A grand sacrificial ceremony was held outside Shuigu City. The war priests set aside a sacrificial area and built a altar for the main god. They sang ancient songs, lit blazing holy fires, prayed on high altars, and sacrificed the heads of their divine enemies.
The firelight shines and the sacrificial songs echo. Shulot was wearing the sacrificial robes of a black wolf, holding the "Death Skull" scepter, and stood at the highest point of the several-meter-high altar. He lowered his eyes and looked down. Tens of thousands of Legion soldiers were cheering and praising just outside the altar, like bees all over the mountains and forests. And thousands of Tlaxcala prisoners were crawling at his feet, like a colony of ants covering the field!
"...I was guided by the gods, climbed up the sacred mountain, and found the ancient temple! The Lord God protected me, and the God of Death gave me a divine object!... That is, the head of the mythical black wolf with blood tongue. The divine 'Death Skull'!"
Shulot looked down at the crowd in front of him, feeling the power of divine authority that pointed directly at people's hearts. He held up the brand new scepter in his hand, revealing the black skull on the top of the scepter, declaring his divinity to rule all living beings!
Soon, low exclamations sounded from all directions, accompanied by devout prayers. The Tlaxcala people present were all horrified and confused. They have all heard the myth and legend of the "Death Skull" and believe in the lofty divinity on the sacred mountain. But, why did such a heritage artifact fall into the hands of the Mexica commander?
"I control a powerful legion, and control the power of volcanoes and death! I am named by the God of Death, and I am blessed by the God of Death! A few days ago, on the sacred mountain, the God of Death gave me the artifact of the Tlaxcala people, which is to Tell you!"
Shulot said one sentence at a time, with strong confidence, like a god.
"From now on, all your tribes in Tlaxcala must also obey my guidance! I am inherited from the oldest god of death and am the most noble descendant of gods in the world! You must obey me and surpass those weak snake descendants! "
"...ah..."
The captured Tlaxcalans fell into silence and panic. They looked around but could not find the guidance of the tribal priests. Because the nobles in the tribe who have the right to speak have long been wiped out by the Mexica people. The surrounding Mexica warriors and Ares priests all gave thunderous cheers in the same language.
"Praise the Supreme God! Praise the Lord of Death!..."
"He is the descendant of the God of Death! He is the sun designated by the Lord God!"
Divine smoke rises everywhere, bringing the aura of the Kingdom of God. The scene of the sacrificial ceremony was crazy, with the priests shouting and praying, arousing the emotions and will of all people. And this group fanaticism gradually spread, and finally infected the captured Tlaxcala people, causing them to shout surrender.
"Praise...respected...under the Temple of Death!..."
Shouts of awe came from the crowd of tens of thousands of captives. Then, the sound gradually became louder and more intense, turning into a chaotic and loud roar.
"Praise be to the mighty Death Temple!"
"He is the descendant of the God of Death!"
"Pray to Him and surrender!..."
Shulot raised the skull staff and opened his arms vigorously to welcome the sun rising into the sky! He chanted the prayer aloud in a priestly tone. Afterwards, hundreds of priests of the main god sang loudly together!
"Praise the Lord God! He blesses people!...Praise Your Highness! He rules over all living beings!..."
The grand sacrificial ceremony lasted for a full day. It wasn't until all the Tlaxcala prisoners were exhausted from shouting, and a new sense of awe and obedience was imprinted in their minds, that Shulot announced the end of the ceremony with a hoarse voice.
He didn't know exactly how strong an impact such a sacrificial ceremony could have on the hearts of the captives, and how long it would last. But he knew clearly that in the name of the gods, the seeds of obedience had been planted and a new assimilation was beginning.
In mid-April, the first batch of young captives from Tlaxcala, numbering ten thousand, began to be transported from Water Valley City to the rear.
Under the escort of thousands of Prepecha warriors, they first spent four or five days traveling more than a hundred miles south to the fortress group at the mountain pass. Then, they will walk along the southwest mountain valley road, passing through the Yunshan Village controlled by the South Army Corps. They will travel 200 miles in seven or eight days and walk to Babai Town on the north bank of the Talsas River.
The kingdom's southern navy has been waiting outside Babai Town for a long time. All the Tlaxcala prisoners would board the boats here and turn west. Afterwards, they will go down the long river of Talsas for about 20 days, traveling 800 miles! After passing through Seven Hundred Towns, Six Hundred Towns, Four Hundred Towns, and Two Hundred Towns, we finally entered Atoyak Lake and landed on the south bank of Purple Grass City!
During the entire transfer process, which takes about January, there will be military towns for rest and supply along the way. And Etalik, a veteran of Zicao County, is ready to take in the young and strong prisoners who are constantly being transferred. Later, the captives arriving at Purple Grass City will be split into two. Half of them went west to Apa County to set up village flag teams and develop the vast Apa plain. The other half will retain Zicao County, integrate households into all residents, and develop the western lakeside of Zicao County. In fact, it is also the edge of the Apa Plain.
"Now, in the hands of the main force on the South Road, including the transactions with the army commanders of various city-states, a total of 40,000 young men and women are moving to the kingdom!"
Shulot sat cross-legged in the big tent, flipping through the latest records. Every day, personal guards would come from the logistics camp to report the number of prisoners traded that day.
In the hands of the kingdom, there were already 20,000 captured militiamen, who were the first to begin their transfer. In the past half month, the kingdom had acquired more than 20,000 women and children from the three city-state legions, using precious stones and bronze equipment.
At this moment, three city-state legions have spread out dozens of miles nearby, searching for the Tlaxcala tribe day and night, and sending back prisoners in a steady stream. The Panmang clan leader even sent an envoy to recruit a new batch of three thousand militiamen from the nearest mountain state.
"The Southern Shipbuilding Company has only been in operation for a year and a half, and the kingdom's southern navy is weak. The transportation route is too long. Even if it is transported in sections, it can only transport more than 10,000 prisoners per month!"
Thinking of this, Shulot frowned slightly and thought carefully.
At this point in the Eastern Expedition, all pre-made plans are being implemented. The South Route Army plundered and traded prisoners, and along the organized water transport channels, transported young and healthy people to the hinterland of the kingdom to consolidate the foundation of the kingdom. However, the number of prisoners captured in Tlaxcala exceeded the kingdom's expectations. The true efficiency of water transportation is also lower than previously estimated. This is mainly due to the obstacle of two hundred miles of dangerous road, which increases the walking distance.
The two combined created a backlog of prisoners in the South Army Corps.
"It's such a blessing to have too many prisoners captured! Fortunately, the army seized a large amount of food in Shuigu City, which can support 40,000 people for a year. If it were not for these seizures..."
Shulot smiled, feeling a little more fond of the escaped black snake.
"Yes. The legion in the hands of Black Wolf has rested and is about to go 130 miles east to attack the mountain city. There are nearly 100,000 Tlaxcala people in the mountain city area. The number of prisoners captured by then... .”
Thinking of this, the king finally made a decision and looked at the standing warrior captain.
"Bertard!"
"Your Highness."
"Record the king's order."
"yes!"
"April is already halfway through, and spring plowing is about to begin. In addition to the 20,000 people who are being transferred, the remaining 20,000 young and strong men and women must work in the south of Shuigu City! Let the Southern Shipbuilding Company work harder to manufacture low-cost, easy-to-transport catamaran independent ships. Canoe!"
"At the same time, let Ezpan and Etalik be prepared to incorporate the relocated young people into the village flag team as soon as possible and distribute planting grains and agricultural tools. They should give priority to replanting corn. If it is too late, they will replant pumpkins. !”
Bertard wrote quickly, drafted the royal order in a moment, and handed it to His Highness for sealing. Then, several personal guards entered the tent and left in a hurry with orders that were still inked.
"Your Highness, after August, we won't be able to replant any crops. What arrangements will be made for moving back to Dingkou of the Kingdom after that?"
"Yeah. When Dingkou moved back after August, they arranged to build huts, clean up the forest, drain the swamps, and dig canals... In short, tell the two full-power county governors that while ensuring food, don't let the young people Take your time!"
Colonization in Central America has a climatic advantage, that is, there is no need to consider winter and prepare thick warm houses and thick clothing.
"Do your will!"
Bertard smiled quietly and started writing again.
While Shulot was meditating, a messenger arrived in a hurry. He was covered in sweat from running and his face was as red as a shrimp.
"Your Highness! Urgent military situation!"
"explain!"
"The Mixtecs are moving again! There are thousands of new warriors in Xiaoliu Village, one hundred and sixty miles south!"
