Inca Elegy (Novel) "The Fall of the Inca Empire" (Volume 2) by Zhang Baotong
After experiencing all kinds of hardships and dangers, they finally returned to Peru. When they arrived at the small town of Arequipa, more than 200 kilometers away from Cusco, they heard about the Indian uprising led by Manco, and learned that Manco was stationed in the Yucai Valley not far from the capital. , decided to send someone to contact the Inca King. Because he had fought against Quischis with the Inca King in the past, the relationship between the two was relatively close, but his actual intention in contacting the Inca King was to unite with the Inca King to capture Cusco. Because he knew that once the city of Cusco was captured, it would be easier to deal with the Indians.
The people who contacted the Inca soon returned, reporting that they had been warmly entertained by the Inca and reporting the Inca's accusations of crimes against Juan and Gonzalo. So Almagro decided to go to the Yucai Valley in person to meet with the Inca King Manco.
Almagro took his troops to the small town of Urcos, which was only more than 20 kilometers away from Cusco. Then, he personally ordered 250 cavalry and infantry to go to the Yucai Valley. Arriving at the Yucai Valley, Almagro asked the soldiers to set up tents on the flat valley grass and camp, waiting for the arrival of the Inca King in person.
At noon the next day, the Inca King Manco sent his confidant, the palace priest Umu, to lead people to the Spanish barracks and brought a half-meter-high gold statue of an Inca beauty, two large jars of Chicha wine and a large basket Vicuña jerky was given to Almagro. Almagro expressed his gratitude to the Inca King, received Umu in his tent, and hosted a banquet to entertain Umu warmly.
Umu expressed to Almagro again, "Our king has always obeyed the Spanish, but Juan and Gonzalo were so bullying. They not only searched and robbed the citizens and princes of Cusco, but also They also coerced and bullied our king. They forced our king to ask for the Huascar gold chain every day for three days. Without our king knowing, they forcibly raped and usurped the king's favorite concubine. You said this is not coercion. Do you want us to rise up in rebellion?"
After hearing this, Almagro also took advantage of the situation to denounce the Pizarro brothers for their treachery and arbitrary behavior. Then, he took out a letter of appointment from the King of Spain and showed it to Umu. But Umu couldn't read, so Captain Orgonez next to Almagro explained to Umu, "This is the appointment letter from the King of Spain to our marshal, appointing him as the marshal of Cusco, Peru." Governor. However, the Pizarro brothers refused to carry out the king's order and forcibly occupied Cusco. Instead, they asked us to expedition to Chile. Tell me how domineering and cunning the Pizarro brothers are."
Umu said tentatively, "When you come back this time, you can ask them for Cusco with the king's letter of appointment. If Cusco can be returned to your hands, our king is willing to submit to you." Almag Luo shook his head and said, "It's impossible. The Pizarro brothers will not return the city of Cusco to me lightly." Orgonez said aside, "It won't work without force. However, just With the small amount of troops in Cusco, they are no match for us." Almagro said to Umu, "If we really attack the city of Cusco, we will need the Inca king to send people to join the battle." Umu listened, He smiled and said, "This matter needs to be discussed between you and our king in person." Almagro nodded and said, "Then will your king come and talk to me tomorrow morning?" Umu said, "I will go back and ask you Your Majesty reports. I think our Majesty is very willing to cooperate with you."
When the two sides talked about this, Umu wanted to rush back to report to the king, so he left the Spanish military camp with his entourage and returned to the Tambo Palace, where he made a detailed report to King Manco. Manco was very satisfied with the outcome of the talks, but he was full of doubts about Almagro's invitation to go to the Spanish military camp for negotiations tomorrow morning. He thought for a moment and said to Umu, "Go and tell General Almagro that I can have a meeting with him, but the meeting location should be in the middle of the flat open space between the camps of both sides. zone."
In the afternoon, Umu came to Almagro's tent again and informed the Inca king that he had agreed to negotiate with Almagro. But for the sake of safety, the Inca king requested that the negotiation location be set up in an open and flat middle area between the camps of both sides. Almagro agreed.
At this moment, a soldier came in and said, "Sir, Captain Hernando Pizarro sent someone to visit and said he had important matters to discuss with the marshal." Umu used to deal with Spanish people, and of course he can understand some Spanish. language. Therefore, after listening to the soldier's report, he couldn't help but feel startled and looked at Almagro's reaction with his eyes.
Almagro pondered for a moment, and seeing that Umu seemed to have something to say, he said to Umu, "Sit in Captain Orgonez's tent for a while, and wait until I see him." Let's continue the discussion after them." After saying that, he asked a soldier to invite Wumu and the other two princes to a tent nearby.
The visitors were Captain Gonzalo and Second Lieutenant Ponce de Leon and a group of four people. They entered Almagro's tent and saluted Almagro and Captain Orgonez. Then Gonzalo said, "I was ordered by Captain Hernando to take the people Contact the general." Almagro asked everyone to sit on a thick carpet, and then said, "I heard that you have been besieged by the Indians for five or six months. It is not easy to persist." Gonza Luo said, "That's true. Faced with the siege of one or two hundred thousand Indians, it can be said that Cusco was bought with our lives."
But Captain Orgonez said rudely, "Thanks to you for protecting the city of Cusco from being captured by the Indians. However, the city of Cusco should belong to our marshal." Gonzalo listened. With these words, he smiled disdainfully and said, "When did the city of Cusco become your marshal's?"
Almagro immediately took out a royal appointment letter from a suitcase and opened it to Gonzalo. Gonzalo actually knew about this a long time ago, but he still pretended not to know and said, "Why haven't I heard about this?" Almagro said, "Hernando came back from the country, no? Maybe I won't tell you about this? He also brought this letter of appointment from the king." Gonzalo had to admit, but he thought for a moment and said, "This matter must be discussed between the general and the marquis. I have no control over it. This kind of thing."
Almagro asked Gonzalo directly, "Then what is the purpose of your trip?" Gonzalo said, "I heard that the general returned from Chile, and Captain Hernando asked me to learn about the results and gains of the general's expedition. , and the intention of returning." Almagro replied seriously, "The expedition can be said to be a nightmare. We can talk about this later. As for the purpose of returning, I want to recover from you what originally belonged to us. The city of Cusco.”
Gonzalo smiled and said, "But why are you setting up camp here? Do you want to conspire with the Indians to capture the city of Cusco?" Almagro said, "That's the idea, but... We haven't met with the Inca King yet." Gonzalo's face sank and he said in a warning tone, "What you did is an act of betrayal. Not only did you betray your partners, you also betrayed the King and people of Spain."
Almagro said, "I did this out of helplessness, because you did not carry out the king's order and deliberately occupied the city of Cusco." Gonzalo was silent for a while and said, "Actually, we are all our own people. , and the Indians are our real enemies. Just imagine, if our two families exchange fire and start a war, the real benefits should be the Indians. No matter who wins or loses, the Indians will benefit and take the opportunity to destroy our two families. .”
Almagro said disapprovingly, "It's not that I don't understand the Indians. Let me tell you, I have never taken Indians seriously." Of course Gonzalo understood what Almagro meant and knew that now was the time to tell the other party. It was time to express his position, so he said in a sincere tone, "To be honest, I came to meet the general this time on the order of Captain Hernando to reach an agreement with the general. As long as the general can eliminate the Indians , Capture the Inca King, and Captain Hernando is willing to voluntarily withdraw from the city of Cusco."
When Almagro heard this, he asked, "Is this what Marquis Pizarro meant?" Gonzalo said, "Hernando has the right to make this decision." Almagro was a little undecided, so he asked Captain Orgonez looked at it and then asked, "Can Captain Gonzalo sign this agreement on behalf of Hernando?" Gonzalo said, "Of course." But Captain Orgonez said, " There is no need for Captain Gonzalo to sign this agreement. Because the marshal himself has the king’s letter of appointment. If the king’s letter of appointment is not even executed, what is the use of Captain Gonzalo signing the agreement?”
Seeing Captain Orgonez's dissent, Gonzalo asked, "So what does Captain Orgonez suggest?" Captain Orgonez said, "I think Hernando has to do this. Interview our marshal in person." Gonzalo thought for a moment and asked Almagro, "Is this what the general means?" Almagro nodded and said, "Yes, let Hernando come with me. talk."
Gonzalo said, "Well, I will report your opinions and ideas to Captain Hernando. I think he will be happy to make this agreement with you."
After Gonzalo took the people away, Umu asked Almagro, "Why did they come here to interview the general?" Almagro said, "They came to ask me why I retreated from Chile." Umu asked. Mu nodded and asked, "Is there any change in the discussion between the general and our king tomorrow?" Almagro said, "Proceed as usual." Umu said "I understand" and left with his entourage. .
After Umu left the Spanish military camp, he quickly returned to the castle palace stationed not far away. The palace is built of huge stones and has many small rooms. The Inca King Manco lived in the innermost rooms of the palace. At this time, it was already dark, and the entire palace was ablaze with lights. Manco and several close ministers were sitting in a relatively large conference hall, waiting for Umu.
When Umu saw Manco, he gave a big gift and said, "Honored King, the situation has changed. Just now Hernando sent Gonzalo and others to the Almagro military camp, and the two sides spent a lot of time talking together. I'm afraid there will be some conspiracy between them." Manco's brother Paul Parker also said, "The Spanish are not trustworthy at all."
After hearing this, Manco sneered and said, "I have never believed them at all. The reason why I want to have peace talks with them is to let them fight each other, and then kill them all after losing both sides." Wumu said, " Your Majesty is wise, in this case, there is no need for your Majesty to discuss with them tomorrow." Manco said, "Tomorrow is not about discussing with them, but we should eliminate them in one fell swoop."
Having said this, Manco began to make arrangements for tomorrow's battle. After listening to the king's military deployment, everyone said in surrender, "The king is wise." Then they left the meeting hall.
