Inca Elegy (Novel) "The Fall of the Inca Empire" (Volume 2) by Zhang Baotong
After Almagro was announced as being removed from the post of Cusco's top military governor, not only were the rapes and robberies in the city not effectively curbed, but they intensified, and the city council was unable to control the soldiers' illegal behavior and Misbehaving. In addition, the officers and soldiers also began to divide into two factions, one was the Pizarro faction and the other was the Almagro faction. The soldiers on both sides refused to give in and often fought and fought.
On this day, Captain Francis led his soldiers to rob a temple called Kunchakuka not far from the Palace Square. This temple is a place of worship for Cusco citizens to pray for children. This temple is not very big, but it is not small either. There are four or five houses inside, as well as a large open space and a garden. The main hall at the main entrance is a place of worship. Although all the gold objects in the hall were taken away, the other sacred objects were basically complete. There is a large altar in the front of the hall. On the platform sits a naked clay sculpture of a young woman, holding a boy and a girl in her arms. There are three houses behind the main hall, one house is occupied by some priestesses, and the other two houses are occupied by a Spanish soldier each.
Although the temple was robbed, it was also given to two soldiers as their residence. However, these two soldiers turned this temple into a fee-paying place for worship. Anyone who came here to pray to the gods in order to have children had to pay a small fee. However, Francis did not understand this and thought that this place was still a public place, so he brought his soldiers to seize this place as a residence for the soldiers.
Neither Spanish soldier was present at the time. Francis led his troops into the temple, drove out the people in the hall, arrested several young priestesses living there, and locked them in a room. Then, it was announced that these houses would be allocated to several ensigns as residences, and the priestesses were also allocated to those ensigns.
When a Spanish soldier who lived here returned, he found the entire temple occupied by Francis' soldiers. Moreover, their homes have been seized and the priestesses have been locked up. He told them that this temple was the residence of him and another soldier, and asked them to leave immediately. However, instead of listening, Francis' soldiers beat the soldier.
The soldier ran to Juan injured and cried. As soon as Juan heard this, he immediately asked Letomundo to rush over with more than 60 cavalry with live ammunition, and surrounded more than 30 to 40 soldiers led by Francis in the temple.
Letomundo asked people to guard the door, and then led the soldiers into the temple with murderous intent. Because they were carrying long swords, and Francis's soldiers were all bare-handed, they thrust their long swords in front of the soldiers' eyes, and the soldiers obediently raised their hands and were led one by one to the place where the priestess was detained just now. in a room.
When the soldiers laid their swords in front of Francis, Francis raised his head and said, "What right do you have to use force against a captain?" However, the soldier did not listen to him at all, and instead raised the tip of the sword. It was against his neck, which made him a little scared, so he had to obey. But he said he wanted to see their commander. Letomundo came over and said to him, "Don't say anything to me. Wait until you see our commander." After saying that, he asked the soldier to escort Francis into the room.
Almagro was shocked when he heard the news. He broke into Juan's office with several guards and asked loudly, "Why are my people imprisoned?" Juan asked unhurriedly, "Yours People are so arrogant that they broke into my territory and robbed me." Almagro said, "That temple is public property and does not belong to your territory." Because Almagro didn't know the specific situation and just listened. A report came from a soldier who had fled back.
Juan threw a book in front of Almagro and said to him, "See for yourself whether that temple belongs to me." Almagro asked Huelva to flip through the book. Wa said to him, "Yes, that temple is the property allocated to two soldiers of Juan's cavalry squad."
When Almagro heard this, he was even more angry, but there was nothing he could do about it, so he said, "Okay, I'm in trouble, you let me go immediately." Juan said, "Yes, but they must make a decision." Promise not to infringe on our property and territory in the future." Almagro said, "I come to you to ask for people and you won't let them go. Isn't it too much?" Juan said, "These soldiers of yours rape and rob. They disturb the public order and refuse to change despite repeated admonishment. As their superior, you are not strict in their discipline and punishment, so you are mainly responsible for this." Almagro did not listen to this at all, pointing at Juan and said, "What kind of responsibility is this? , you release him immediately, if you don’t release him, then don’t blame me for not recognizing him.” With that, he walked to Juan’s office angrily.
Soon, Almagro asked his adjutant Saavedra to lead more than sixty cavalry to the Cuenchacuca Temple. Letomundo asked the soldiers to guard the door and prevent the other party from entering. One side wanted to enter, but the other side refused to let in. So, the cavalry of the two armies faced each other in front of the temple door with their guns drawn and their crossbows drawn.
At this critical juncture, Soto, another captain in Pizarro's army, acted as an intermediary and called Almagro and Juan together. Soto explained the seriousness of the situation to both parties, and asked both parties to maintain restraint and calmness, take the overall situation into consideration, and release the people. All people from both sides evacuated the Kunchakuka Temple. Almagro agreed, but he harshly condemned Juan's tyranny in a strong tone. Juan put the blame on Almagro.
Seeing the two of them quarreling more and more fiercely and refusing to give in, Soto said to Juan, "Since General Almagro has come forward to ask for someone, you have to give him face. Now that the Marquis is not here, you have to take the overall situation into account." Seriously, don't act out of emotion. This will mess things up. Let the person go now, and we can wait until the Marquis comes back to talk about other things."
Juan saw that Almagro was angry, and he also knew that Almagro was not a soft-spoken person. He was afraid that if the two armies really fought at the Temple of Cuenchacuca, he would not be able to explain to Pizarro. So he walked down the slope and borrowed the ladder to get off the stage, saying, "Since Almagro has come forward to get people and guarantees, I won't say more, but please General Almagro to discipline you soldiers more strictly and don't let them go." They always disturb the public order like this." Almagro said impatiently, "You don't need to say these things, I know what to do. Let them go quickly."
Juan called the guards over, whispered a few words, and said to Almagro, "Okay, you send someone with Lieutenant Letomundo to get the people." Almagro asked his secretary Huelva Followed Letomundo to the temple.
What happened made Almagro very embarrassed. Therefore, Almagro called Francis into the office and cursed him so hard that Francis lowered his head in fear and did not even dare to take a breath. After scolding Francis, Almagro still felt suffocated. At this time, the adjutant Saavedra calmly said to him, "There is no need for the general to be so angry about Francis. Juan and the others are doing this ostensibly against Captain Francis, but in fact they are deliberately making things difficult for you, general."
Then, he said, "Why Juan and Gonzalo dare to act so boldly in front of the general is because they rely on the power of his brother Pizarro. Although you and Pizarro are both partners, he is simply not He didn't regard you as a partner, but as one of his subordinates. He set up tricks for us at every turn, so that we suffered losses and were deceived, but it was unspeakable. Therefore, I have long expected that we and Pizarro will eventually have a relationship. The competition is divided. So, I think we need to make preparations as early as possible."
Almagro kept nodding his head as he listened to Saavedra's words, and said, "I have already considered what you said. With Pizarro, sooner or later, I will either let him suffocate him to death or let him." Trick me to death."
Before Almagro could get rid of the annoyance in his heart, Juan and Gonzalo came with another letter that day, saying, "The Marquis wants you to lead your troops to conquer Chile." With that, he He handed the letter to Almagro. Almagro asked his secretary Huelva to read the letter.
"Dear General Almagro, my close comrade-in-arms, upon learning that you have been appointed Governor of Chile by the King of Spain, I congratulate you doubly. Chile is an unoccupied and undeveloped territory, full of endless hope, and needs you. Conquer and enjoy with your officers and soldiers. This will not only allow you to accomplish a great cause and achieve great achievements, but also allow you and your men to obtain huge benefits. At the same time, it can also avoid conflicts between the two armies. Dissensions and conflicts occurred.”
"Recently, there have been constant rumors that your men secretly broke into the homes of citizens and princes to rob, rape, and even rob people. They were arrogant and lawless, making the city a mess, and making the citizens panic. No one can control it, and no one dares to do so. And no less than ten people told me that this illegal behavior was caused by your order. This surprised me. Considering that you are the governor of Chile and the bad influence you and your subordinates have in Cusco , I order you to lead your men to Chile for a conquest operation, to create a new world for the King of Spain and yourself."
After listening to the letter, Almagro kept smoking and sighing, and did not speak for a long time. Seeing the anger on Almagro's face, Juan didn't say much. He just said, "The Marquis wants you to set off immediately, without any mistakes." Then he and Gonzalo left together.
When Huelva saw Juan and the others leaving, he said to Almagro, "Pizarro wants to transfer you away from Cusco in the name of conquering Chile." Almagro said, "This is what he wants to do." No one can see how petty he is. But if I don’t go, why should I do whatever he tells me to do? I’m not his subordinate, so why should I listen to him? Besides, Cusco itself belongs to me. "
After that, although Juan came to urge him several times, Almagro still stood still. Later, Almagro even stopped seeing Juan and Gonzalo.
