The Fall of the Golden Empire (Novel) (Volume 1) "Bloody Sunset" by Zhang Baotong
At this time, Pizarro was really moved by the honesty and pleading of the Inca King. His eyes became wet unconsciously, but he still resisted the tears from rolling down from his eyes. He kept telling himself in his mind: he could not be merciful or weak, because if he were to be released, the trouble he would cause and the threat he would pose to the Spaniards would be unimaginable; moreover, he would not be able to express his gratitude to the soldiers and royal officials. explain. Therefore, he became cruel and said in a declarative tone, "Based on the crimes committed by King Inca and the testimony of witnesses, I declare that King Inca will be sentenced to death."
After announcing the closing, Pizarro immediately turned around and left. However, the Inca King hugged his feet and refused to let go. He cried and begged, "Marquis, Marquis, please be kind. As long as you don't kill me, I would rather be your slave."
However, Pizarro shook his feet hard from Atahualpa's arms, and then walked out of the stone house quickly. Far out of the house, you can still hear the Inca crying loudly. At this time, Pizarro realized that he was bursting with tears.
When Pizarro left the treasury and returned to his office, officers above the rank of lieutenant had been notified of a meeting here. The atmosphere at the venue was very solemn, and no one spoke in silence. Pizarro walked to the large square table, feeling very upset and depressed. The scene where the Inca king held his feet and cried and begged made him unable to calm down until now.
Standing in front of the table, he didn't know what to say for a moment, so he sat on the chair, picked up the tobacco leaves and paper on the table, rolled a cigarette and smoked it. After a while, he said to everyone, "Based on the enumeration of King Inca's crimes and the testimonies of witnesses, we have always believed that King Inca committed very serious crimes. In this regard, we have just submitted these charges and testimonies to Atahualpa himself read and announced it, and he himself confessed to it. So now I want Antonio to read the charges and the testimony to you."
Antonio read the twelve counts of the Inca King and the testimonies in the interrogation records to the lieutenants present. After Antonio finished reading, Pizarro said, "If you see anything wrong here, please express your opinion."
A lieutenant suggested, "These crimes are very serious. Not to mention twelve, any one of them can sentence him to death. Therefore, I don't think it is necessary to list all twelve crimes one by one, because some Crimes are considered guilty in our eyes, but they are legal in the eyes of Indians. Therefore, there is no need to list them. Then these crimes should be summarized and simplified. There are too many articles, which makes it difficult for people to understand. , especially the Indians are not easy to understand.”
Pizarro felt that the lieutenant's opinion was more pertinent and practical, so he nodded approvingly, and then said to Antonio, "I think so too. You have to find a way to summarize and simplify these crimes."
Then, some people suggested that some testimonies were obviously inconsistent with the facts and should be deleted in order to prevent Indians from thinking that these testimonies were forgeries and fabrications. But Pizarro did not agree. He pointed out that some of the testimonies here were only intended to be read to Atahualpa himself, not to the Indians.
Seeing that everyone no longer objected to the charges against the Inca King and the testimony at the trial, Pizarro said, "There seems to be no objection to sentencing the Inca King to death. Now let's discuss what method should be used to execute the Inca King."
One of Almagro's captains spoke first, saying, "The Inca King's crimes were serious and heinous, and he should be burned to death." Some other lieutenants also agreed, "Yes, he should be burned to death."
Because in Christianity, people go to heaven and hell after death. Most people will go to hell, a few will enter heaven, but those with more serious sins will go to purgatory, that is, burned to death in fire. But Letomundo immediately objected. He said, "The Inca king gave us so much gold that we all became rich. Moreover, he also provided us with various preferential treatment and safe passes to enable us to stay in this country." We can be protected and received with dignity wherever we go in the country. We can't repay the benefits that King Inca has given us. Therefore, not only do I disagree with burning him alive, but I still feel that we The court is simply not equipped to try and convict the Inca king, and he should be handed over to the king for trial."
Petya also expressed his agreement with Letomundo. Later, several people said that the Inca king should not be put to death. However, those who demanded that the Inca King be put to death and burned at the stake immediately started to boo, and their voices were much louder than those of the opponents. There was even a fierce quarrel between the two sides. Many people stood up immediately, and almost all of them stood up. Take action.
Originally, Juan, Gonzalo and others also expressed their intention to kill the Inca King, but seeing that the officers under Almagro were about to attack Letomundo and the others, they also raised their fists and stood up, attacking Almagro. His officers issued warnings and demonstrations.
When Pizarro saw that the Inca king's matter had not been finalized yet, but there was a conflict among his own officers, he slapped the table and shouted, "Sit down, everyone." The venue immediately fell silent, and people on both sides began to react. They all sat down, but they all glared at each other and gritted their teeth.
Pizarro felt that it was no longer necessary to ask for opinions, so he said in a solemn and stern tone, "Now let's vote. Those who agree to burn the Inca King to death will raise their hands." As a result, most of the lieutenants present raised their hands. Only Letomundo's few opponents did not raise their hands. Therefore, Pizarro announced on the spot, "Based on the opinions and votes of the majority, I declare that the Inca King will be burned at the stake and will be executed tonight."
However, Letomundo and Petea immediately handed over a lawsuit against the execution of the Inca King to the Marquis on the spot, and asked the Marquis to hand over the lawsuit to the King of Spain. The Marquis asked Antonio to read the lawsuit to him. The article points out that this temporary court established by the Spanish expeditionary force has no power to judge an independent king like the Inca King of Peru, and this power can only be possessed by our Spanish King. Therefore, this so-called trial of Atahualpa is a flagrant violation of international law.
The lawsuit contained sufficient reasons and harsh wording, which made Pizarro break into a cold sweat immediately. He calmed down for a moment and took a few puffs of cigarette. He felt that he could not bear this responsibility and should shift the responsibility to others. So, he said to everyone, "You have just listened to this lawsuit against the death penalty for the Inca king. This is a kind of pressure exerted on everyone. For this kind of pressure, I think it should be done by everyone who agrees to punish the Inca king." Those who are under death penalty shall share the responsibility. I wonder what everyone’s opinion is?”
Most of the people present answered in unison, "We are willing to bear all responsibility for the execution of the Inca King." In this case, Pizarro dictated an opinion on the death penalty for the Inca King, which was recorded and compiled by Antonio. . The article repeatedly emphasizes the interests of the Spanish country and the king, and explains the various reasons and reasons why the Inca King must be executed. After the opinion was written, Pizarro asked everyone who agreed to execute the Inca King to sign the opinion.
The matter was decided in this way, but Pizarro still did not forget that a royal member should be appointed as the prosecutor, a lieutenant under Almagro as the defendant's lawyer, and finally the verdict drafted by Antonio should be handed over to Father de Valverde, signed by him. In this way, he can put more responsibility on others.
In order to ensure that the sentencing was rigorous and without loopholes, after lunch, Pizarro asked Antonio to call the royal official who was the prosecutor general and the lieutenant who was the defendant's lawyer, and asked Martin to call de Valverde. The bishop also called over. Pizarro first asked the prosecutor general and the defendant's lawyer to demonstrate what they wanted to say, and felt that there was nothing wrong with their speeches. Then, he handed the final verdict to Bishop de Valverde. The bishop read the verdict and signed it while saying, "This heretical Inca king should have been executed long ago."
On the evening of August 29, 1533, when the summer sun set behind the tall Andes Mountains, the vast twilight began to fall on the peaceful mountainous area of Cajamarca. At this time, a loud bugle sounded from the sky above Plaza de Armas, breaking the tranquility of the entire town of Cajamarca and the surrounding areas. At this time, Plaza de Armas was filled with heavily armed Spanish sentries. They tightly surrounded the Plaza de Armas at five and ten posts, and conducted strict interrogations of the Indians who entered the square.
In the middle of the front of the square, a temporary podium was set up with a large square table in the middle of the podium. On both sides of the stage stood two rows of Spanish soldiers with guns and live ammunition. Shortly after the bugle sounded, a group of soldiers, led by Captain Juan, escorted the Inca King Atahualpa towards the square. He was wearing heavy handcuffs and shackles, and he walked very slowly and heavily.
Only then can people clearly see his figure and face. This Inca emperor, who usually looks quite handsome, has a well-proportioned and tall figure, and a deep and majestic appearance, is now looking melancholy, frowning, and looking tragic and pitiful, about to cry without tears. When he was escorted into the square with heavy and slow steps, all the Indians knelt on the ground with their faces pressed against the loess, exuding reverence and sorrow that moved the heavens and the earth.
However, their king still looked miserable and indifferent, walking past his subjects with his head slightly lowered. As a king, he always showed himself in front of his subjects with a noble and dignified demeanor, but now, he was a prisoner being taken to the execution ground. He really wanted to hold his chest up, hold his head high, and appear braver, nobler, and majestic in front of his subjects. However, facing the heavy pressure of the death penalty, he felt that he had collapsed.
