The Fall of the Golden Empire (Novel) (Volume 1) "Bloody Sunset" by Zhang Baotong
Seeing that Chalkuchma was still worried and at a loss, Hernando added, "If the general is really in poor health, he doesn't have to go. We can convey the general's words and meaning to the Inca King. .”
Listening to these words, Chalkuchma couldn't help but feel a little moved. He said, "It's not that I don't want to visit the king, but I'm worried that you will imprison me like the king."
Of course Hernando understood Chalcuchima's thoughts, so he patted his chest and swore to the Inca nobleman, "The Marquis is my biological brother, and he has to listen to what I say. Besides, we have a relationship with the Inca king. According to the agreement, as long as he fulfills his promise, we will release him unconditionally, and then take the gold and return to our own kingdom by boat. Because I am here just for the gold, not to occupy your kingdom."
Chalkuchma listened to the words of the two Spaniards and considered them in his mind. He knew that the Spaniards' words were not credible, but he could not go against the Inca King's will. Because all the information shows that the Spaniards have an agreement with the king. As long as the king raises enough gold, the Spaniards will release the king. Because he also knew that the Spaniards came here to grab gold. As long as they grabbed enough gold, they would return in triumph and would not be able to stay here for a long time. Therefore, there was no need for them to kill the Inca King. If he disobeys the king's will this time, when the king comes out, he will definitely beheaded. And if he goes to Cajamarca with the Spaniards this time, as long as the king is not in danger, Chalkuchma will not have any surprises. Therefore, after much thought, he felt that he should still go to Cajamarca, but he had to ask the marquis' brother to make a certain guarantee.
He said, "I can go to Cajamarca, but I want to know how the captain and the marquis can ensure my safety and smooth return?"
It couldn't be easier to get the Spaniards to vouch for it. Hernando said to Chalkuchma, "We are not here to coerce the general, but to convey the will of the Inca King Atahualpa. As long as the Inca King raises the gold, the Marquis will release the king unconditionally. Therefore, General What’s there to worry about?”
Then, Hernando said, "When we come here, the general treats us as a distinguished guest, and we will treat the general as a distinguished guest. As the brother of the Marquis, I guarantee that if we Spaniards cannot treat the general with the same courtesy , we will be punished by the Inca curse.”
Antonio also said calmly, "If the general is worried, he can bring more entourage or guards."
But Chalkuchma said, "That's not necessary. As long as you can strictly abide by your integrity, I will be relieved." Apparently, when the leader of the Inca army was dealing with the Spaniards, he seemed to be impressed by their superior temperament and talents. Suppressed, like the beasts in the forest driven to despair by the hunter, he finally made a decision.
After capturing the Inca king Atahualpa, the Spanish achieved another major victory. They defeated the most famous Inca army commander with 35,000 soldiers without firing a shot. This is not because of the stupidity of Chalkuchma, but the stupidity of the Inca Kingdom, because in this closed society, people do not have basic freedom and thoughts, only the selfish desires of the Inca king. Although Chalkuchma was the commander of the army, he could not make any decisions, and the only person who could make decisions was the Inca king.
The Spaniards had shown Chalcuchima the safe passage given to them by King Atahualpa, and this exquisite and beautiful knotted rope was specially made for the Inca King. It not only conveyed a certain message, but also Symbolizes a kind of royal power. Therefore, when the Spaniards obtained this knotted rope that symbolized royal power, they also had the power to command Chalkuch horses.
It can be said that Chalkuchma had no choice because he did not know whether the Spaniards were deceiving him or whether Atahualpa really wanted to summon him. Therefore, he must go to Cajamarca with the Spaniards to accept the king's summons.
With a very frustrated and conflicting mood, he hurriedly made some preparations, put on a new set of expensive clothes, rode in an eight-person sedan, and brought with him more than 200 followers and guards, as well as all the money he could raise. Two large bundles of gold items as gifts for the king followed Hernando on the road.
Under the escort of 200 soldiers, Chalkuch Ma sat in a sedan chair carried by eight people, carrying two large bundles of gold carried on camels, and followed the Spanish cavalry to begin their journey south. On the way to Cajamarca, we walked along the royal road. Everywhere we went, whether it was a town or a village, people welcomed them warmly and treated them like kings. There was something that puzzled even the Spaniards. These farmers in the mountains and deep valleys were all under the rule of Huascar in the past, and they should hate the Quidos who captured and killed Huascar. However, these farmers in the mountains are so simple and simple. They seem to hold no grudge against anyone and are very friendly and enthusiastic towards everyone. As soon as they see someone coming from afar, they will smile at you like sunshine, invite you to their home, and entertain you with their best food and the most comfortable way. This may be because the deep mountains are sparsely populated, and it is difficult to see anyone passing by. Therefore, people passing by outside are very rare.
Although they took the royal road, the royal road also often walked on the plank roads on the cliffs of the valleys and on the towering stone steps. Especially when passing through the Huascaran Peak, it was almost impossible for the Spaniards to pass without the help of Inca soldiers. Because their tall horses cannot climb those almost vertical stone steps and ladders. It was the Inca soldiers who pushed the horse's butt hard behind the horse and pushed the horse to the top of the mountain. Then, they covered the horse's eyes with clothes, tied up the horse's neck and waist with ropes, and tied the horse up. Hanging from the top of the mountain to the platform on the mountainside.
After walking day and night on the spacious and flat Royal Avenue for more than two weeks, they finally arrived at the small town of Cajamarca at noon on a beautiful and peaceful day. As the commander of the northern army of the Inca Kingdom, Chalcuchima had been receiving the kind of king-like honor and courtesy throughout the entire journey, but all of this disappeared when he met with King Atahualpa. More than two hundred of his soldiers were forced to separate from him and were taken to the barracks of the Spanish Expeditionary Force by Antonio and several cavalrymen because the Spaniards did not allow these soldiers to approach the temple where Atahualpa was imprisoned for fear that they would attack the guards. The Inca king's Spanish soldiers attacked or rescued their king. In fact, as soon as these Inca soldiers entered the Spanish military camp, they were disarmed by the Spanish soldiers and sent them home. Because they stayed in Cajamarca, they were a threat to the Spanish. The Spanish not only had to protect the Incas, but also the houses containing gold and silver.
Hernando and several cavalrymen came to the gate of the Temple of the Sun with the soldiers carrying the Charcuchi horse sedan, and said to Lieutenant Petya who was on duty, "Look, this is the man the Incas called The Chalkuch horse is the ever-victorious general.”
Petya and the guarding soldiers looked at the thin old man with very strange eyes and said, "Is he Chalkuchma?"
Hernando said grandly, "I called him here."
Petya said in an approving tone, "The captain is really amazing. He captured the commander of the Inca troops without firing a shot."
Chalkuchma got off the sedan in front of the temple, straightened his clothes, and asked his entourage and guards to wait in front of the woods in front of the temple. He entered the temple accompanied by Hernando. Entering the temple, he came to the door of King Inca's council room. The minister guarding the door asked him to wait outside and went inside to ask Atahualpa for instructions.
After a while, the minister guarding the gate said to Chalkuchma, "Go in, the king is waiting for you inside." Chalkuchma quickly took off his shoes, rolled up his trouser legs, and asked for a bundle from the minister guarding the gate. Carrying the firewood on his back, he carefully opened the door with an uneasy feeling.
The door opened, and the Inca King Atahualpa was sitting on the wooden chair, looking at him with a very cold expression, as if he didn't know him. When he entered the house, the king said, "Welcome, Chalkuchma, welcome to your arrival." Even in this unfortunate situation, the Inca king still maintained his reputation among his subjects. With his supreme status and magnanimity, his subjects were still in awe when meeting him. Although the essence of royal power has been lost, the symbols of royal power still have charm.
Charkuchma saw that the supreme and noble king was staying in such a simple room, and he seemed much older and haggard than before. He couldn't help but knelt down towards the king, looking up to the sky and wailing, "My poor king, my noble king, if I were by your side, how could this happen?" As he said this, he burst into tears and knelt on the ground, kissing the king's hands and feet.
Compared with Chalkuchma's loyalty and reverence, Atahualpa seemed unusually cold and calm. He looked motionless like a mummy at his most trusted military commander, his own uncle, not knowing whether he was happy or worried about his sudden arrival. Because this was so unexpected that he didn't even react. After a long time, Atahualpa asked, "Why do you want to come to see me?"
Chalkuchma said, "They said you wanted to summon me. So, I came from Haoha."
Atahualpa couldn't help but frown, nodded, and said, "It's been a hard journey."
Charkuchma continued to kiss Atahualpa's feet with tears in his eyes, and howled with sorrow, "After the king was in trouble, the ministers never knew the king's situation or the king's will, so they never dared to send troops to rescue him. .”
Atahualpa said in a scolding tone, "Fortunately you did not raise an army to attack, otherwise, you would never see me again today. When you go back, you must tell others that without my order, no one can Don't act rashly, otherwise, all nine tribes will be killed."
Chalkuchma responded repeatedly, "Yes, my great king."
The king asked again, "How is it over there in Kiskis?"
Chalkuchma said, "After the king was captured, he and I discussed it. I would lead my troops close to Cajamarca and attack the Spaniards at any time to rescue the king. And he was stationed in Cusco, waiting for the king's arrival. As soon as there is a will and order from the king, troops will be quickly raised from Cusco to assist me."
The king nodded with satisfaction and asked again, "Do you know about Huascar?"
Chalkuchma said, "I heard about it, and I heard that he had contact with the Spaniards."
Atahualpa said, "I asked Usaca to check this matter. He said that the guard who helped Huascar pass the news had defected to the Spaniards. When I get out, I will ask Usaca to give this person to me. If I find out, I will destroy all nine of his tribes and burn his home."
Chalkuchma said, "The king has never been merciful or merciful to those who betrayed him."
Atahualpa said, "The traitors are worse than the Spaniards."
Chalkuchma said, "That's that."
The two chatted for a while, and Atahualpa asked, "Where are you stopping for the night?"
Of course Chalkuchma understood what the king meant, so he said, "Captain Hernando asked me to stay at his home for a few days." After saying that, he stood up and prepared to leave, saying, "It's time for the king to rest. I'm here." I plan to stay here for two days, and before I leave, I will come over to visit the king. Don’t worry, the king. Once the gold is collected, the Spaniards will release the king unconditionally. By then, our ministers from the Inca Kingdom will come over Welcome the king."
Atahualpa nodded and said, "Captain Hernando is a good man. I feel relieved if you stay with him." So Chalkuchma turned around and said goodbye to the king.
