The Fall of the Golden Empire (Novel) (Volume 1) "Bloody Sunset" by Zhang Baotong
Just when Usaka was about to leave, the Spanish Marquis Pizarro did not say hello, but suddenly entered the meeting room with Captain Hernando, Captain Soto, Second Lieutenant Pedro and translator Martin, and asked directly He said to the Inca King in a tone of voice, "Mr. Atahualpa, you told me a few days ago that your brother Huascar was treated very well. Is this true?"
The Inca king was startled and said, "Yes, that's right."
Pizarro shook his head and said, "But as far as I know, your brother's condition is very bad now. He is very ill and has been vomiting blood."
The Inca king looked very panicked and said, "This is nonsense. Who did you listen to?"
Usaka was also surprised. In order not to let Pizarro recognize him, he quickly lowered his head deeply.
Pizarro took a step forward, put one foot on the chair where the Inca king usually sat, and said sternly, "Never mind who I listen to, I want you to ensure the safety of your brother. Otherwise, you will be punished. Severe punishment."
The Inca King bowed his head and said in a very sure tone, "I can guarantee you."
But Pizarro said, "I don't need your verbal guarantee, I want seeing to be believed."
The Inca king became even more panicked and said, "Does the Marquis still want to go to Bambamarca to meet Huascar in person?"
Pizarro said, "I will not go to meet in person, but I will send Captain Soto, Pedro and Martin to go with me. You will immediately send someone to take them over to have a look."
The Inca King naturally did not want the Spaniards to come into contact with Huascar, but seeing that Marquis Pizarro was forcing him and leaving him with no way to refuse, he thought about it and said to Marquis Pizarro, "Then let them follow Let my palace guards go with you."
Marquis Pizarro said, "Very good, when will we set off?"
The Inca king said, "Tomorrow morning, then?"
But Pizarro thought for a moment and said, "Don't wait until tomorrow morning, let's go now."
The Inca King was forced to have no choice but nodded, and then said to Usaka, who had been kneeling on the ground, "My bodyguard, take them with you now."
Usaka still did not dare to raise his head and said, "As you command, my great king."
The Inca king said, "Okay, you can take them there now."
Usaka then stood up from the ground and slowly retreated toward the door while kneeling. When he came out of the king's meeting room, his clothes were soaked through. However, he felt that the Spanish Marquis and the Indian interpreter did not recognize him. Because when they met that night, he had dressed himself up as an ordinary Indian farmer, and now he was a high-ranking Inca official.
The two Spaniards and the Indian interpreter left the temple on horseback, but Usaka had to walk. However, before they could leave the city of Cajamarca, they saw Prince Bescarra rushing over from behind, saying that he would accompany the Spaniards to Bambamarca with him. Usaka felt that Atahualpa was not at ease with him and had doubts about him.
Everyone said nothing and hurried towards Bambamaka. Along the way, Usaka repeatedly pondered and analyzed in his mind the meaning and words of Atahualpa's summons to him for an interview. Finally, he ruled out the fact that the king did not trust him or had doubts about him, but the king was not convinced by someone. Huascar was still wary of the tip-off, so this could not but be said to be a wake-up call for him. He regretted very much that he should not have contacted Huascar, let alone report the news to the Spanish. If the king knew about it, the consequences would be very terrible.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He felt that he had served as a bodyguard beside Atahualpa for many years. He had always acted according to the circumstances and acted cautiously. He had never made any obvious mistakes. However, this time He actually did such a stupid but extremely dangerous thing by mistake! For this, he may have to pay a heavy price.
Arriving at Bambamaka at dawn the next day, Usaka hurriedly arranged accommodation for the three guests, and then came to the residence of the prince of Beskara, because he knew that the prince must have something to say to him. Sure enough, the prince said to him, "Your Majesty wants us to arrange Huascar in a decent place to make him appear more respectable. When he meets the Spaniards, the time should not be too long and only let them meet once. Let them talk too much.”
Uthaka said, "Yes, Maharaja."
He immediately had Generals Supaipa, Huancayales, and Utahama called to his room to convey the Inca King's will. Then, the division of labor began and preparations began. He instructed General Supaipa to take people to arrange Huascar to a decent place, asked General Utahama to find a wizard to treat Huascar and take medicine, and arranged for General Huancayales to change Huascar's body. Decent clothes. He took the time to sleep for a while.
When it was time for breakfast, the concubine woke him up. He had breakfast and went over all the preparations. Only then did they arrive at the residence of the three men sent by the Spanish Marquis. Accompanied by Prince Bescara and three other generals, they took the three guests to the new cell where Huascar was held.
The new cell was in a small room in the middle of the barracks. The hut is twelve or thirteen square meters. There is a small bed and a wooden box in the room. The bed is covered with felt and covered with blankets. Both the floor and the bed are cleaned and tidied. Huascar himself was wearing the gorgeous clothes that Wang Ping always wore. Because he had been seen a doctor and took medicine, he seemed to be better, and he no longer coughed or vomited blood.
Soto and Pedro entered the house, saw Huascar, and said something to him. But neither Huascar nor the others could understand, so Martin translated to Huascar and said, "These two are Captain Soto and Second Lieutenant Pedro of the Spanish Expeditionary Force. They are the commander of the expeditionary force, Pizarro." Sent by the Marquis to visit you.”
Upon hearing this, Huascar nodded gratefully and asked the guests to sit on the bed while he sat on the chair. The other Indians could only stand inside.
Soto said to Huascar, "Our commander is very concerned about you. I heard that you are in poor health. You are very sick and you are still vomiting blood. So, you asked us to come and visit you."
Huascar looked very excited and said, "My father, King Huayna Capac, gave us instructions when he was dying, saying that after he rests in Father Sun, some bearded white men will come to rule us. He wants us to be friends with them because they will be the masters of our land. His prophecy was correct and it is great that you are here."
Then he said, "I am the legal master of all this kingdom, and Atahuallpa is a usurper. Therefore, I want to meet the commander of your army, to tell him the truth, and to make you Spaniards for me. To take revenge, restore my freedom, and take back that kingdom.”
Hearing these words, the Inca princes and generals standing nearby looked very frightened, so Usaka immediately put the words aside and said, "King Huascar, they just came here to take a look, and Let’s leave here right away, so don’t say too many words.” After that, he said to Captain Soto, “The banquet over there has been set up, please come with us.” Because they haven’t had breakfast yet.
Captain Soto wanted to talk to Huascar for a while longer, but seeing Usacca and the others standing aside, and hearing that the banquet over there was already set, he had no choice but to shake hands with Huascar. He said to him, "You take good care of your health. Our commander has said that he will send someone over soon to take you to Cajamarca and tell Atahualpa face to face to see who of you is the real Inca king." .”
Huascar said very happily, "That's great. Please tell your commander to send someone here as soon as possible."
Soto led the people away from Huascar and came to a room where a table of wine and food had been prepared. Originally, the Indians did not drink wine when eating, but in order to make the Spaniards happy, they put wine and food together. After the Inca princes and generals had a banquet with the guests, Usaka took out two gold plates and gave them to Soto and Pedro, asking them to speak kindly to Mr. Marquis when they returned, and then sent them off. Bambamaka.
After sending away the two Spaniards and the Indian translator, Usaka became increasingly uneasy. He knew that what Huascar said to Soto and Pedro would have been terrible to Atahualpa. He will definitely not let Huascar go. Therefore, he thought there was no need to expect that Huascar would make him an assistant minister in the future, build him a palace, or reward him with land and beauties. What he was thinking about now was not when Atahualpa would order his execution, but that he had to find a way to kill him as soon as possible. This way he could erase all traces of his secret connections with Huascar and the Spaniards. But what measures should he take?
In the afternoon of the same day, he accompanied the Prince of Bescara to Cajamarca and met with the King again. The king looked worried and restless. When he saw him coming, he said, "It's been a hard journey!"
He said, "It is my duty to serve the king."
The Inca king hurriedly asked, "What did they say?"
Usaka reported the conversation between Soto, Pedro and Huascar to the Inca King in detail.
The Inca King listened and frowned, looking very angry and frightened. After a long time, he said, "The situation is very bad!"
At this time, Usaka said again, "Your Majesty, I have some important matters to report to your Majesty."
Atahualpa nodded and said, "You tell me."
Usacca said, "Some spies reported that someone indeed passed information between Huascar and the Spanish. They also said that Huascar promised to give the Spaniards more gold in exchange for freedom."
When Atahualpa heard this, he was even more surprised and said, "Is this really true?"
Usaka said, "Indeed, but it's not clear who was tipping off the information."
"No wonder the Marquis of Spain has been coming to me these days, asking me to bring Huascar to Cajamarca immediately, saying that they want to personally interrogate the dispute between him and me, and let him decide who He is more qualified to be the King of Inca. I think the Spaniards will definitely lean towards Huascar, because he is the King of Inca. Therefore, if the Spaniards let Huascar become the King of Inca, there will still be a way for us to survive. Is that so?" As he said this, Atahualpa turned blue with anger and said loudly, "You have to investigate carefully when you go back and find out who is spreading the news to exterminate the nine tribes."
Usaka said, "Yes, my great king."
Then, Usaka asked, "What should we do with Huascar? We can't really let the Spaniards bring him here to interrogate you, right?"
Atahualpa said, "Of course." Then he thought for a moment and said, "But the Spaniards asked me to bring Huascar over as soon as possible, and I agreed to them. If he is executed, how can I report it to the Spanish?" People explain.”
Usaka said, "I think he should be executed as soon as possible. As for explaining the matter to the Spaniards, just say that it was the people below who did it. You don't know. What can they do?"
Atahualpa thought for a while and said, "Okay, you go back immediately and kill Huascar as soon as possible. In two days, I will send someone to take their people to Bambamaka. If they ask Regarding this matter, let’s just say that the four of you discussed it and decided to deal with him because you were afraid that he would cause unrest across the country after he was released from prison.”
Usaka said, "As you command, my great king."
Atahualpa warned, "You rush back immediately and deal with him that night, but before he dies, you must ask him to find out who is informing him. I will send Prince Beskara in two days." Take the Spaniards to Bambamarca.”
Usaka said, "Yes, my great king."
Usaka left Cajamarca and traveled quickly. When he returned to Bambamarca, it was already dawn. He returned to the castle without even returning home, so he found the other three prison supervisors and simply conveyed Atahualpa's instructions. Then he called a group of soldiers to the tower and opened the four doors of the tower. He unlocked the iron door, pushed open the iron door, and entered the house.
Huascar heard the sound of the door opening and knew that his death was coming. He sat up from the bed and said to the soldiers who came in, "What are you going to do?"
The soldiers followed Usaka's instructions, and without saying a word, they rushed over, tied Huascar with a rope, and said, "Be honest, your death has come."
Huascar cursed, "Tell Atahualpa that the Spanish whites will avenge me."
Usaka said in the darkness, "Stop his mouth."
So, a soldier immediately stuffed a prepared cloth ball into his mouth. At this time, Usaka walked up to Huascar and said to Huascar, "Honorable King Inka, our king has ordered that you be executed immediately. Let's go now."
Huascar glared at him fiercely and wanted to say something, but his mouth was blocked.
After leaving the tower, a group of soldiers held torches and illuminated the road, leading Huascar off the platform, across the playground, and out of the castle. On the path leading from the castle to the river behind, Inca soldiers held a torch in one hand and a spear in the other, guarding the area closely with three steps and one sentry. Usaka and three other trusted aides appointed by Atahualpa led Huascar along the path to the river. At this time, there were many soldiers holding torches standing by the river. They tied a large stone with a rope and waited for Usaka and the others to arrive with the prisoners.
When they came to the river, two soldiers asked Huascar to stand on the high bank facing the river. Several other soldiers lifted the bundled stone and tied it to Huascar's body. Then, Usaka waved his hand, and the soldiers pushed Huascar into the river, and threw the lifted stones into the river. There was a "kubo" sound in the river, and a splash on the river. Big waves. Then, under the light of the torch, the rushing river continued to flow.
Seeing Huascar disappear without even a trace, Usaka breathed a long sigh of relief. This time he finally erased all traces of himself. He thought that if he were allowed to go to Cajamarca to see his king again, he would never feel that timid and guilty feeling in his heart.
