Inca Elegy (Novel) "The Fall of the Inca Empire" (Volume 2) by Zhang Baotong
Alvarado was on his way to Cusco with a reinforcement force. They walked in the rain and mud for most of the day. Their military uniforms and trouser legs were already soaked through, and their shoes were filled with mud and water. When the cold wind blew in the deep mountains and canyons, they all shrank in the cold and dragged themselves with difficulty. Walking in the valley of Abancay, more than 100 kilometers away from Cusco.
They were also inspired by the Cusco-like dream, as if it was a paradise and paradise for adventurers, full of gold and women everywhere, and these dreams would come true as soon as they arrived in Cusco. , got his wish. Gold was their greatest goal, the object by which they measured the value of their conquests and adventures, the compensation they demanded for a life of toil and adventure. The vulgar imagination of almost all Spanish adventurers is filled with this golden dream. Therefore, even though they had been walking in this unlucky weather for more than ten consecutive days, instead of feeling angry or complaining at all, they felt that he was getting closer and closer to that beautiful dream.
They entered the small town of Abankai and were passing through a long and narrow valley called Uraqi. Originally, this valley had a very unique beauty, with mountain flowers and green grass, pine forests and birds, as well as gentle low slopes and high hills. However, on rainy days, there was rain and mud everywhere, so it was just like this. This beautiful scenery was ruined. This long and narrow valley is very difficult to walk, and the rainwater flowing down from the mountains merges into a stream flowing in the low depressions in all directions. And the cold wind in the wilderness also gathered in the valley, whistling and roaring wantonly. The troops were marching through the mud on the ground and the rainwater dripping down to their feet. The mud stuck to their shoes more and more, and they kept shaking the mud off their shoes. However, after taking a few steps, the shoes were filled with mud again. Especially when they walked in the water with their shoes on, it was very cold.
Going further is the Apurimac River. As long as you cross the Apurimac River and climb over the Vilcaconga Pass, you can go straight to the capital city of Cusco. However, Alvarado heard that Almagro's troops were heading towards the Apurimac River. Therefore, it was decided to use this river chasm to give Almagro a head-on attack.
When Alvadora arrived on the west bank of the Apurimac River, he saw that Lieutenant Torella, who had arrived here the day before, had set up camp here, set up sentries, and lit a fire on the grass at the head of the bridge. Alvarado stood at the head of the bridge and looked under the bridge for a long time. He saw that the Apurimac River was a larger river with fast currents and deep rocky cliffs on both sides. The small bridge over the river is made of rattan. It is not only difficult for horses to cross, but also for pedestrians to cross. It's just that the smart Spaniards laid a layer of wooden planks on the bridge to make it easier for people and horses to pass. However, as long as twenty or thirty people guard the bridge, even thousands of troops and horses on the other side will not be able to pass. Alvarado had seen the river and the bridge. In order to defend the bridge, he asked Lieutenant Torella's soldiers to remove some wooden planks laying on the bridge.
Then, he led a large force to a ford more than 20 kilometers upstream of the river to guard it, because he heard from the local Indians that the only way to cross the river was there. The troops came to the shore of the shoal. The shoal was located between the river valleys. The river surface was wide, but the current was fast and made a rapid rushing sound. Alvarado asked a soldier to go down into the water. As soon as the soldier entered the river, the water submerged his waist. He was almost unable to stand due to the rapid current of the river. If it were not for the rope tied around his body, he would have been injured. With a few soldiers holding him on the shore, he was about to be washed away by the river.
After checking the shoal, Alvarado felt that ambushing the enemy here was a very good choice, so he sent an infantry team to serve as a sentry and guard on the shore, and stationed the large troops only one kilometer away from the shore. On a high slope. Standing on a high slope, you can observe and impact the shore of the shoal from a high position. So he asked his troops to camp on the high slopes, set up tents, and wait for Almagro's arrival.
Originally, Almagro's troops could arrive on the other side of the river bridge in Abancay half a day in advance. However, it was delayed due to some things. Almagro was furious when he learned that the messenger he sent had been detained and imprisoned by Alvarado, because detaining the other party's messenger was an extremely barbaric and impolite act. Almagro immediately ordered deputy commander Gongorgones to lead his troops to eliminate Alvarado's troops to satisfy his hatred.
Orgonez promised to lead his troops north to stop the attack immediately, but he strongly demanded that the commander must behead the brothers Hernando and Gonzalo before he left. He said, "As long as they live, the safety of the commander is not guaranteed. There is a Spanish proverb, 'The dead never bites.'"
Although Almagro hated Hernando very much, because many of the injustices and restrictions imposed on him by Marquis Pizarro were instigated by this brother, and Hernando always treated Pizarro as his Salo's partner regarded him as an opponent, and usually spoke to him with arrogance and arrogance. He did not regard him as the commander of the army at all. Therefore, he hated Pizarro's brother with gritted teeth, but he was helpless. Although he has Hernando imprisoned now, he can take any form of revenge and treatment against him. However, he still endured it and did not take any drastic action against him because he did not want to break up with Marquis Pizarro. After all, they had been partners for many years and had a mutual friendship and a common career. . He even felt attached to Francisco Pizarro and did not want to cut off this friendship and affection. So, he said to the deputy commander, "You can't do this, otherwise, our relationship with the Marquis of Pizarro will be life-and-death enemies in the future."
When Orgones heard this, he became anxious and said, "You are raising a tiger to make trouble. If you don't kill them, they will kill you in the future. The Pizarro brothers will not let you go just because you don't kill them." You. Just because you took Cusco, they will never let you go no matter what."
But Almagro still said, "If I kill these two, I will be held accountable by the king, so I don't want to do it. However, I will keep them both in a very safe place." Then, he called a lieutenant over and said to him, "I order you to take the infantry squad and immediately escort all Hernando, Gonzalo and others to the solid marble Sun Temple. Here, you must personally lead the infantry team to guard these officers without making any mistakes."
The infantry lieutenant replied, "Please take it easy, Marshal."
The two even quarreled because of serious differences with Orgonez over the treatment of Hernando and Gonzalo. Almagro decided to personally lead the troops to block and destroy Alvarado's troops.
However, just as the troops were gathering in the city center square and preparing to set off, the sentry came over with a young officer from Alvarado's troops and two cavalrymen on horseback. The young officer got off his horse, gave a military salute to Almagro, and said, "I am Alvarado's second lieutenant Pedro de Lema. I came from Abancay. I have something urgent to report to the general." .”
Almagro quickly took the young officer's hand and said, "Please come to the office to talk." After saying that, he asked Lieutenant Francis to lead the troops, and he took deputy commander Orgonez and Lieutenant Saavedra with him. We returned to the headquarters office together.
Second Lieutenant Lema said to Almagro, "I am a second lieutenant of the cavalry of Alvarado's army. These two cavalrymen are soldiers of our squad. Our squad acted in collusion with General Alvarado and the Marquis of Pizarro, pretending to be powerful. I am very disgusted, so everyone in our team expressed their desire to join the general, I wonder if the general is willing to accept it?"
Almagro immediately held Lema's hand and said, "Of course, I wish you a warm welcome. With your support and participation, we will be more sure to eliminate Alvarado." Then he asked, "Alvarado Are they still in Haoha?"
Lema said, "Our cavalry team followed Lieutenant Torella to the west bank of the small bridge in Abancay yesterday afternoon. Now Lieutenant Torella has occupied the small bridge. But according to the locals About twenty kilometers upstream from the bridge, there is a ford where Indians often cross the river. I think the general can lead a large force to cross the river from the ford and detour back to the west bank of the bridge. In this way, it can be easily captured. Small bridge. But I think Alvarado will definitely lead a large force to set up defenses there."
Saavedra may have been a little suspicious, so he asked Lema, "Now that the enemy is facing us, how did you leave the army and come here?"
Lema said, "The three of us were sent by Almagro's adjutant Bale to conduct reconnaissance on you."
Almagro appreciated Lema's suggestion very much and said, "Go back first and get your people ready. When we launch the attack, you will cooperate with us secretly."
After Lema left with the two cavalry, Almagro unfolded the map and looked at it with Orgonez. After a few minutes, Almagro said to Orgonez, "How about I take a group of troops to the small bridge and pretend to launch a storm. You take the large troops to the ford to cross the river. Then outflank and annihilate Alvarado’s forces.”
Orgonez nodded and said, "Very good."
