The Fall of the Golden Empire (Novel) (Volume 1) "Bloody Sunset" by Zhang Baotong
When he heard that the Marquis was leaving, Atahualpa became anxious, because he had been thinking about this matter for a long time, and if he didn't talk about it, he might not have the chance, so he pulled Pizarro's sleeve and said, "Listen, In the Royal Palace and many temples in Cusco, the ceilings of the houses are covered with gold foil, the walls are paved with gold plates, and the floors are paved with gold bricks. Not to mention other places, the Royal Palace in Cusco It is enough to bring the gold from the temple.”
As Atahualpa spoke, he stood on tiptoes, raised his arms, and used his fingers to draw a mark on the wall within reach. He said, "Not only can I spread gold all over the ground, but I can also fill it with gold." As far as my fingers can reach.”
Everyone present was very surprised when they saw the Inca King making gestures on the high wall with his fingers. The mark that the Inca King made with his finger was about three meters above the ground. Looking at the very sincere and determined look of the Inca King, everyone present could not help but be stunned and astonished, as if they were in a dream like a night pool in the sky. Yes, could the Inca king really get so much gold for them?
For this reason, Pizarro said to the Inca King in a very serious tone, "Isn't it because you want to gain freedom and boast nonsense to deceive us? But you have to know that we are not fools. We will not let you go until we fulfill our promise."
Atahualpa said in a sworn tone, "If my words are not fulfilled, I will not ask you to let me go."
Pizarro said, "Is this true?"
Atahualpa said, "The Incas always spoke with great force, and they never spoke empty words."
Pizarro said, "What you say is unfounded, how about we establish evidence as evidence?"
Atahualpa said, "Very well."
Pizarro said, "Okay, you wait."
Pizarro immediately asked Robert to return to the headquarters to prepare pen, ink and paper, and asked Martin to inform the bishop, Father Vicente de Valverde and his three brothers. In less than half an hour, Pizarro brought the bishop, secretary, translator and his three brothers to the cell where the Inca king was held, and asked Petya to set up a small table and several small spoons in the room. stool. Pizarro and Atahualpa sat face to face as two parties to the negotiation. Rolbert and Father Vicente de Valverde sat on both sides, drafting the agreement and supervising the notarization. The three Pizarro brothers and Petia, the second lieutenant on duty, stood nearby as witnesses.
Pizarro asked Atahualpa to confirm the promise he had just made, that is, he must pile up the gold to the place where he just made the fingerprint, and then Pizarro would release him unconditionally. Atahualpa was so certain about this promise that no one could doubt it. So, Pizarro asked everyone to come to the fingerprint that Atahualpa had scratched just now. After the Inca King confirmed it, he asked Juan Pizarro to use a red colored pen to heavily trace on the original fingerprint. once as a mark. Then, Pizarro asked Robert to write this item as the main content in the agreement.
However, Bishop Vicente de Valverde asked, "Should the gold filling this red line be filled with gold ingots that fit tightly together, or gold objects?" Because there is a big difference between filling the house with gold ingots and gold objects. .
Pizarro thought for a while and said, "I should use gold ingots. Only in this way can it be truly filled."
But Atahualpa didn't know what a gold ingot was. So Pizarro asked Martin to explain Atahualpa. But Atahualpa strongly disagreed. He said, "That won't work. Our gold is all made items, some of which were even made hundreds of years ago. Therefore, all our gold is gold. There is no gold." ingot."
Seeing the pitiful look of the Inca King, Robert couldn't help but feel a sense of pity in his heart, and said to the Marquis, "The gold items are all ready-made, so they are easier to gather. If you use gold ingots, you have to gather the gold items again." It’s too inconvenient to carry out smelting and watering.”
Listening to this, Pizarro thought it made sense and said, "Okay, let's take care of the Inca King and use gold objects." So Roberto hurriedly wrote this into the agreement as the second item. .
Finally, Pizarro asked Atahualpa, "How long do you plan to take to fill the gold with the red line?"
The Inca king thought for a moment and said, "Three months."
Pizarro shook his head and said, "Three months? Is it too long?" Because he considered that in another month or two at most, the Spanish reinforcements would arrive, and when they arrived, they would definitely compete and divide it with them. These are the fruits of victory. Therefore, he could not agree and said, "No, three months is too long. Are you waiting for your generals to rescue you? No, it can only be two months at most."
Inca King Dao was also very straightforward and said, "Then two months."
So far, it seems that this is all the content of the agreement. Pizarro asked Roberto to read the contents of the agreement to the Inca King again. Roberto picked up the agreement and read:
"The captured Inca King Atahuallpa asked Francisco Pizarro, the commander of the Spanish expeditionary force, to exchange gold for his personal freedom. After confirming the Inca King's request, the Marquis of Pizarro was willing to reach an agreement with the Inca King. This was a transaction of gold in exchange for freedom. To this end, both parties agreed and reached an agreement that as long as the Inca King could abide by and meet the following commitments, the Marquis of Pizarro would fulfill his promise, restore the Inca King's personal freedom, and immediately release the Inca King. The agreement between the two parties is as follows:
1. The Inca King Atahualpa must fill this stone house with gold. The stone house is 7 meters long, 6 meters wide, and the height is the red line marked by the Inca King with his finger;
2. The gold filling the stone house is a gold item, not a gold ingot;
3. The maximum time it takes to fill the stone house with gold is two months. Overtime is considered a breach of contract. "
After Robert finished reading, Pizarro asked Atahualpa if he had any objections or suggestions. Atahualpa thought for a while and said, "I want you to treat me better and give me the necessary personal freedom and living conditions. In this way, I can persuade and instruct my subjects to take you away within two months." Bring the gold you need."
Pizarro thought for a while and said, "Speak out any specific requirements you have."
Atahualpa seemed to have thought about these requirements long ago. He said as if reciting, "I need a larger place to bring my queen, concubines and children to live with me; and I need someone to summon the prince." The minister’s place.”
Pizarro shook his head, looking very embarrassed, and said, "Are your demands too high? You have to know that just to guard you every day, we have to use a team of about sixty people. If you take your concubine again, Bring your children over here, and let your princes and ministers stay with you. How many men and horses will we need to guard you all day long?" After saying that, he quickly waved his hands to express no.
But Atahualpa knew that if he wanted the Spanish to agree, he had to give them more gold. However, he was afraid that the gold was not enough, so he said to Pizarro, "If you can agree to my request, I can Then I will fill a room full of silver in the small room next to it."
Listening to this, Pizarro and all the Spaniards present were very excited, and they could not even hide their inner ecstasy. However, the treacherous and cunning Marquis smiled coldly and said, "No, is it too little?" because he knew that the bargaining chip was in his hands.
The Inca king did not expect the Spaniards to refuse, so he seemed a little helpless and said, "Then how much do you want?"
"At least twice as much," said the Marquis.
Atahualpa was surprised and said, "You want two houses of silver?"
"Yes, at most," said the Marquis.
The helpless Inca king sighed and said, "Two houses are just two houses."
So Robert wrote these contents in detail in the agreement. Then, he read the full text slowly, and Martin translated it for the Inca king one by one. Pizarro asked everyone if they had any objections. Both parties felt that the content in the agreement was completely consistent with what they had just discussed, so naturally they had no objections.
So Pizarro signed the agreement first, and then asked Atahualpa and everyone else present to sign separately. However, Atahualpa could not write because the Incas did not have writing. So, Pizarro asked Roberto to sign for the Inca King, and asked the Inca King to put a fingerprint on his name. Then, Robert and the Bishop, Father Vicente de Valverde, also signed the agreement as the drafters and witnesses of the agreement. In order to make the agreement more solemn and serious, Pizarro asked his three brothers Hernando, Juan, Gonzalo and the second lieutenant on duty Petya who were present to sign the agreement as witnesses. Juan and Gonzalo also couldn't write. Their names were signed by their brother Hernando, but they just put their thumbprints on their names.
After the incident, Pizarro felt even happier than having won a big battle. He was worried about not being able to find gold anywhere, but he didn't expect gold to be right in front of him. But no, the Inca King is a big gold mine! After he got out of the cell, he asked Robert and Martin to drive away the people from the Temple of the Sun God and prepare to arrange for the Inca King Atahualpa to live in the temple courtyard. Because there are more than ten houses inside, it can accommodate the Inca king, his concubines and children. He originally wanted to use this small courtyard as his headquarters. Moreover, the small courtyard had a two-person-high wall, which was also conducive to Spanish soldiers guarding it. Then, Peter was asked to take people to move all the items needed by the Inca King to the temple for the Inca King's use.
