There was a bonfire burning in the simple tent, which reflected a little warmth on the faces of the grandfather and grandson. The clear moonlight fell from the zenith and fell into the eyes of the very similar eyebrows, leaving two soft lights.
After a while, the high priest gathered his emotions and asked with a smile.
"Xulot, my child. You have gathered so many people, will you have enough food?"
Hearing this question, Shulot's expression froze. But there was no need to hide it from my grandfather. He pursed his lips and said frankly.
"Grandfather, the food in the army is indeed a bit tight. Fortunately, when we conquered Shuigu City, we got a large amount of food. Cholula State was rich, and we plundered several more batches one after another. Coupled with the demand for Cholula City, we can roughly Support until the autumn harvest. The southern part of the kingdom is stepping up the construction of catamaran canoes to increase water transportation. In another two or three months, when the captives are shipped back in batches and the kingdom's grain continues to be delivered, there will be enough surplus..."
Nowadays, the food carried by the southern waterway can barely cover the consumption of tens of thousands of captives during their transportation. The military towns along the Talsas River are all in the field. After the autumn harvest, things should be slightly better.
"Well, before I came here, I just issued an edict to deliver a batch of food to the South Army Corps. It's about enough for 20,000 people for a year."
Hearing this, Shulot looked happy. The high priest smiled slightly and gave careful instructions.
"Xulot, my son. The Southern Route Army has hit here and completely wiped out the south of Tlaxcala. It has completed the requirements of the Eastern Expedition! Next, you slowly accumulate food and grass, transport the population well, and deal with Qiaolu Pull the city, and at the same time be careful of the combined forces of the Mixtecs and Zapotecs... don't rush north again!"
"grandfather?..."
Hearing this, Shulot opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but was stopped by the high priest's hand.
"The king on the northern route has an army of 80,000, which is enough to completely suppress the Tlaxcala people in the north, and surround the remaining three snake cities. The three snake cities are connected into one, occupying natural dangers, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Especially Yunshe City in the mountains is located on a mountain one to two hundred meters away. It is an almost unstoppable fortress, even more dangerous than Otopan Mountain City!..."
"...They are the ancestral land of the Tlaxcala people, equivalent to the capital of the Mexica League. The defenders in the city are determined and have no way out. They are by no means easy to conquer. As for how long the siege of these three cities will take, how If we capture it, it will be the king’s decision!”
"Yun She City is one to two hundred meters high, which is more dangerous than Otopan Mountain City?!"
Hearing this, Shulot frowned and remained silent. He has never seen Cloud Snake City, but he has been to Otopan Mountain City. With the siege capabilities of this era, it would be impossible to attack such a mountain city even with a two-pound bronze cannon. Maybe we still have to rely on a long siege to find an opportunity.
In fact, the later Montezuma II was trapped under several fortified cities of the Tlaxcalans and was besieged for several years. Subsequently, the city-states and vassals within the alliance launched a premeditated rebellion, and he was forced to withdraw his troops to quell the rebellion, but his success fell short. From then on, his prestige dropped to the bottom, and he could no longer command the legions of various states, and even the royal legions directly under him were difficult to control. In this situation where he lost military morale and all the states rebelled, he took the initiative to welcome the white-skinned "Quetzalcoatl" from the East and entered the magnificent lake capital, hoping to restore his prestige in the name of the god...
The high priest looked at the thoughtful Shulot and smiled gently. He thought for a moment and asked again.
"Xulot, my child, food is the foundation of everything. You must always pay attention to the army's food reserves... There are large areas of farmland outside Shuigu City. What is the specific situation?"
"Grandfather, the South Route Army has maintained a three-month supply of food. I still have 90,000 young captives in my hands who have not yet been transferred. They have gathered in this area and cultivated a total of 500,000 acres of cultivated land!... It is still six months old. It's too late to plant corn, but it's just the right time to plant pumpkins. The army will continue to use prisoners and plant more pumpkins to satisfy their hunger. As long as they wait until the autumn harvest in September or October, the food supply of the South Route Army will be relieved! "
Ninety thousand young and strong, cultivated half a million acres, about five or six acres per capita. This is the labor of being a prisoner, and it is considered very good to be able to do it to this extent.
The fact that the Mexica Army was able to use prisoners to farm outside Shuigu City without worrying about attacks from hostile tribes showed that the army's control over this area was already very stable. As the commander-in-chief, Xiulote was able to put aside the hatred of his old enemy and allow the Mexica Legion to accept the Tlaxcala people, which further showed the prestige and ambition of the king!
"Xulot, you are a born handsome man and an outstanding king."
The high priest's face showed genuine relief. He stretched out his withered palm and touched his grandson's head again after many years.
At this moment, he looked at the heroic young man, with many emotions tumbling in his heart, and many thoughts that he wanted to express... But when the words came to his lips, he was silent for a long time, but only left a few sincere instructions, with a smile in his eyes. gentle.
"... My child, you still have a long way to go. Walk steadily and don't be in a hurry. If you are in a hurry, you will take detours... I know that there is always an unknown hidden in your heart. mission. But you are still young and have enough time to realize it. Don’t bear too much alone. There will always be someone who can share the burden for you and is willing to pay for you... From now on, you have to go well and go well. Go down..."
The high priest's voice gradually became lower and almost unheard. In the end, he just rubbed his grandson's head lovingly, just like he often did when he was a child.
Feeling his grandfather's touch, Shulot was stunned for a long time, feeling soft in his heart.
He vaguely remembered that the last time his grandfather stroked his head was before the western expedition to Tarasco. And the last time was the great festival in the capital city of the lake. He was released by the elders, and his grandfather hurriedly came from the holy city of Teotihuacan. And going further, he returned from being captured with Orosz. He sat next to his grandfather, and listened to his grandfather's expectations and arrangements with his father...
Time flows by like water, turning youth into youth and prime age into old age. But when he was born, the middle-aged priest who once held the young baby high, laughed heartily, and named himself was now old. He had a white head, slightly hunched back, and touched himself with his big, skinny hands, a smile appeared on his wrinkled face...
He is old...only those eyes are still so deep, full of deep love and heart-wrenching attachment.
Shulot looked at his grandfather blankly, and an inexplicable shadow came to his mind. At some point, his eyes became moist and he let out a low voice with some fear.
"Grandfather?...You...will always be here, right?"
"Yes. My child, I will be by your side...always."
Having said this, the high priest lowered his head slightly and turned sideways. His face fell into the shadow of the bonfire, but he couldn't see clearly.
"Xulot, after a long journey, I'm a little tired... just sleep in your tent."
"well!"
Shulot nodded repeatedly. He pursed his lips and whispered.
"Grandpa, I will sleep with you..."
"No need. You have grown up and are now the leader of an army. You must maintain your dignity at all times."
The high priest raised his head, his eyes sparkling and a gentle smile on his face.
"Besides, I want to think about how to deal with the priests of Cholula tomorrow."
"...good."
Shulot hesitated for a while, looked at his grandfather's normal smile, and nodded. He stood up, glanced at his grandfather again, and then turned around and left the tent.
The bonfire in the tent has not been extinguished, and a rickety figure is projected on the thick tent. The figure sat alone in front of the bonfire for a long time, not knowing what he was thinking.
Shulot returned to the tent and slept for a while, thinking of his grandfather's eyes, but he couldn't fall asleep. Finally, he simply got up again and came to the main tent. The bonfire in the tent was still not extinguished, but the figure had already fallen asleep.
"Well, my grandfather is old. He is probably alone and afraid of sleeping in the dark."
Through the tent, Shulot looked at the bonfire and saw his grandfather's approximate location. Then, he walked to the other side of the tent and lay down outside the tent with his clothes closed. The night in late spring is not cold. The clear moonlight falls on my face, like a guiding light and a projection of another world.
There was a layer of cloth between Shulot and his grandfather, and he could vaguely hear his grandfather's breathing. Only then did he feel at ease, and soon fell asleep under the gentle moonlight. That night, he slept peacefully without any dreams. Because his grandfather is right next to him, just a stone's throw away...
Early on the next morning, the high priest dressed neatly, holding the staff, and set out on the road to Cholula.
"High Priest, South Route Army, 50,000 troops, just outside Cholula City!"
Shulot straightened his back and looked confident. He stood in front of his grandfather, held his old hand, and said with concern.
"... Just talk to them! In Cholula City, there is no choice. And with me here, they will never dare to offend you!"
Upon hearing his grandson's words, the high priest's eyebrows arched and a sincere smile appeared on his face.
"good!"
"...Grandpa, please go and come back as soon as possible..."
"...good!"
The high priest nodded slowly, as if promising the oath of his ancestors. Then, he took a deep look at his grandson and turned away with a smile. Beside him, dozens of temple warriors stood guard, like his shadow.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
As I write this, my eyes get wet... (?﹏?) Wow...
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