. Then he nodded cordially to Bertard.
"Thank you for your protection!"
"it is my responsibility."
Bertard looked calm and bowed his head in return.
Shusok smiled and said no more. He continued to look at Shulot gently.
"The war in the east has ended. The king sent a decree asking me to return as soon as possible to participate in the sacrificial ceremony in mid-January..."
"I have also received the letter and am about to send an envoy to deliver this year's tribute."
Shulot nodded. He was unable to go in person, so he planned to let the eagle warrior Barda lead the envoy to present the latest bronze armor, bronze daggers, exquisite bronzes, and some precious collections from the previous royal family.
"Your grandfather has sent the news in advance."
Shusoke reached out and gently touched his son's cheek.
"After the sacrificial ceremony, I will join the reorganized King's Army of the Alliance and become the deputy commander of the Eagle Legion... From then on, I will be stationed in the lake capital for a long time, accompanying the king."
"Ah! The deputy commander of the Eagle Chapter, accompanying the king?"
Shulot looked surprised. He pondered slightly and waved his hand heavily. The surrounding warriors retreated one after another. The bonfire in the hall flickered for a while, then stabilized, reflecting the four people left in the middle.
"Father, the Eagle Legion is the most noble Sun Guard, and they are all noble children of the capital. Only kings with outstanding prestige can effectively command them... Are you the only noble to be dispatched?"
"King Avit does value you. But his ambitions are lofty, and they are not aimed at our lineage."
Shusoke smiled calmly, already anticipating what would happen next. After he enters the capital this time, his treatment should not be bad, but it will be difficult to get out. Shulot was granted a vast land in the lake, far away from the core of the alliance, and guarded the western ministries. As the boy's direct relative, staying with the king can be regarded as a guarantee.
"The king conquered the country in the west and attacked the old enemies in the east. He has great prestige and his reputation has been spread throughout the world. With his prestige and military exploits, he can inherit the unfinished business of the great Montezuma... The Eagle Chapter is about to expand, and each of them will The glory and hereditary nobility of the core city-states are strictly required to send important members to join.”
Shulot was silent for a moment and nodded slowly. When the king's authority is sufficient, he can recruit nobles and nobles to form a guard around him, thus strengthening his control over various ministries. And such measures are often accompanied by coordinated centralization measures... Thinking of this, the young king spoke in a deep voice.
"Father, the king intends to consolidate the alliance and centralize military power? What should you do if you go to the capital, the holy city of Teotihuacan?"
"Yes. According to your grandfather's news, the priesthood and the royal family will send representatives to the core states within two hundred miles of the capital. The alliance center will further weaken the number of private soldiers of all the great nobles in the Texcoco Lake area. And control some of the military power of the city-state, and also control important financial rights."
Shusok smiled openly.
"As a condition for you to seal the land in the lake, I will take the initiative to set an example and return the control of the Holy City to the alliance center. And the sealed Tepopolo and Iskali will also hand over their lands together. ...This initiative, supported by both the Elders and the High Priesthood, is key to further reform. Your grandfather said the time is right now!"
Shulot looked at his father's smile, and all the emotions in his heart turned into a gentle nod.
After the Western Expedition, the king's prestige rose to its peak and his authority was established in the hearts of the warriors. The legions of each state are depleted, and the powerful nobles have been transferred to other countries. The time is ripe for further centralization of power!
The power of the alliance is roughly divided into three parts: royal power, clan power and divine power. The current direction of reform is to combine royal power with divine power, suppress the power of scattered city-states and establish a powerful and sacred royal center. Among them, the elders coordinate the overall situation, the king makes specific progress, and the high priests reduce resistance in various places. Everything is proceeding according to the centralized plan.
"After receiving your grandfather's letter, I thought about it for a long time and summoned the battalion captain of the legion to discuss it. There are some changes in the subsequent arrangements."
Shusoke's expression became solemn. He stared at the calm young king and preached seriously.
"Nearly half of the Holy City Legion was lost during the Western Expedition. Even including the recovered wounded, there are only more than 2,200 warriors left. Most of them are the most loyal direct descendants of our group, and I do not want to treat them badly. . I am about to transfer to the royal capital, and there will be hundreds of people with me... The remaining warriors, I heard that you are dividing the fields and conferring titles according to military merit..."
"Very good! Feel free to come, I won't treat them badly!"
Shulot smiled sincerely. The Kingdom in the Lake is vast and has a lot of room for expansion. He is in need of reliable direct line warriors.
"Father, how many Holy City warriors are willing to stay here?"
"There are fifteen hundred warriors, more than fifty of whom are Jaguar warriors with civilian origins."
"Okay! The Jaguar warriors in the Holy City will be enfeoffed according to the specifications of military nobles, and each will be granted 800 acres of land!"
Shulot agreed readily. No matter where they are, Jaguar warriors are rare elites who have their own land and family. There are more than 150 Jaguar warriors left in the Holy City Legion, and only one third chose to stay.
"Fifty more senior warriors will be promoted, and a total of one hundred military nobles will be enfeoffed. Among the remaining warriors, four hundred senior warriors will be enfeoffed, each with 240 acres of land; one thousand third-level warriors will be enfeoffed with 100 acres of land each. .As for the second-level hereditary nobles, the three warrior battalion commanders were all promoted, and each was granted 2,400 acres of land!"
The young king promised generously. This enfeoffment amounted to nearly 300,000 acres of land, and the shortage of slaves increased again by 15,000 people. Then, he thought for a while and looked at the strong jaguar warrior Orosh.
"Teacher Orosh, where are you going?"
"Why!"
Orosh has always been generous, but at this moment he sighed rarely.
"I originally planned to go with your father. We have been brothers for more than 20 years! But your father insisted on persuading me to stay... But he was alone and not very good at martial arts. He had his ribs broken. , I lay flat for several months..."
Shusoke looked embarrassed and coughed quietly.
"Well, it's been several years... There's only one peerless general like Tepac in the fifty or sixty years since the alliance was founded. Besides, I went to the capital this time to enjoy the blessings. What follows next It's hard to go to the battlefield and encounter danger!...
Orosh, what's the use of your martial arts skills staying with me? It's better to stay with Shulot, and I can feel relieved. Isn't this already agreed upon? ..."
Orosh sighed again and nodded helplessly.
"Yes... everything you said is right... it all depends on you!"
Shulot lowered his eyes slightly, feeling deeply moved.
What is a biological father? This is called biological father! During the Western Expedition, he was responsible for logistics, arranging food routes, and taking care of wounded soldiers. He kept everything under wraps and arranged everything properly; he led four thousand legions, experienced the most difficult battles along the way, and half of them died. Then he persuaded the remaining warriors to stay and entrusted them to the most trusted general; for the sake of his son's founding of the country, he was willing to hand over his rights and go to the capital in the lake to serve as idle and hostage... This is rare for a biological son. What a treat!
Thinking of this, the king opened his eyes. He first held Olosh's arm and promised firmly.
"Teacher Orosh, the kingdom needs you. You will be the kingdom's second glorious noble!"
Then, Shulot held down his father's hands and asked sincerely.
"Father, what else do you want? I will listen to you..."
Hearing this, Shusoke's eyes lit up. He held his son's palm with his backhand and warned him earnestly.
"Xulot, my son! You are my eldest son, and you have Su Hui. You have always matured precociously... Well, you have three half-brothers and a younger sister. I know that you have not been able to play with them since you were a child. Together, we seldom communicate and are not close. But you are a family after all!...
The great late king Montezuma and the elder were brothers. The elder assisted the late king for decades and supported the late king's son. Your younger brothers and sisters can also help you in the future! ...Well, your youngest brother is only five years old and has to be raised by his mother at home. I'll leave the other three to you. Brother is like father, you can punish them on my behalf! ..."
"Huh? Two brothers who are more than ten years old and a sister who is less than ten years old are all handed over to me?"
Shulot's face froze. After a moment, he looked at his father's expectant eyes and nodded heavily.
"Then leave it to me!..."
The next conversation started to get easier. Everyone chatted about household matters and the arrangements in Hekou County in the north.
"The human trade along the Leman River has been completed. After the Guamar dogs plundered the Chapala Lake area, a total of 20,000 young men and women and 10,000 children were delivered to the trade. The vast majority of them were Prepecha people. , and some are Otomi people. There are 20,000 mountain forest tribes from the Longbow Militia, and they all migrated from the Holy City. I have arranged these 50,000 people in various villages in Hekou County. There will probably be more than two thousand families of Holy City warriors in the future... You need to add at least a hundred priests..."
"The priest group supported by the alliance has arrived in Qincongcan City, and the priests from Prepecha have also trained some. I will fill the gap in the priests in the north as soon as possible."
Shulot nodded affirmatively.
"Father, how many people do you estimate there are in Hekou County now, and how many adults are there among them?"
"According to estimates from various villages, there are about 150,000 people and about 30,000 people. In the north, there are only warriors of the Holy City Legion and Prepecha's militia. There are Otomi people and dog descendants in the north, and there are people in the west. For the remaining troops of Tarasco, it is best to send another part of the army to guard it. Orosh is familiar with the situation in the north. After I leave, I can leave Hekou County to him."
"Okay. I will soon reorganize the legions from various places and redistribute their locations."
Shulot thought for a while and then added.
"The capital is the most important. I am most at ease in Orosh. I will stay in Qinchongcan City and take charge of the military command of the core lake area of Patzcuaro. I will hand over the Hekou County in the north to the monkey Kuruka and let him take it with him. Half of the spear army. The Holy City warriors are entrusted to the north on the spot. As for Zicao County in the south, I have sent veteran Etalik to run it and prepare for follow-up operations. He has rich experience and is good at dealing with nobles. In this way When I lead my army to the south..."
After listening, Shusoke nodded in affirmation.
"You are indeed thoughtful! ... However, my son, you probably need to solve the problem in the north first. Before I came, the city of Otopan sent an envoy. They said that the Chichimec dog descendants in the northeast were preparing to Heading south in a big way, I hope you can support a legion and go to the north to fight together... The old priest of Otomi also has a private message, saying that there are important matters related to the two tribes to discuss. Please do it no matter what. Time, go to the north to have a meeting with him."
"The dog-born army is going south to ask for support? The old priest has something important and wants to discuss it with me personally?"
Shulot thought for a moment and had some vague guesses.
"Okay, I will send another messenger to communicate!"
The four of them talked all night long, planning the future of the kingdom and discussing the situation of the alliance. From time to time, there are two warm greetings. It wasn't until the bright moon sank into the mountains in the west and the sun rose over the peaks in the east that everyone stopped talking.
Shusoke lay down in his son's living room and soon fell asleep peacefully, snoring tiredly. Shulot listened to his father's snoring and stayed by his side quietly. He looked carefully at his father's resolute face and remembered it deeply in his mind. Then, he reached out his hand and gently pulled out a conspicuous white hair. My father then turned over, hummed twice in confusion, and then continued to fall asleep.
"Father is really tired after running all the way... I'd better go out."
Shulot smiled and shook his head, then silently turned around and went out. Behind him, at some point, Shusok turned around again, facing the direction his son left. After a long time, a gentle sigh sounded in the stone house.
Parting is an eternal melody, meeting is just a short song. When the sun set slightly in the west, Shusok took a dozen personal guards and prepared for the return trip north.
"...Father, I won't say much else. Take care of yourself and be careful along the way!"
Shulot held his father's arm tightly, and then slowly let go after a long while. Then, he whispered a few instructions to the rear. The guards behind him held several pairs of brand new bronze armors and handed them to the guards on the opposite side.
"What a great armor!"
Shusok touched the solid bronze armor under the cloth and admired it. Then, he handed the armor to his personal guard and smiled gently.
"Son, don't worry! My father has gone to the capital to enjoy his life, and there is no chance of going to the battlefield again... I will tell your grandfather about your greetings. I will also bring your letter to Princess Alyssa. Hmm , Don’t worry, I won’t peek on the road.”
Shulot nodded vigorously. He lowered his eyes slightly to hide the slight moisture in his eyes. Orosh stepped forward and sighed one last time.
"Hey, Xiu Suoke. After saying goodbye today, I don't know when I will see you again... I don't have anything to say. Just eat and drink well in the capital, and sleep with a few more women. Lot, please give birth to more brothers and sisters!..."
"...the same as you."
"Ha ha!"
"Ha ha!"
Shusok laughed, gave the two of them a strong hug, and turned around to leave without looking back. Behind him, the warm sunset slowly set, and the cold moon rose again. The road ahead is long and distant, and it will all fade away in time.
