The Fall of the Golden Empire (Novel) (Volume 1) "Bloody Sunset" by Zhang Baotong
The Inca King Atahualpa and his close ministers sat in the courtyard of the palace in Cajamarca to observe fast. It was noon, and the sun had left the mountain peaks in the east, illuminating the vast blue sky with golden light. Sitting in the courtyard, you can clearly see the sky above the valley a few miles away through the courtyard enclosure. Streams of hot steam fill the air and float far away. That's where the hot springs known as the "Inca Baths" are located, a place frequented by Atahualpa and his concubines. Looking towards the hillside from here, you can still see densely packed military camp tents arranged in an orderly manner, just like thick white snow covering the entire hillside, stretching for several kilometers.
Although the people present here are all the most noble and powerful people in the Inca Empire, because today is a fast day, everyone is dressed very simply. Atahualpa also wore ordinary people's clothes, but wore a crimson crown called a "pola" on his head. The tassels of the crown hung from his forehead to his eyebrows. After defeating his brother Huascar, he put the crown on his head.
Although their official positions are different, they are all the closest people to each other, so everyone is more easy-going when chatting and talking, and they don't feel restrained. The Governor of Tungula Province, Prince Beskara, first told everyone an ancient love story. He said, “During the reign of Inca King Pachacutec, there was a young man named Calca in Quechua Province. He was smart, diligent, and talented, but he had nothing at home except a dilapidated thatched cottage. But he was gentle, honest and simple, and everyone in the village liked him. And the daughter of a local leader in the village also fell in love with him. The girl's name was Chaska, she was twenty-eight years old, and she was very beautiful. Among the thousands of virgins in King Ka's palace, there was no one as beautiful as her. Therefore, the young people in the village were very obsessed with her. At that time, the local customs and customs were not as pure and simple as they are now. , when young girls reach the age of first love, they will put on a coquettish and coquettish posture in front of men to seduce men, and hang out with their lovers all day long, and their parents are also very relaxed about them. Because the tribal custom is that women must wait until they get married. The more lascivious and depraved the person is, the more lovers they have, the easier it is to get married, while a girl who keeps her virginity is regarded as an unlovable monster. But Chaska not only behaves dignifiedly, but also lives in seclusion and rarely leaves her boudoir, so, The people in the village wanted to see her beauty, which was simply a luxury.
During a religious festival, Kalka was lucky enough to meet Chaska, the lord's daughter, and was fascinated by her beauty and beauty. For this reason, he often found excuses to go to the lord's house, hoping to see him again. He misses his sweetheart, but he can only see her smiling at him at the door of the boudoir very occasionally, and then enters the house. The young man, tortured physically and mentally by longing and yearning, sat on a hillside not far from the window of his sweetheart's boudoir and played melodious and affectionate music all day long. The girl had a good impression of the young man. Listening to the melancholy sound of the flute, she often went to the hillside to date him. One day, Kalka plucked up the courage to ask the lord to marry his daughter. Although the lord did not refuse directly, he said in a very tactful tone, "You are an excellent young man, and I very much hope that my daughter can marry you. But love is beautiful, and marriage is very realistic. My My daughter has been pampered since she was a child and has no worries about food and clothing. I am worried that she will not be able to endure hardships like you after marriage. "
Of course, Kalka understood the implication of these words and said to the lord, "Please give me a period of one year. I will try my best to provide your daughter and my future wife with a life guarantee that satisfies you. Otherwise, I will endure the pain." Cut her off and persuade her to obey your arrangements."
So, he applied for a passage from the lord and wanted to go out for a while. Because you are not allowed to leave the village without roads throughout the empire, and no one will accept you anywhere.
While Chaska had been waiting for his beloved at home, the Inca king Pachacutik conquered the Ukaiyi Valley, passing by here on the way, and happened to rest at the lord's house for a few days. The great King Inka was deeply moved by Chaska's beauty and beauty. He thought he could easily win the girl's heart, because in the entire empire that respected and worshiped Inka, being able to marry a king or a prince was a very important thing. The greatest wish and honor of a girl and her family. But Chaska has placed all her emotions on the strong and fearless Kalka, so she rejected the courtship of the powerful king with incomparable courage. She knelt on the ground, kissed the Inca King Dou Feng, and said with great sincerity, "Incomparably noble king. If my heart had not already belonged to Kalca, I would have been conquered by your noble virtues and great achievements. "
Seeing that hope was lost, King Pachacutik refused the lord's wish to dedicate his daughter to the king. He held Chaska's little hand and asked the beautiful girl to give him a wish. Chaska said to the king, "If the gratitude of the people will make you happy and satisfied, I ask you to give us some water in the land here!"
The king nodded and said, "My beloved little dove, your words and fiery eyes make me fascinated. Without you, the dreams in my life will be shattered, but I hope that all your wishes will come true. I Little dove, please don’t forget your king.” After saying that, the Inca king got on his golden sedan chair and continued his triumphal journey. The warriors who accompanied the expedition followed the king's order and quickly dug a canal across the Ukaiyi Valley directly to Chaska's hometown. The Inca King also personally gave this small canal "Aquilana", which means the clear water flowing for the beautiful girl. King Inka's love and admiration for Chaska spread far and wide, and many beautiful and handsome young men came from far and wide to see the girl's beauty and win her favor. Among them was the son of the chief of the tribe, who was also a respected young man. Chaska's parents are also very satisfied with the young man. Chaska was in great pain and often shed tears. Because the marriage of children is decided by the father.
But the lord, like all Indians, was true to his word. He made two plans: one was to keep the promise he made to Kalka, and he hoped that Kalka would be successful, because only in that way could Chaska be truly happy; and the other was to often call the young man to his home to meet with his daughter. , because he couldn't see any sign of Kalka standing out from others. But he did not reveal this relationship for the time being. However, the chief personally condescended to come to the lord's house to discuss the marriage of his children. The lord had no choice but to express his position to the chief, "Sir chief, I have an agreement with the young man named Kalka. If the deadline is not reached, I cannot agree to your agreement."
The chief naturally knew that his son could not compare with the king, but he also determined that Kalka had no chance of success. Therefore, the two old people agreed to actively prepare for the wedding. If Kalka fails to make the appointment at the expiration date, they will marry their children. If Kalka returns successfully, they will hold a wedding ceremony for Chaska and Kalka as a congratulatory gift. Chaska looked forward to Kalka's return home full of wealth and honor in the last few days of the year day and night. However, I haven't heard any news from Kalka.
After Kalka left his sweetheart and hometown, he came to work in a salt farm owned by Prince Capac Yupanki on the coast of the empire. He was hard-working, honest and smart in his work, and was soon promoted to the rank of captain of ten people. Later, he was recommended to Prince Yupanki as a candidate for the director of the salt field. After Prince Yupanki learned that he was the Kalka who defeated the king, in order to commend and reward this capable faithful believer of Viracocha, he and Chaska fulfilled their legendary destiny. Love, and in order to fulfill the king's virtue, awarded Kalka the Kulaka crutch, which symbolizes honor and status, and many gold and silver treasures, and gave him two months' wedding leave.
However, at this time, the rainy season is coming. Heavy rains swelled rivers and disrupted roads. Although he traveled day and night and never stopped, his speed was getting slower and slower. By the time he reached the Yugala River, it was only one day away from the deadline. However, days of heavy rains have caused the Yugala River to swell violently. The roaring water flows straight down, washing away the floating trees and drowned livestock without a trace. The rain was getting heavier, and facing the rolling river and torrent, he seemed to be able to see Chaska through the rain curtain crying his name, blaming him for his incompetence and breach of trust. At this moment, he was extremely desperate. He spread his arms in despair and begged Viracocha in a sobbing voice to let the water recede. However, the rain is still falling and the river is still rising. Just when he was in the utmost sorrow and despair, suddenly a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky and the earth. After the lightning, a suspension bridge appeared in front of me. Kalca immediately understood: This was the blessing of Viracocha, the god he admired most.
And throughout that whole day, preparations for Chaska's wedding were being carried out grandly. The bride's home is full of joy, with jars of sweet corn wine and bowls of delicious food on the table. Guests from far away and local villagers gathered together. People were chatting and laughing and waiting with joy, because the wedding will be held when the sun first sets on earth. Because she had not been able to wait for Kalka's news and return, Chaska was already frustrated. Although she was extremely calm and allowed people to dress her up, she was thinking in her heart that if Kalka could not arrive at the last moment , she died immediately. Hidden in the hem of her skirt was a small hunting knife that Kalka had given her as a love gift.
Gradually, it is getting brighter and the sun is about to rise. People sending off their brides have gathered in the hall for young men and women to get married next to the Sun Temple, and formed a circle. The royal nobles who presided over the wedding stood in the middle, supporting the bride, and next to them stood the chief's son in the groom's uniform. Chaska felt a moment of darkness and almost fainted. She supported herself hard to prevent herself from falling. The officiant announced the start of the wedding preparations and asked everyone to quiet down. Chaska held the knife close to her abdomen so that she could die when the officiant began to bless them.
Just when the first ray of the sun shone into the hall, a cheer suddenly broke out from the crowd, "Kalka! Kalka". At this time, the young and handsome Kalka appeared in front of the hall door holding the leader's scepter awarded by the royal family. Chaska screamed, dropped the small hunting knife in her hand, and flew into Kalka's open arms.
