Inca Elegy (Novel) "The Fall of the Inca Empire" (Volume 2) by Zhang Baotong
After the Inca prince Kunzu, commander of the Lima army, and Princess Moteri led 80,000 Indian troops to leave Cusco, they marched northward along the royal road, passing through Abancay and Bilkas, and arrived at Haoha.
Haoha is a Spanish colonial point with a garrison of more than 80 people and more than 300 Spanish immigrants. When the Indian army came to the plain area on the bank of the Mantaro River that had killed the Indians to pieces, they happened to meet the Spanish garrison.
Compared with the 80,000-strong Inca Lima army, the Spanish garrison of about 80 people seemed so insignificant. Because they were only left-behind personnel, not the main force. Among the eighty or so soldiers, there were only a dozen horses, and the rest were infantry, and there were many old, weak and sick. Half of these people had participated in the battle of Cajamarca to capture the Inca Atahualpa, and some had participated in the battle in which the Soto team defeated tens of thousands of Indian troops. Therefore, they faced the rolling tide and the fierceness. The Indian army did not seem to be afraid. They even want to create a mythical feat or miracle where less defeats more.
More than eighty Spanish soldiers, led by Lieutenant Pereira, formed a square formation, with thirteen cavalry as the vanguard. The cavalry were riding horses and holding long swords, ready to attack the approaching Inca army. More than sixty other infantrymen held matchlock guns in their hands and squatted with their guns raised, always ready to shoot at the Indians. Behind them were more than a thousand soldiers of the Indian auxiliary troops. They held spears in their hands. Although they were preparing for battle, they were already trembling in fear from such a huge army in front of them.
This day was almost the same as the day when the Soto cavalry squad defeated the Indian army. There were white clouds in the sky and a cool breeze blowing from a distance from time to time. The sun shines brightly on the spacious canyon and plains. From every corner of the canyon, you can see water channels leading from the surrounding mountains to the green farmland at the bottom of the valley. The water in the Mantaro River is still flowing slowly, and a small wooden bridge has been erected on the small river. But at this time, the entire canyon and plains were shaken by the footsteps of the rolling Indian army.
Arriving at a hill beside the road, Indian army commander Kunzu and Inca King Manco's favorite concubine Moteli got down from the sedan chair and took forty or fifty princes and generals with them to the top of a hill only a few hundred meters away from the battlefield. Watch the battle.
As soon as he reached the top of the hill, a general named Mokwa came over and reported, "Dear Commander, our army is only 500 steps away from the Spaniards. Should we stop the team and reorganize our troops?" "Kunzu's eyes were still facing forward, and he said in a very firm tone, "We cannot stop, we must order the troops to rush over as quickly as possible." General Mokwa said, "Yes, my distinguished commander." Then, He turned around and went down to the top of the hill, and ordered to the trumpeters, "Blow the trumpet, advance quickly and attack fiercely."
As a result, the horns sounded at the foot of the hill. With the sound of the trumpet, the Indian soldiers' shouts like a tsunami shook the sky above the canyon. The Indian vanguard, which was advancing steadily, suddenly rushed toward the Spanish phalanx like lightning. Then, the Spaniards also blew the charge horn. However, before the trumpet sound was finished, there was silence. At this time, it was seen that the Indian army had surrounded the Spaniards and swarmed them. There were almost no rounds in this battle. The Spanish army of more than 80 people seemed to be submerged by the overwhelming waves. When the waves subsided, they were no longer seen.
The Indian army, which destroyed the Spanish garrison, soon surged towards the barracks and Spanish residential areas.
After the Spanish garrison was wiped out, the Indians began to swarm toward the barracks and Spanish residential areas. When the Spaniards saw the Indians rushing over, they fled in all directions. However, Indian soldiers were almost all over the canyon, leaving them with nowhere to escape or hide. Therefore, they could only hide in their houses and be hunted by the Indians. Many women and children were hacked to death with hatchets and daggers on the spot. More than a hundred Spanish men were captured by the Indians and taken to the barracks square. The Indians beheaded them all, sacrificed their heads, and reveled all night long.
Then, they marched non-stop over mountains and ridges towards Lima, and arrived in Lima in less than two weeks. Lima is located on the Rimac River, with a narrow coastal plain to the west and a harbor climate, dry and little rain. To the east, it runs through the Cordillera Occidental Mountains, with abundant precipitation and a cooler climate, making it the birthplace of the river.
After Kunzu and Moteli arrived at Lima City with 80,000 troops, they immediately surrounded Lima City in the plains along the Rimac River. At that time, the Indian army was so vast, with flags flying, that it crowded the entire plain area beside the wide Rimac River. Commander Kunzu and Princess Moteli took more than 40 princes to settle down in a small village in Pingchuan area, and then gathered the generals to discuss strategies to attack the city and defeat the enemy.
At noon, five or six generals were sitting in a larger farmhouse. When they saw Commander Kunzu and Princess Moteli entering the house, they quickly stood up and saluted the princess and the commander. Kunzu is a tall, burly middle-aged man. He wears a gold foil helmet with gorgeous feathers on his head, a brief high-level military uniform, and a gorgeous and wide cloak. He looks majestic and majestic. Mo Taili, who is slender, young and beautiful, is wearing a thin brocade red velvet skirt. Accompanied by Kunzu, she looks even more graceful and graceful. The two entered the room, sat on the chairs, and motioned to the generals to sit down.
Commander Kunzu asked the forward general Mokwa, "Tomorrow morning, we will attack the city of Lima. What suggestions and preparations do you have?" Mokwa stood up again and replied, "My distinguished commander, according to the report from the spy, Lima There are only more than 200 Spaniards in the city, including more than 100 cavalry. There are also more than 3,000 Indian auxiliary soldiers. I think this should be roughly the same as the situation in Cusco. Although the streets of the city It is relatively spacious, but it is still not conducive to the deployment of large forces. Therefore, I think it is better to lure the Spaniards out and fight again. In this way, it will be easier for our large forces to deploy, so that we can surround them and annihilate them all."
Kunzu felt that Mokwa's suggestion was acceptable, but he said, "If we just besiege without attacking, I'm afraid that if the Spaniards persist for another two or three months, a large number of reinforcements will come to reinforce them. If We have to wait for their reinforcements to arrive continuously, and then we will lose a great opportunity."
Xintu, the deputy commander, felt that Kunzu's words were reasonable, so he echoed, "Before we left, the Inca King repeatedly emphasized to us that the city of Lima must be captured quickly and captured as soon as possible, and it cannot be used for too long. "
But Mokwa still insisted on leading the Spanish out of the city so that they could fight the Spanish decisively on the wide plains beside the Rimac River. He said again in an emphatic tone, "The Battle of Cusco has been going on for a long time, but the 120,000 to 30,000 troops still failed to invade the city. The king had no choice but to burn the capital city down. Therefore, I think if we attack the city of Lima, we will definitely encounter the same results as the city of Cusco."
Kunzu said, "I can't burn the city of Lima anymore. Moreover, the city of Lima itself does not have that many buildings, and there are wide streets separating the buildings, especially the roofs here are all It is built in the Spanish way instead of thatched, so it is not easy to attack with fire. Therefore, I think we should attack the city from the four directions of east, west, north and south at the same time. As long as we succeed in one direction, we can attack the city and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop. "
Deputy Commander Xintu also said, "We have an army of 80,000, and they only have more than 200 people, plus more than 3,000 Incas. We should take the initiative. If we really lose, we can lure them out. There will be a decisive battle outside the city."
Kun Zu thought deeply for a while and said, "This plan is feasible." Then he asked Princess Moteli who was beside him, "What do you think, Princess?" Princess Motelli looked at everyone and saw that everyone was slightly tilted towards her. He nodded and said to Kunzu, "Then do as the commander wishes."
Therefore, Kunzu said to the generals present, "We will start attacking the city early tomorrow morning. The north will be the main direction of attack. Deputy Commander Xintu will lead the attack with 20,000 soldiers. The three directions of southeast and west will be led by Chukwuka, The three generals, Wamankai and Mokwa, each led 10,000 soldiers to attack. I led more than 30,000 soldiers to respond in the Pingchuan area on the outskirts." All the generals stood up and stood at attention, "The commander is wise."
After arranging tomorrow's military operation, Kunzu and his concubine Mo Taili, surrounded by dozens of princes and escorted by more than 2,000 guards, rode in two sedans and began to inspect the garrison situation of the troops. Watch the beautiful scenery along the Rimac River.
More than two thousand guards walked forward in several rows. The sedans of Kunzu and Princess were carried by eight people in the middle of the team. Dozens of princes in gorgeous clothes surrounded the sedans, following the soldiers in front. They walked together. When they reached the edge of the plain beside the Rimac River, Kunzu asked the soldiers to stop.
The Pingchuan area is almost full of troops and soldiers. Some of the soldiers in these troops wore gray Inca uniforms, but many also wore thin provincial and casual clothes of various colors. Some troops are being mobilized, while others have just arrived. The soldiers who had just arrived were a little tired after walking for most of the day. Most of them were sitting on the grass, resting and chewing coca. Coca is a plant that contains caffeine, which has a powerful and stimulating effect. No matter how tired or miserable a person is, as long as he chews some coca, the fatigue can be quickly eliminated. Therefore, even if the soldiers do not bring dry food, they must carry some coca with them.
Kunzu led the princes and several officers to a high slope and looked towards the city of Lima.
The city of Lima is actually right in front of you. Standing on the high slope, you can see the wide streets and tall buildings in Lima. You can even see the sparse pedestrians and Spanish soldiers on horseback on the streets. Looking to the west, not far away is the vast sea with silver waves under the sun.
After looking at the surrounding scenery for a long time, Kunzu couldn't help but sigh to the prince beside him, "That Pizarro is really discerning. He actually chose such a good place as the capital of the Spanish." The man next to him said The prince said, "Yes, because the scenery here is not only beautiful, but also close to the sea. You can use ships to transport what they need, and you can also transport the gold they want away."
These words suddenly reminded him that the Spaniards could escape by sea. So, he said to the prince next to him, "We forgot that Spain can escape from that sea. I heard that they have a big port there."
But the prince said, "It would be better if they really want to escape. We can capture Lima City without us attacking anymore." But Kunzu said, "But what I want is not to let them escape, but to let them escape." Kill them all."
The prince immediately agreed, "Yes, these hateful Spaniards should be killed." Then, the prince said, "In this case, we must send people to capture the seaport and the port." But Kun Zu disagreed and said, "It's not necessary. If we surround all their people and prevent them from getting out of the city, what use will the seaport and port be to them?" The prince said hurriedly, "The wise leader."
