Inca Elegy (Novel) "The Fall of the Inca Empire" (Volume 2) by Zhang Baotong
Time is passing slowly. Spring turned to summer, and when the brightest and mildest season of the year came to the city of Cusco again, the Inca king, who had been locked up in that hut for half a year, was still suffering like a prisoner. He didn't know how many years or months this kind of life would last, nor what kind of hope he had in the future. All he had to do every day was lie or sit, thinking about all kinds of thoughts and illusions. However, these thoughts and illusions always made him feel pessimistic and depressed. In order to get rid of this pessimism and depression, he began to catch lice on his clothes against the small patch of light coming from the vent. Only when he catches lice can he stop thinking about those troubles and worries. Therefore, catching lice has become his only job every day.
Of course, he could not remember what January 16, 1536 was like, because time and date had lost their meaning to him. He only remembered to catch some lice every day after breakfast in front of the light, because these lice always bit him at night and made him unable to sleep well, making him feel itchy all day long. At this moment, the door of the house opened with a bang.
Manco's heart suddenly became tense because the door had not been opened for several days. Usually, the dishes and pots for eating and drinking are brought in and out through the doorway. Therefore, when Manco heard the iron lock on the door clang open, he naturally thought whether he was going to be interrogated again. Because arraignment is always a difficult time for prisoners.
After the door opened, a large piece of bright light poured into the room. Although the sunshine was very bright and bright, giving it a feeling of intimacy and long absence, Manco felt as if a big stone was suddenly weighing on his heart. He didn't know what tricks Juan and Gonzalo were going to use on him, what kind of punishment they would use.
However, the people who came in from the outside were not Juan and Gonzalo, but a Spaniard who seemed familiar to him but couldn't remember it for the moment. This man was fat and big, with a red rosy nose, a broad face, thick lips, neat clothes and a kind face. He couldn't help but wonder who this person was? What is he doing here?
The man walked up to him, helped him up from the bed, and said to him kindly, "Dear King Inca, I have made you suffer." Manco sat by the bed and asked in confusion, "Are you Who is it?" the man said, "I am Captain Hernando Pizarro, now the Spanish Knight of Santiago, the highest military governor of Cusco."
Manco had never met Hernando, because after he distributed the gold in Cajamarca, he was sent by Pizarro to escort the gold back to Spain. He returned to Spain and brought back a large amount of gold and silver, which attracted great attention from his countrymen and triggered a wave of enthusiastic immigration. He was welcomed and commended by the king. After that, Selivia hurried back, but Hernando was not in a hurry. He did some things at home and stayed in Panama City for a long time before slowly returning by boat.
But Manco often heard Pizarro mention Hernando, saying that like Soto, he had always held tolerant and sympathetic political views towards the Indians. Seeing that Hernando was so kind and kind to him, he seemed a little excited and said, "Captain Hernando, you are finally back." After saying that, he held Hernando's hand and expressed his emotions and grievances. He cried and recounted in a tone like that, "After Marquis Pizarro left Cusco and went to Lima, Juan repeatedly forced me to tell me where Huascar's gold chain was hidden, but I didn't know at all that he was there. He took away my concubine Sankara and raped her. Then Gonzalo also came and forced me to hand over Huascar's gold chain. I said that I really didn't know where the gold chain was hidden, so he asked someone to take Okoro away. He was taken away. I sent people to ask for it several times, but he wouldn't let me go. I had no choice but to lead people to escape from Cusco." After saying that, he burst into tears.
While patting and coaxing Prince Manco, Hernando comforted him and said, "My two brothers are rough men and don't know the ways. Please forgive me, King Inca. Now I'm back, Cusco." I have been appointed as the highest military officer, so please rest assured, King Inca. As long as King Inca no longer flees Cusco and is loyal to the King of Spain, I will treat you very generously. Regarding Gonzalo’s robbery I have lost your beloved concubine, please don’t worry, I will have someone return it to you tomorrow. Furthermore, I will also make other arrangements for your life and treatment."
At this point, he shouted loudly, "Here comes someone." The guarding soldiers came in. He said to the soldier, "Open the king's handcuffs and shackles." The soldier came over and started to unlock Manco's shackles with the key. At this time, Hernando said to Manco, "I'm sorry, I just came back from Lima. I heard that you were imprisoned here, so I rushed over to visit you. If you continue to feel wronged here for a while, I will immediately Send someone to take you back to the backyard of the palace, and then bring your concubine here." Manco held Hernando's hand gratefully and said, "Sir, I, Manco, will never forget your kindness."
Soon, Manco was sent back to the backyard of the palace where he originally lived. However, the gate to the backyard of the palace has been resealed, and Spanish sentries are stationed at the door and in the courtyard. Anyone entering here must be inspected and questioned by the Spaniards.
When the concubines saw that he was back, they all burst into tears. While comforting them, Manco asked the housekeeper Munajiaka, "How is your family during this time?" Butler Munajiaka said, "When your Majesty was locked up in the barracks, those Spanish officers and soldiers came and went every day. They came here to rape and insult the princess, and they also robbed all the gold objects and gold utensils in the house." Manco comforted the concubines and said, "Don't cry, you all. As long as I can come back safely, it will be yours." Blessings. Other things will come to you in the future." After saying that, he asked Munegaka to send people to find the maids and servants who had left.
After a while, Hernando sent someone to bring Princess Okoro back. Okoro wore a short, expensive leather coat worn by Spanish noble ladies, a long pink skirt with lace, a pair of high-heeled black leather shoes on her feet, and a delicate gold necklace around her neck. Okoro originally had a good figure, taller body, fair complexion, plump breasts and slender waist. After dressing up like this, she was no longer the Indian princess in the past, but a Spanish princess.
We haven’t seen each other for many days, and my beloved concubine is becoming more and more beautiful and adorable. Manco stood up from the chair and called out, "My beloved concubine." Okoro also cried out with tears in his eyes, "My king." Then the two hugged each other. Manco said, "My little dove, you are back again. These days, you are not here, but you miss me so much." After saying that, he held Okoro in his arms, sat on the chair, and kissed him Looking at her, he asked, "Are you feeling wronged over there?"
Okoro put his face in her husband's arms and said softly, "I didn't suffer any injustice. I just heard that the king was captured by them again when he left Cusco. He said that his wife and concubines were worried day and night. Restless." At this point, she said with a tearful smile, "Husband, please stop doing those risky things. As long as our family can live a safe and smooth life, I have nothing else to ask for." Manco clicked. He nodded and said, "Just listen to my beloved concubine. I will never take risks again."
At this time, Hernando sent people to deliver some food and vicuña meat, as well as some liquor, candies and pastries brought from Spain and Panama. Manco has never seen or eaten these things. So Manco let Okoro taste these things first, and then distributed them to other concubines standing aside to enjoy. The concubines ate candies and pastries and said they were very sweet and delicious. So, Manco asked his concubines to bring cups, fill them with liquor, and start celebrating the family reunion together.
Early the next morning, Manco sent a message to Hernando, saying that in order to repay Hernando's kindness, he wanted to retrieve the hidden gold objects from a mansion in the suburbs and present them to him. After hearing this, Hernando immediately sent a cavalry team of more than 20 people to follow. Just after noon, Manco rode the eight-large sedan, accompanied by more than a dozen princes, out of the backyard of the palace and walked toward the suburbs along the north-facing Royal Avenue.
After walking for about half an hour, we arrived at a mansion in the suburbs where a prince once lived. The prince in the mansion is no longer there, and only a few servants and maids live in the compound. Seeing the Inca King coming, the servants and maids hurriedly came out of each room and knelt on the ground to salute Manco. Manco got out of the sedan and led the Spanish soldiers to the door of a big house. This big house is built of fine stone. It is not only luxurious and elegant, but also very strong. Manliu asked the servant to open the door and entered a large house. There seemed to be nothing in the room, except for two or three gold and silver ornaments such as daggers, hatchets and arrows hung on the walls. In the middle of the room was a smooth stone about one meter square. Carved on the stone is a chessboard similar to backgammon, with gold and silver chess pieces on it. There are ten pieces on each side, each about the size of a tomato. There is a stone bench on each side of the stone block.
Manco asked the accompanying prince to take down all the decorations and chess pieces on the wall, and then took everyone back to the palace in a sedan chair. Back in the backyard of the palace, Manco sent Umu to bring gold objects as a tribute to Hernando. Wumu was brought back from the mountains by Manco yesterday. He and Hernando hit it off immediately and talked about everything. The two drank and chatted until dark before breaking up. Afterwards, Umu returned to the backyard of the palace and reported the conversation with Hernando to Manco. Manco listened, very satisfied.
After that, Manco took people to pick up gold objects for Hernando several times. The gold objects were relatively precious, so Hernando took special care of Manco and often sent him some daily necessities, candies and liquor. As the relationship between the two continued to grow closer and more trusting, Manco invited Hernando to the palace backyard for drinks and dinner every few days. While eating and drinking, the two of them talked about almost everything and were very intimate.
