The night was deep and the bay was quiet. Puap's random shouting reached the vicinity of the camp and attracted the attention of the patrolling warriors.
Priest Tomat looked calm and stood in the shadows outside the camp. He had already sent away the other people in the camp, and at this time he waved his hands to the patrolling warriors, indicating that they did not need to get close. He listened quietly, the excited shouts gradually became quieter, and the anger in his voice gradually turned into desolation. Priest Tomat raised the corners of his mouth and nodded secretly.
"Yeah. Stew the fish over high heat and drink the soup over low heat...Captain Chihuaco's soup-making skills are pretty good..."
In front of the bonfire, the old militiaman Chihuaco lowered his eyes, looked at the fish soup beside the bonfire, listened to Puap's shouting, and waited patiently. He knew that the other party needed time to face the truth that he had been unwilling to face.
After a while, Puap became quiet. He held his head high and pursed his lips, like a child who was stern after making a mistake. Only then did Chihuaco glance and saw that the anger on Lao Pu's face had disappeared. Instead, there were a pair of sad and uneasy eyes, gradually shedding tears.
"Old Qi, you know! This is all...all Tikalo's trick! I...I have never betrayed the kingdom! Even if His Highness knew, Tikalo should be severely punished, not me. !..."
"Shit! Puap, you stupid piece of wood is even stupider than that piece of wood from Weziti!"
Seeing the tearful Puap, Chihuaco was angry and a little intolerable. But even if he couldn't bear it, the words that came out of his mouth were still as cold as knives, stabbing into Puap's heart.
"You stupid idiot! Can you and Ti Carlo be the same? I have known him for a long time, and I am also familiar with Orosh, the commander of the Gyeonggi Army. No matter what, there is still a feeling of old acquaintance. What's more, he is a descendant of the Mayapan royal family! He has navigation charts in his hands, Cocom's tribe behind him, guides to Cuba, bee slaves, shipwrights, and hostages... He has already prepared a sufficient price!"
"Take a good look! Tikalo is not a person, but the last remnant of a Mayan royal family. He has a Mayan title that the kingdom needs! Even if His Highness punishes him, warns him, whips him, or beats him, he will not Really kill him. Because he has blood and family, and he still has great value!"
"And you, you Puap, what do you have? You are just an ordinary warrior from Tarasco who betrayed his family and surrendered! You also made a big mistake and got entangled with the southern nobles of Tarasco! You I have already been exiled once. If I make another mistake, I will not be forgiven easily!..."
"Ah! Ah! Laoqi, Chihuaco, stop talking! Please!..."
After hearing this, Puap's defenses were broken and he knelt on the ground with his head in his hands, tears streaming down his face. He recalled the night when he betrayed Chief Hummingbird in the Qin Cong Can City Palace, and recalled the fear of being almost beheaded by His Highness together with Sky Orta in the Purple Grass City Temple.
"I was born as an ordinary family warrior, and I have experienced so much, and finally got to where I am today!...I, I can't lose everything anymore..."
Huitu Puap kneeled on the ground, his body twitching like an earthworm in the soil, struggling to find a way out. After a while, he wiped his tears, looked at Chihuaco who was waiting with his eyes lowered, and asked with a cry.
"Lao Qi, you said...by letting me stay here, you are saving me?"
"right."
"The Lord God witnesses?"
"The Lord God witnesses!"
"Then, how do you save me?"
"You stay in Cuba, continue to lead the warriors, serve the priest Tomat, and fight for the kingdom. The priest Tomat will leave a letter and join me in front of His Highness to plead for your mercy."
Chihuaco, the veteran militiaman, stated his arrangements concisely and concisely. He did not tell Puap how he had to sell his face to plead for mercy and give advice to Priest Tomat in order to get him to agree. He just sighed again and said painstakingly.
"Hey! You can stay in Cuba for a few years and make some contributions. In this way, in the eyes of His Highness, you have suffered. Even though you are so far away, for the sake of the people of Cuba, he will not punish you. .. His Highness attaches great importance to the management of Cuba. As long as you do a better job, you will probably be able to get over it in a few years!"
"Huh? Ah, this...seems...makes sense."
Huitu Puap stayed where he was and thought for a while. The sadness on his face gradually subsided, as if he had accepted his fate. He didn't know what he was thinking. After a while, he asked in a low voice.
"Then, how many years do I have to stay here? You can't let me die alone on this desert island, right?..."
"Why do you want to die alone? How can you be alone? The island of Cuba is so rich, how can it be so desolate?..."
Hearing Puap's words, the old militiaman Chihuaco laughed so angry. He smiled for a while, curled his lips, and said in a deep voice.
"Priest Thomas is also here, and there are so many warriors and sailors from the kingdom! You can rest assured, and the old turkey will also make a nest! The evil invasion predicted by His Highness will be in two or three years. You have to wait no matter what. At that time, kill a few white-skinned intruders and show off!"
"Besides, staying in this warm Cuba is not a hardship at all. In the past few months, you have been planting seeds everywhere! Your teapot has a long spout and a lot of water in it. If you stay here for two or three years, Maybe we can have a few more babies! How can an old man like me compare to you..."
Hearing this, Puap's face turned pale, this retribution came too quickly. He hesitated and quickly bowed his head to apologize.
"Uh!...Old man Qi, you...I was just joking, don't take it seriously! I...I will give you all the gems, gold and silver I have hidden in my possession! Wait until you are in front of His Highness , you must say more nice words to me!"
"Huh? You guy, you still have some hidden property? By the way, what did you call me just now?"
"Qi Lao...Brother!"
"Well, not bad! Shout a few more words."
"Brother! We are brothers who died together at the same time! For the sake of fellow villagers and comrades, you must help your brother!"
"Yeah. I'll think about it..."
Chihuaco smiled half-heartedly and looked at Puap who was "suffering humiliation and humiliation" for a while. Then, with a faint look on his face, he whispered a few words.
"Okay! Go to bed early! I'll leave tomorrow... The storm at sea is unpredictable. I don't know when we will see each other next time, and I don't know if we can see each other again... Brother, you can stay with peace of mind. In Cuba, keep a few more queens!..."
"Ah! God bless you! We will definitely meet again! Well, Lao Qi, you are old and don't have a son. If it really doesn't work, I will help you give birth to one and give it to you..."
"roll!..."
The camp gradually became quiet until it was completely silent. That night, the two of them slept in a tent close to each other. There was no sound of snoring and they could not sleep. And when the new red sun rose from the east early the next morning, the camp became busy again. The noisy busyness lasted for half a day. By the time the sun rose in the sky, Chihuaco had already boarded the flagship, taking the four longships that were about to leave, and said goodbye to everyone on the shore.
"Dear Priest Tomat, you are an outstanding believer of the Lord God! May you spread the glory of the Lord God on the island of Cuba!"
Chihuaco clenched his fists on his chest, smiled and nodded to the Tomat priest on the shore. Hearing this familiar greeting, Priest Thomas was startled, the corners of his mouth raised, and he bowed his head in return.
"Dear Captain Chihuaco, you are the fearless whale in the sea, leading the fleet forward! I hope you can return to the kingdom soon and bring back our harvest and good news!"
"Okay! God bless you!"
Chihuaco nodded solemnly. He looked into Priest Tomat's sincere eyes, smiled and said leisurely.
"Cassava seedlings, tung oil tree seeds, the large iron mine in Cuba, the large copper mine in Coba...the stronghold of Iron Bay Town, the converted Taino believers, the tribal distribution in Cuba, the large island of Haiti to the east...and the general The route to Cuba, the distribution of Mayan power...and the allied Puton tribes, the details of the Totonac coast, the prospects of the gem trade...all the important harvests, I have remembered them!"
Having said this, Chihuaco stopped again, glanced at the smiling Mayan businessman Tikalo beside him, and continued to add.
"Of course, there are also the allied Cocom family, the converted Cocom patriarch, the promised chart of the southern continent, the royal shipwright who built the ship, the royal bee slave who kept bees, and the young royal hostage... These important harvests are also Nothing will be missing!"
Hearing this, Ti Carlo's expression froze and his face instantly turned pale. The old militiaman Chihuaco did not look at him again, but said goodbye to the dejected Puap.
"Huitu, next, you must listen carefully to the words of Priest Tuomat and make contributions to the kingdom!"
"Yes, I understand. God bless you! Lao Qi, you also have to go smoothly and return smoothly!"
"Well, the Lord God bless you!"
Chihuaco, the old militiaman, nodded and looked at the camp at the bay. Then, without hesitation, without melancholy, without saying anything else, he waved the command flag and gave the order to the four long ships that were ready!
"Raise the sails! Take advantage of the east wind and set off to the west! The next target is the fishing bay six hundred miles away! May the Lord God bless us and let us pass through the waves!"
"May the Lord God bless us and let us pass through the waves!"
After hearing the captain's order, the sailors agreed in unison and got busy quickly. Soon, the four long ships raised their front and rear sails, gradually accelerated, and resolutely embarked on their return journey.
Priest Thomat stood on the shore, watching the departing fleet getting farther and farther towards the end of the sky. In the distance, he still heard the familiar sound of songs, still heartfelt and joyful, still fearless and determined, and also the same incomprehensible Patzcuaro ditty.
"Hey you, let's go to sea!..."
"The sea is full of water! I walked all the way, but there is no end!... Your Majesty, he opened his mouth! Poor old farmer, I will break my legs! ..."
"My legs have been broken, so walk in all directions! Walk in all directions, the sun is burning!... The sea is roaring like boiling water. Your Majesty, please shake the fan in your tent!... Shake it, and let's set sail!"
"Sail to the west, to go eight thousand miles! Eight thousand miles away, there is my hometown! Look across the vastness!... My hometown is so far away that I can't see it! Your Majesty, you are such a bastard!... Oh, you are such a bastard! !”
As he listened, a subtle smile appeared on Priest Tomat's face. This time, he did not ask Puap next to him what was being sung. He just had a smile on his face, shook his head slightly, and murmured silently.
"Captain Chihuaco, you are truly a fearless captain who can sing such a heroic song!..."
"I am a preaching priest who graduated from Shenwei University in the royal capital. If I don't know Patzcuaro's dialect, how can I preach to the local villagers in the lake area?..."
"On this boundless sea, only courage and faith can inspire people. I hope your fearless courage can inspire the kingdom's fleet to sail through thousands of miles of waves!..."
"Through thousands of miles of waves, from Cuba to the plateau, may the glory of the Lord God always protect you!"
