The Fall of the Golden Empire (Novel) (Volume 1) "Bloody Sunset" by Zhang Baotong
Pizarro got a safe pass and took the people away. Facing the unfinished game, Atahualpa had no intention of playing anymore. He was in a daze for a while, and then said to Petya, "Do you believe that I will plan an attack on the Spanish? "
Petya shook his head and said, "I haven't heard of it."
Atahualpa said, "This must be someone trying to set me up."
Petera said, "But who will frame you, my lord?"
"Yes," Atahualpa said, puzzled. So, he said to Peter, "Can you help me ask where this thing is?"
Petya thought for a while and said, "Okay, I'll go find Robert now. He is the Marquis' secretary and must know something about the situation."
Petera rode to the barracks to find Robert, and the sentinel said he had gone to the rescue house. The Salvation House was the house where the Inca King was imprisoned in the past. Because the Inca King signed a gold-for-freedom agreement with Pizarro there, the Spaniards called that house the Salvation House or the Treasury. So Petera came to the house of salvation. Although the Inca King is no longer imprisoned here, the original guard post has not been reduced at all, because guarding the gold is as important as guarding the Inca King.
There were many Indians in front of the house. Some of them were carrying large pieces of gold on their backs waiting to be moved into the house; some were sitting on the ground, drinking mountain spring water from copper cans, and eating solid food; some simply lay on the cold ground, Breathing weakly. Each of them was covered in sweat and dust, with a bitter expression showing that they had endured a lot of hard work. Obviously, they came here from afar.
Robert was holding a pen and a notebook, going in and out, and kept registering the gold and silver items brought one by one. Because there were so many people coming in and out, he seemed particularly busy. Petya dismounted and walked to the front of the house. A sergeant on duty who had the same position as him stopped him politely and said, "The Marquis has an order. No one is allowed to enter without his permission."
Petya said, "I won't go in, so I'll just stand in front of the door and take a look." The sergeant let him go.
He walked to the door of the house and looked inside. This sight really shocked him. He had never seen so much gold. He thought that not only he, but also the King of Spain had never seen so much gold. The gold is almost piled up to the height of a person. The big ones weigh tens of kilograms, and the small ones only have dozens of grams. There are all kinds of gold. Every item is so exquisite and unique, incredible, golden and sparkling, which makes people's hearts wander. , unable to hold on to oneself.
Seeing that Robert was busy, he stood aside and waited. When he saw an Indian farmer sitting on the ground eating corn dumplings, he asked him in Quechua, which he was not very proficient in, "Where are you coming from?" of?"
When the man saw Petya asking him a question, he looked flattered and said, "I'm from Cusco."
Petya asked again, "Who sent you to transport the gold?"
The man said, "He was sent by the village chief."
Petya nodded and said, "How many days did it take to get here from Cusco?"
The man did the math and said, "It's almost fourteen or five days of walking and resting."
Petya pointed to a large golden lion statue next to him and said, "You are carrying such a large gold object, aren't you afraid that others will snatch it?"
The man smiled and said, "No one will rob it." Because gold is only used to decorate temples and palaces, and is of no use to the Inca people. Just as Petya was about to lift the golden lion with his hands to see how heavy it was, he saw the sergeant on duty coming over and shouting to the farmer, "Move it into the house quickly."
The farmer put the corn rice balls on the cloth bag on the ground, stood up, picked up the golden lion, and walked in line towards the house.
After a while, Robert finally finished his work and asked the sergeant on duty to lock the three doors one by one. Then he walked towards Peterya and asked, "What do you want from me?"
Peterya said, "Let me ask you something."
Robert nodded. Petera said, "What's the matter with saying that the Inca king is planning to raise an army?"
Robert touched his head and said, "I don't know too well. Martin said he heard the news from Bambamarca. He also said that there were three thousand Inca soldiers gathered in Bambamarca, and the number of them It continues to increase. They are all clamoring to come and rescue their king."
Peterya asked again, "You also said that there are such rumors in our barracks?"
Robert said, "Those Indian soldiers in our barracks used to be from Huascar, and they hated Atahuallpa and kept shouting, lest the world be in chaos and lest Atahuallpa would die a good death. .”
Petera nodded and said, "Do you think what Martin said is credible?"
Robert smiled unconvincingly and said, "Who can explain this clearly to Martin? I heard that the Inca King imprisoned his sweetheart, do you think he can't gnash his teeth with hatred?"
Petya said, "The Marquis should know that Martin's words are not true, so why do you still believe him?"
Robert said, "Maybe the Marquis has his own ideas, and I can't tell you more about that." Then, Robert asked, "Did Atahualpa ask you to ask me?"
Petya nodded and said, "He was very panicked by these words and wanted me to understand what was going on."
Robert said to Peter in a warning tone, "You play chess with the Inca King all day long. It's okay, but there are some things you can't say to him casually. If something is wrong, the Marquis will have to do it." Hold you accountable.”
Petya said, "I understand that."
After the two broke up, Petya was walking halfway when he saw Hernando Pizarro riding towards him, and he saluted respectfully, "Hello, Mr. Captain."
Hernando joked, "If you don't keep a good watch on duty, what will you do to the Marquis if the Inca king runs away?"
Petya said, "The Inca king was scared to death. How could he have the courage to escape." After that, he told Hernando what had just happened.
Hernando said, "That Inca king was too cowardly. He frightened that guy Martin by giving him a feint like that."
Petera said, "The King of Inca is not afraid of Martin, but of the Marquis. You are the brother of the Marquis. No, please warn him. The Inca king is very pitiful. We asked for gold, but they gave up all the gold." It was shipped from afar. Why do you still need to scare people?"
Hernando said, "I told the Marquis that this was a trick by Martin, but the Marquis didn't believe it." Then he added, "The Marquis is going to let me take twenty cavalry to Cusco and other places. Let’s take a look around the place and learn more about the situation. Do you want to come with me?”
Peter was startled, thought for a while, and said, "Of course I want to follow the captain. Who doesn't know that as long as you follow the captain, you can get the captain's care in everything."
Hernando said, "That's right. How about going out with me? I guarantee that not only will you travel around and open your eyes, but I will also let you get some gold and silver treasures and beautiful girls."
Petya looked a little embarrassed and said, "I really want to go, but the Inca King insists that I play chess with him."
As he said that, Peter Yaxiang remembered something and said, "By the way, the Inca King told me to invite you to drink."
Hernando said, "The Incas bought me a drink?"
Petya said, "Yes, he told me many times, but I forgot about it when I was busy. How about it, aren't you busy now?"
Hernando said, "It's okay."
Petya said, "Let's go then."
The two walked as they talked, and soon they arrived at the Inca King's house.
The King of Inca was sitting on the wooden chair in the council room, worried and troubled. When he saw Pietera bringing Hernando, he hurriedly got up to greet him warmly. The two of them have been in contact with each other many times, so they are relatively familiar with each other. The Inca king knew that Hernando liked to drink, so he called Uga and Tutula to serve him. Uga held two large gold cups, asked Tutula to fill up the chicha wine, handed a cup to Hernando, and said, "Mr. Captain, let me toast you first." After that, he drank first. All.
Hernando watched Uga finish a large glass of wine, drank the wine in one gulp, handed the cup to Uga, then looked at Tutula carefully, and said to the Inca King , "Why haven't I seen this newcomer before?"
Atahualpa said, "This is the young daughter of Prince Ambato, who was brought here to be dedicated to me some time ago." After that, he said to Tutula, "My beloved, this is the brother of the Marquis of Spain, Hernando Mr. Captain, come and toast him."
Tutula smiled tenderly at Hernando and said, "Sir, please don't smile, I'm full of wine." As he said that, he drank a large glass of wine in one go.
While the two concubines were pouring wine, Petya told the Inca king, "The Marquis has decided to send a captain to Cusco and other places to supervise the gold collection and investigate the Inca army's preparations to launch an army."
When Atahualpa heard this, he immediately complained to Hernando. He said, "Mr. Marquis said that I was planning to raise an army to attack the Spaniards. Do you think I could do such a thing that would make fun of my own life?" ?”
Hernando comforted the Inca King and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I don't know who those words came from. I will report the real situation to the Marquis after I go out and visit various places."
Atahualpa nodded repeatedly and said gratefully, "I feel relieved that the captain is taking care of me." After that, he gave Hernando a very delicate gold plate with carvings of flower animals and said, "I I have to ask the captain to speak kindly to the Marquis in the future."
Hernando looked at the gold plate back and forth for a long time, and said with great joy, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. As long as I am here, the Marquis will not do anything to the King. I am his brother, and my words He can’t help but listen.”
Although the Inca King knew that this was an exaggeration, he still thanked him with clasped fists in gratitude.
At this time, the two beautiful concubines had filled the wine glasses, and one on the side asked the captain to drink with sweet words. Hernando was happy for a moment, so he took the wine glass and drank one cup after another.
(Please pay attention to Zhang Baotong's signed work "Poetic Emotions", which includes short prose, life essays and short stories. Today's release is the novella "Love Ladder" (1. Savage in the Mountains))
