Inca Elegy (Novel) "The Fall of the Inca Empire" (Volume 2) by Zhang Baotong
Baca de Castro, who introduced himself as Governor of Peru, took over two armies of Pizarro's generals. In order to calm the situation in Peru, he decided to subdue or eliminate the rebels. Knowing that the judge sent by the king wanted to make enemies of Almagro's Chilean gang, the Quito garrison general Gonzalo Pizarro sent someone to send a letter to Vaca de Castro. letter, claiming to help the judge in his crusade against Almagro. However, the judge refused his request, which made the arrogant knight very angry. He said to his subordinates, "Just wait and see, that judge who does not know the heights of heaven and earth will fall under my hands one day. "
After hearing what Gonzalo said, Baca de Castro just smiled noncommittally, but he thought he would have a way to deal with him. At this time, he had already sent a letter to Almagro in Lima. The letter briefly stated that he would work for peace in Peru and try to avoid using war to solve problems. To this end, he had rejected Pizarro Gonzalo's counterinsurgency request and hoped that Almagro would give up. force, and work with him to achieve reconciliation by peaceful means.
A few days later, Captain Alvarado came to his office and reported to him, "Mr. Governor, my spies have come to report that Almagro is leading his troops towards Guamanga and is preparing to capture it. The town of Guamanga.”
Baca de Castro immediately opened the map and looked at it for a while, then asked, "Is this place important?"
Alvarado said, "Guamanga is an important transportation point between Lima and Cusco, one or two hundred kilometers away from Haoha. The key is that there are strong defensive positions and fortifications there, which are easy to defend but difficult to attack. Once If we let them occupy those fortifications and strongholds, we will be very passive. Therefore, we must get there as soon as possible and secure those fortifications and strongholds. In this way, we can defend ourselves and gain an advantage."
When Baca de Castro heard this, he thought for a moment and immediately sent for Captain Holguin. Holguin's troops were stationed on the other side of the town of Haoha, only two or three kilometers away from Alvarado's military camp. In fact, Captain Holguin also received news that Almagro's troops were marching towards Guamanga. The Governor and the two captains only had a short discussion and decided to rush to Guamanga at any cost, reach the town of Guamanga before Almagro's troops, and stand ready to welcome Almagro's arrival. .
In order not to miss the opportunity, the two troops immediately blew the rally call, left the camp, and began to march towards the small town of Guamanga. Baca de Castro rode among the troops alongside Alvarado. The troops had been walking for more than two hours, and it was already noon. Alvarado said to the governor, "Let the troops stop and rest for a while so that the soldiers can eat something."
But Mr. Governor shook his head and said, "No, if we take a walk and rest, Almagro and the others will definitely be able to occupy Guamanga first. If that happens, we will take back those fortifications and strongholds, and we will make a decision It’s a big sacrifice. So, you can’t stop and rest.”
It was the cold winter season in September, the weather was cold and the ground was freezing, and it was raining non-stop, soaking the clothes of the officers and soldiers. Especially in the evening, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and the cold wind blew, almost freezing people. The troops marched along the Royal Avenue, with the cavalry in front and the infantry behind. Because they were facing the wind, they were not moving very fast. But the governor kept urging the troops to speed up.
After two days of rapid march, the troops arrived at the small town of Guamanga at noon on the third day. Almagro's troops are still in the small town of Bilkasi, about 70 kilometers away from here. The governor ordered the troops to rest while preparing for battle, waiting for work and waiting to attack the invading enemy head-on.
The next afternoon, Almagro sent a messenger named Crespo to negotiate with Mr. Governor. The governor received the young gentleman in a noble house. The young messenger said very respectfully, "Mr. Governor, I was sent by Commander Almagro to pay a visit to Mr. Governor and convey to you that Almagro hopes that Mr. Governor will pay attention to the overall situation and not to make the two sides fight each other with swords and guns." to cause his compatriots to kill each other. Almagro said that with the status and courage of the governor, he could easily resolve disputes and make enemies of each other friends."
Mr. Governor said confidently, "Yes, I can definitely mediate disputes and make the two parties who are hostile to each other friends. However, these require some conditions."
The messenger was startled and asked, "What conditions does the governor need?"
The Governor said, "I know that Almagro is still young and inexperienced, and that kind of rebellion and riots are definitely not planned and planned by him. Therefore, if Almagro can get rid of the influence of those main planners, Freed, I am willing to treat him differently from those plotters.”
The messenger immediately asked, "How to free Almagro from the plotters?"
The governor said, "He must immediately deliver to me all those who were directly involved in the assassination of Pizarro and disband his troops. In this way, I guarantee that the government will not pursue his treasonous behavior, and he can resume his duties." Receive the royal grace bestowed upon him and regain the land and property bestowed upon him by the king.”
When the messenger heard this, he frowned because he felt that the governor's words were completely inconsistent with the tone of his letter to Almagro. In his letter, he asked Almagro not to use force, but to work with him to resolve the dispute through peaceful talks. But now his words have become so arrogant and harsh. So, he said, "Are Mr. Governor's requirements too strict?"
Mr. Governor said, "This is the condition. You tell him, and there is nothing else to discuss."
Crespo returned to Bilkas and reported the results of the peace talks to Almagro. This made Almagro very angry and disappointed. He said to Crespo, "This governor is a two-faced man. He deceived us." Then he summoned Captain Juan de Herada and Lieutenant Torres and others in his room to convey to them the Governor's message to them. request made.
After hearing what Almagro said, everyone present was like a pot, because they were all the masterminds and participants of that rebellion. Juan de Herada immediately said, "These harsh demands made by Mr. Governor are intolerable to any self-respecting person. On the surface, he wants to negotiate with us openly and openly, but secretly he is playing tricks on us." Such a cunning trick."
Torres also said, "How can this be a peace negotiation with us? It is simply asking us to confess our sins and surrender ourselves to the guillotine. This shows how insidious and cunning this governor is."
Another captain named Gomez said, "He is not negotiating peace with us, but threatening us and forcing us to fight them desperately. Just fight, who is afraid of whom."
After everyone discussed angrily, Juan de Herrada said to Almagro, "It is obvious that the governor has taken the side of Pizarro's associates and wants to be our enemy. Therefore, we We can only throw away our illusions and prepare to fight.”
Almagro said, "Yes, in this country, only force has the most say. Once we defeat them, they will not impose conditions on us, but we will impose conditions on them."
Torres said, "Let's fight there now and let Mr. Governor see who is the king here."
But Juan de Herrada waved his hand and said to Almagro, "Don't take any risks yet. I heard that Guamanga has strong strongholds and fortifications that are easy to defend and difficult to attack. It's best to send people there. Let’s do some research over there.”
Almagro felt that what Juan de Herada said was reasonable, so he said, "Just follow Captain Juan de Herada's intention and send someone to Guamanga to inquire about it carefully. Wait until the weather is better." Then attack Guamanga."
At the same time that Captain Juan de Herada sent people to Guamanga for reconnaissance and inquiry, Baca de Castro also sent a person to the small town of Vilkas. This man's name was Cervantes. He dressed up as an Indian and moved quietly around the Almagro military camp. He waited for an opportunity to approach some people in the military camp, persuaded and lured them, and asked them to be loyal to the king and country and give up following them. Almagro.
The people he wanted to contact were the officers and soldiers who had served under Pizarro, including an artillery second lieutenant named Pedro de Candia. He was once one of the thirteen warriors who firmly followed Pizarro to adventure in Peru. These people were all knighted by the king and received preferential treatment from Marquis Pizarro. However, after the Marquis of Pizarro was killed, Pedro Decandia was coerced and tempted by the Chilean soldiers and defected to Almagro's army, serving as an artillery second lieutenant. This was also a last resort for him. Because the Marquis of Pizarro had passed away, he could no longer follow the Marquis of Pizarro and could only follow Almagro.
Cervantes found him easily and made an appointment with him in the woods next to the town. Cervantes said to Pedro de Candia, "The governor knows that you were forced to join Almagro's army. He hopes that you will abandon the dark side and turn to the light, return to the cause, and break away from Almagro's cause. Remain loyal to King and Country."
Pedro Decandia said to Cervantes, "Yes, I have no choice but to join Almagro's army because I am a soldier. The Marquis of Pizarro is dead, and I can only follow Almagro." Gro. But my loyalty to the king and the Kingdom of Spain has not changed. As long as the king and country call, I will fight for the king and country, even if it means sacrificing my life."
Cervantes said, "Very good, I will report your loyalty to Mr. Governor. Mr. Governor wants you to lurk in their military camp and strike back at the critical moment to deal a heavy blow to the rebel forces."
Pedro Decandia seemed a little hesitant when he heard this, and said, "Let me think about it before talking."
