The Fall of the Golden Empire (Novel) (Volume 1) "Bloody Sunset" by Zhang Baotong
It was a big risk to meet with Atahualpa, because Atahualpa was being held captive by them, and if he went there, he would be imprisoned, because he had an army of 35,000 soldiers, and this The army will undoubtedly pose a big threat to the Spaniards who have few men and horses. Thinking of this, he said to the messenger, "If you reply to them, just tell them that I am seriously ill and am resting in bed and cannot see them."
The messenger replied, "Yes, your lord, commander." Then he left the room.
This incident made Chalkuchma restless physically and mentally and he didn't sleep all night. However, early the next morning, the messenger came again to report that the Spaniards insisted on seeing him and brought instructions from King Atahualpa. If he wouldn't see them, they wouldn't get out of here.
Listening to these words, Chalkuchma couldn't help but feel a little scared, because the Spaniards carried the instructions of King Atahualpa. He would never dare to offend or despise the king's instructions, because it would risk beheading him. danger. However, he was afraid that it was a trick used by Spain on him. After thinking about this, he decided to call Deputy Commander Tempututa and General Tolarico and Tiumari to discuss it.
After a while, the three officers arrived at the conference room of the northern army commander. This is a large room of fifteen or six square meters. There was nothing else in the middle of the room except a large rough wooden table and a few benches. The three officers sat on the bench next to the table. Chalkuchma informed everyone about the Spanish visit, explained their purpose of coming here, and then asked everyone how to deal with it.
After hearing this, the deputy commander, Tempututa, pondered for a while and then asked Chalkuchma, "What do you think, commander-in-chief?"
Chalkuchma took a deep breath and said, "In my opinion, the Spaniards are cunning and dishonest, and their words cannot be trusted."
Deputy Commander Tempututa nodded understandingly and said, "I think the commander's words are more cautious and appropriate. We really don't know much about the Spaniards. Therefore, I agree with the commander's opinion. It is better not to meet the Spaniards to avoid getting into trouble." It’s their fault, they’ve fallen into their trap.”
Seeing that the two commanders had expressed their opinions, Tiumari said, "I also think that if you don't know the Spaniards very well, you should not deal with them first."
But General Tolarico said, "Since there is an order from the king, they should be received so that they can know the order from the king. How is it that the king has been arrested for so long? Everyone is very concerned and worried. Meeting the Spaniards also So that we can understand the situation and instructions of the king. The instructions of the king are the basis for our actions."
Chalkuchma was very disgusted and angry at General Tolarico's words against his will, but he knew that General Tolarico had been serving as an aide-de-camp under Atahualpa in the past. It could be said that the king had placed him in the northern army. A close confidant, he had to listen to his words, because although Atahualpa was arrested now, he was still the Inca king, and he had to show respect and respect for the king's affairs.
So, early the next morning, he met with Captain Hernando of the Spanish Expeditionary Force and his deputy Antonio in his office. An Indian interpreter sat among them. To show the hospitality to the king's guests, some grapes and fresh pears were placed on the table.
The Indian interpreter first introduced Chalkuchma, "Captain Hernando is the brother of our Marquis and the commander of the Spanish Expeditionary Force, and Antonio is the captain's deputy. The two of them were ordered by the Marquis to convey the message to the General about the Inca King Atahualpa’s command.”
Chalkuchma nodded respectfully, and then asked his two wives and concubines to bring Chicha wine to the guests, and kept looking at the two big white men with his eyes. These two white men were more than a head taller than him and much younger. They wore Spanish military uniforms and looked very powerful and tall. This made him feel a little in awe. At this time, he also saw that the two big white men were looking at him with the same eyes. And he was nearly fifty years old, short in stature, with a serious expression, even a bit rigid. He was dressed in the brocade robes of an Inca nobleman that was not very particular, which made him look somewhat ridiculous. But he looked very serious and serious as he watched the two white men drink two large glasses of wine in a row.
After finishing their drink, Hernando showed Atahualpa's security pass to Chalkuchma. Chalkuchma held the knotted rope and looked at it for a while, then said in a very respectful tone, "I wonder how the Inca King is doing now?"
Hernando said in a very positive tone, "You can rest assured that everything is fine with the king with us. He still enjoys the treatment of a king. He can receive his ministers every day and reunite with their wives, concubines, and children. We have signed an agreement with him, and as long as he prepares the gold we need, we will release him unconditionally."
Chalkuchma nodded speciously and said, "Very good, we are all very worried about the king." Then he asked, "I wonder what the king's orders and instructions are?"
As soon as Hernando heard this, he immediately said, "King Atahualpa wants you to go there. He wants you to report on the current situation of the army and the country."
This is what Chalkuchma is most worried about, because he knows that he cannot leave his base camp casually. Once he leaves here and reaches the Spanish side, it will be difficult to come back.
So, he immediately waved his hand, pointed to his head, pretended to have a headache and was ill, and said, "I have been seriously ill recently, and I'm afraid I won't be able to go there for a while." After that, he used He said in an explaining tone, "Actually, I have wanted to visit the King for a long time, just because my health has been poor and I cannot travel long distances."
However, the smart Hernando knew very well the fate of the Inca Empire: the words of the Inca King were law, and everyone must obey them unconditionally. Anyone who disobeyed the King's will would be guillotined. So, he took out Atahualpa's knotted rope again and showed it to Chalkuchma, and said, "This is the message the king asked me to bring you. I think you should listen to what the king says."
Chalkuchma appeared to be in a dilemma and did not express his position for a long time. Apparently, he didn't want to go to Cajamarca with them.
Maybe Antonio saw what Chalkuchma was thinking, so he said, "Your king has a very good relationship with our captain. The two of them play chess and chat together every day. A few days ago, there were rumors circulating in the Cajamarca area. The general wanted to launch an army to attack the Spaniards. The Marquis was very worried about this and blamed the King. It was our captain who put in good words for the King in front of the Marquis and calmed down the matter."
Chalkuchma looked a little surprised and said, "Really?"
Antonio said, "One of the reasons why the king wants you to go to Cajamarca this time is to use you to show the marquis that you have no intention of launching an army. Furthermore, the captain has already vouched for the king in front of the marquis. You In the past, as long as I made it clear to the King and the Marquis, the rumors would be self-defeating, and the King's life and safety would be guaranteed."
Hernando said, "King Atahualpa often mentioned the general in front of me, and said that he missed the general very much and valued him very much. He said that the general was the person he most relied on. Now that he is in prison, many I can't take care of the matter, and I really want to entrust the general with the important task of stabilizing the situation in the country, and help him raise more gold to transport to Cajamarca, so that he can escape the pain of imprisonment as soon as possible."
(Please pay attention to Zhang Baotong's signed work "Poetic Emotions", which includes short prose, life essays and short and medium-length novels. Today's release is the novella "Love Ladder" (8. Two Loves Happiness))
