"What? A fleet of Totonacs?!"
Hearing the call of the scout mountain bird, the veteran militiaman Chihuaco was startled, and his heart contracted violently, as if he was suddenly grasped by the big hand of fate. He did not hesitate and immediately issued the order.
"Tavaru, let the warriors put on armor and stomach! The sailors board the longships and prepare to fight! Quick!"
"Yes! Captain!"
Tavaru immediately picked up the conch trumpet and blew the "didi" sound while running towards the camp. Soon, the peaceful camp became noisy, with hurried figures everywhere.
Then, Chihuaco ran to Shantiao's side in two steps. He looked at the river mouth to the north. Those faintly visible dots were gradually approaching, but he couldn't see clearly.
"Shanniao, you have good eyesight. Quick! Count clearly for me, how many ships are coming from behind?"
"Big canoes...twenty, twenty, twenty, twenty, twenty...and some smaller canoes..."
Scout Shanniao narrowed his eyes and counted a hundred large canoes in one go. Hearing this, the old militiaman's heart beat loudly, and a strong sense of crisis came over him.
"A hundred large boats? Each large boat can hold six people. How can there be at least..."
"There are at least six hundred Totonak warriors! Counting those on the merchant ships, there will be more! This is prepared... They must know the details of the fleet!"
Divine Priest Mecat's expression became solemn, and his eyes became dangerous. The entire fleet adds up to only one hundred and sixty people. There are only about forty warriors in the kingdom who are reliable and capable of fighting. Six hundred versus one hundred and sixty, such a huge gap, this battle... He suddenly turned around, looked at the nervous Mayan businessman Tikalo, and shouted sharply.
"Tikalo, your merchant ships brought enemies! You actually betrayed the kingdom and snitched to the Totonac people?!"
"No! I didn't! Impossible!
"
Mayan businessman Tikalo clenched his fists, with unconcealed fear and uncontrollable anger on his face.
"The descendants of the family are here! How could I, regardless of their safety, attract the Totonak army?"
"Then the merchant fleet has leaked its whereabouts and a traitor has appeared!"
"This...I...they..."
Mayan businessman Tikalo was at a loss, sweating on his forehead in anxiety. Concern leads to chaos. Even if he is as cunning as he is, facing this critical moment, he is speechless for a moment. He could only retreat and murmur.
"It's impossible...it's impossible for them to betray...how is it possible?..."
"Tikalo! The warriors of the kingdom are preparing for war, and the sailors are boarding the ship. They need time!"
Mecat, the divine priest, strode forward and grabbed Ti Carlo by the collar. His eyes were sharp and he spoke repeatedly.
"You bring two Puton warriors and come forward in a small boat! I don't care what method you use, you have to delay this fleet for a while!"
"Huh? Go...to the fleet?...Delay time?"
Hearing this, Ti Carlo trembled all over. He knows what this means. However, when the words of rejection came to his lips, he could not say them out.
"Yes! Try to delay as long as possible to prove your innocence! For the sake of the fleet, and for...them."
As he spoke, the divine priest Mecat tilted his head and glanced at the two children of the Mayan royal family. Ten-year-old Ti Lan pursed his lips and grabbed a stone spear that was taller than him. But five-year-old Didan was confused and grabbed his brother's clothes, not knowing what was happening.
"Grandpa? Is a bad guy coming?..."
"I…"
Mayan businessman Tikalo was shaking violently, and his face turned pale instantly. A moment ago, he was still full of hope, looking at his merchant ship. But at this moment, the shadow of death suddenly came to his mind. The same ship, in just a quarter of an hour, turned into a monster's open mouth, swallowing its former owner with an evil smile.
"Time is running out!"
"I go!"
Ti Carlo turned around, smiled sadly, and glanced at the two children behind him. There was a moment of warmth in his smile. Then, gritting his teeth and saying nothing, he boarded a small boat and faced the approaching Totonac fleet.
Chihuaco, the old militiaman, was silent and watched everything that happened. He did not stop Ti Carlo from leaving, but quickly put on his leather armor, picked up the familiar bronze spear, and watched the boat float away. Countless thoughts were flashing in his mind, and he had no time to think about them one by one. He could only make a decision in an instant based on his keen instinct!
After a moment, Chihuaco's voice was low, like a native dog ready to bite, and he roared the command from his chest.
"Everyone! Take up arms! Board the longship and defend on the deck! ... In a quarter of an hour, be ready to break out at the mouth of the sea! ... Remember, don't stop! Raise the sails as soon as you leave the mouth of the sea. Go deep into the northwest sea until you get rid of the Totonac!"
"Yes! Yes! Boss!"
The camp by the river was in chaos, and all the baggage was abandoned. The sailors pulled out the long boats from the reeds and set up the long oars. The warriors donned armor and took bows, and boarded the sides of the longship. The old militiaman personally took a few children and was the first group to board the flagship. Then, he straightened his spine and shouted at Dark Snake and Didi.
"You two older ones, take the two younger ones with you and enter the bottom warehouse for me! No matter what happens for a while, you are not allowed to come out without my order!"
"Dad! We are all warriors, we can fight..."
"Get off! This is an order!"
Everyone in the kingdom hurried onto the boat, and shields were set up on both sides of the longboat. At the front, Mayan businessman Tikalo arrived in front of the fleet in a small boat. At this point, the Totonac boats were clearly visible.
Hundreds of Totonak warriors, holding spears and carrying spears and hunting bows on their backs, stood densely on the small boat. They were like a school of man-eating fish, blocking the narrow entrance to the sea, with a clear goal in mind, heading towards the camp not far away.
"call!..."
Mayan businessman Ti Carlo took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it. Then, he looked at the Totonac war boats that were surrounded from all sides, shouted loudly at the familiar Mayan galleys in front of him, and the unfamiliar warrior faces on the boats. His voice was loud and slightly trembling, but it was extremely clear in Totonak.
"I am the owner of this merchant ship! I am the leader of the Mayan caravan! I am familiar with the priests and elders of the Holy City, Tezozomoc! I am protected by the chief of Hidden Serpent City, Coatzacoal!... I want Meet your leader!…"
"The city-state protects merchants. This is the will of the gods and the decree of the priesthood! ... Pious Totonak warriors, why did you occupy my ship and come to the camp of the merchant group?"
Hearing Tikalo's shouts and the two noble names "Tzozomoc" and "Quatzacual", the menacing Totonac warriors suddenly stopped, and the advancing fleet also stopped. down. Facing the confident Mayan businessman in front of them, the warriors were a little undecided for a moment. After all, the order they received was to wipe out a group of hidden enemies in Mexica, not to plunder the Mayan business group.
"Um?"
On the Mayan galley, Pap, the feathered serpent priest, frowned. He stared at the weaponless Mayan merchant in front of him and spoke in a deep voice.
"The chief of Coatzacoal has died in the battle at the gate of Golden Bay. The priests and elders of Tezozomoc are supervising the battle in the stone carving city on the front line... Witnessed by the sun god! Bold Mayans, your crew has mobilized everything! Yes! Who gave you the courage to protect the evil Mexica fleet?"
"I am the leader of a Mayan merchant group who is protected by the city-state! As for the Mexica fleet? I have never heard of it..."
Mayan businessman Tikalo held his head high and still answered loudly. Feathered Serpent Priest Pappu has narrowed his eyes and raised the priest's staff in his hand. Because, he had clearly seen that behind the chaotic camp, there were four Mexica-style long boats, vaguely appearing from the reeds.
"In the name of the Sun God! Take him down! He is a minion of the Mexica!"
After the priest's order was given, the Totonak warriors no longer hesitated. They swarmed up, stabbed down the fellow Puton warriors, and cut their throats directly. Then, a vigorous tribal warrior swung a stone hammer and knocked down the Mayan merchant Tikalo, causing him to roll over in the boat and scream.
"Tie up this Maya! I want to take him back and torture him alone!"
Priest Pappu gave an order in a low voice, and the leader Chu Chut nodded understandingly. The feathered serpent priest had long told him to secretly find out the situation in the land of Maya and find a way out for everyone. Then, the feathered serpent priest, who had returned to his high position, waved his staff and pointed hard at the four longships beside the camp.
"The Holy Sun God is watching us! Brave warriors of the Hidden Serpent Tribe! It's time to show your bravery in front of the evil and cruel Aztecs!"
"Go! Destroy these evil enemies who are hiding and threatening our homeland! Seize their longships and take revenge on the Aztecs!"
"Praise the Sun God! Revenge the Aztecs!"
The Totonak warriors roared with ferocious murderous intent. They occupied the only river mouth to escape, using four times the strength to outnumber the enemy. In such a favorable downwind battle, the courage of the tribal warriors was aroused to the greatest extent.
】
"Ouch! Kill! Kill them!"
More than six hundred tribal warriors howled continuously, like hunting dogs on the sea, and ferociously attacked towards the south. And the four long ships of the kingdom rowed their oars at full speed and rushed towards the mouth of the river in the north. In less than a quarter of an hour, the fleets of both sides maintained their maximum speed and collided wildly!
