Inca Elegy (Novel) "The Fall of the Inca Empire" (Volume 2) by Zhang Baotong
It had been two months since the seven Spaniards arrived at the Inca camp in Vilcabamba. At first, they came here because they were desperate and came to seek refuge with the Incas. However, after staying here for a while, I felt like I couldn’t stay any longer.
That morning, when they once again picked up the polenta, corn tortillas and potato dishes brought to them by the Inca chef, someone began to curse, "It's hard to live eating this kind of food all day long that doesn't even eat pigs." ?”
Someone immediately answered and said, "Damn it, it's been two months since I came here, and I haven't even eaten meat once. What kind of life is this?"
So, everyone clamored for Flores to go to the chef to make a request. Flores and Martinez came to the kitchen together to find the chef and asked, "Your food has been like this all day long. Everyone is tired of eating. Can't you improve it?"
The chef explained patiently, "The conditions in these deep mountains and forests are very difficult, and it is not easy to have a full stomach. Even the Inca king and princess ate this meal. You have never seen a day when the Inca soldiers were not just Eating polenta and corn tortillas, when have you ever had potato dishes?”
Listening to this, Flores and Martinez were speechless for a moment, because they also knew that this was the kind of condition here and could not be compared with the Spanish military camps in Lima and Cusco. Because there are a lot of vegetables and meat in the market there, even in very difficult times, they would kill and eat llamas and alpacas from the Inca pastures, and even snatch and kill the sheep raised by farmers. However, in this forest, there is nothing but mountains and wilderness.
Flores and Martinez returned to the dormitory, explained the situation to their colleagues, and persuaded everyone to eat their food first. However, although everyone was eating hard, they were still cursing and complaining.
A soldier asked Flores, "Mr. Second Lieutenant, what do you think we are doing here from Spain, thousands of miles away?"
Flores said, "Of course it's to get gold." Because they are poor people at the bottom of Spain, they are too poor to survive, so they run out to take risks, dreaming of grabbing or fishing. A lot of gold, so that you can live a life of glory and wealth.
The soldier said, "But did we get the gold?"
Flores didn't answer. Because they once gained gold, but that gold was lost again.
The soldier continued, "Not only are we empty-handed and have gained nothing, but we have also committed a capital crime by running to this place where no one can poop. Do you think we are crazy or stupid for not staying well in the country?" So, you actually came here to suffer?"
After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but sigh silently. But no, who doesn’t want to get some gold so that he can go home and live a wealthy life?
Martinez said, "After we got the gold, we really should have gone back to our country, married a girl, built a mansion, and lived in peace. However, we always felt that the gold we got was too little, and we wanted to get more. As a result , up to now, we have gained nothing, but committed a serious crime by assassinating Marquis Pizarro. It seems that we have no hope in this life, and we can only hide in this ghost place. "
Flores said, "Don't be so pessimistic. There are unpredictable circumstances. Maybe we will be able to make a difference one day."
One soldier immediately said, "It's a nice thought, stop dreaming."
At this moment, someone shouted, "The Inca King is bringing people over."
So everyone immediately fell silent.
After a while, Inca King Manco entered their house with Paul, Prince Huajical and General Mokwa. Flores immediately seated his guests. As soon as Manco sat down, he said to Flores and everyone, "I heard from the chef that you are not used to eating corn and potatoes every day."
Flores said, "Yes, the brothers said they have been here for two months and haven't eaten meat yet."
The Inca King nodded and said, "The living conditions here are very difficult, and you guests have been wronged. If I don't think so, I will send people out to hunt and improve it for you guests."
Flores said, "Okay, how about you send someone to take us out hunting together."
Manco said, "Okay, let my bodyguard Tubac take you hunting."
While everyone was talking, a spy came back from Cusco and wanted to report to the Inca King. The Inca king said to the spies, "What's going on over there in Cusco?"
The spy replied, "After the governor sent by the King of Spain defeated Almagro, he led his troops to the city of Cusco. The mayor of Cusco handed Almagro to the governor. The governor Killed Almagro in the Inca Square. I heard that Gonzalo also went to Cusco and said he wanted to attack the Inca King. Moreover, there were notices everywhere in Cusco asking for the Inca King. . I also read the notice, which said that if you kill the Inca King, you can get 100,000 gold pesos."
The Inca King said, "I've been posting this kind of wanted notice for several years, and I haven't seen them do anything to me." Then he asked, "How many soldiers did Gonzalo bring?"
The spy said, "I heard that Gonzalo's troops are still in Quito. This time he came to Cusco with only a few followers. However, I heard that he wanted to bring the troops here in the name of wiping out the Inca King. But , the governor did not agree and asked him to stay in his station and rest well."
Flores asked the spy, "Besides Almagro, who else did the governor kill?"
The spy said, "I heard that the governor captured many prisoners in churches and temples in Guamanga. After trial, he killed more than 40 of them and exiled more than 30 others."
After speaking, the Inca King Manco sent two Inca guards to take the Spaniards out for hunting. However, they wandered in the forest for most of the day and failed to catch any prey. Instead, they were all so tired that they lay down on the bed as soon as they returned home.
One soldier complained, "I don't want to stay in this hellish place for another day. Not to mention the bad food here, I can't even see a woman."
Another soldier said, "Aren't you afraid that if the governor and the others catch you, they will either execute you or exile you?"
The soldier said, "I did not participate in the riot to assassinate Marquis Pizarro. If they catch me, they will at most exile me to the remote outskirts of Cusco. However, if I cannot stay in Lima or Cusco, I can go Trujillo or Arequipa. It’s better than staying here.”
Another Spanish soldier said, "I did not participate in the riot to assassinate Pizarro. If you want to leave here, I will go with you. Let's not go to Cusco, just go to Quito or Trujillo." .”
Upon hearing this, Flores turned over from the bed, sat up, and said, "You are all gone, what should I do? And Martinez, we all participated in the riot to assassinate Pizarro."
The soldier said, "Then you two will continue to stay here."
Flores said, "But I don't want to stay here either. It's like I'm in jail all day long. I don't know when I will be able to make a difference."
Martinez said, "I couldn't stand it any longer. If they hadn't been caught and wanted to hang, I would have left here long ago."
Someone gave them advice and said, "It's not that you two can't leave here, it's just to see if you have the courage."
Flores asked, "I even dare to kill Pizarro, what else in the world do I dare not do?"
The soldier said, "It's not like you don't know that there are wanted notices and bounties for King Inca posted everywhere in Cusco."
Someone echoed, "That's a reward of one hundred thousand gold pesos."
Flores fell silent, but that didn't mean he wasn't tempted. This idea actually flashed through his mind many times, but he still gave up the idea because this action was too risky, even more than assassinating Pizarro. Pizarro only had a small number of guards and followers around him, while the Inca King had many guards around him. Moreover, this was the Inca King's territory. Once the Inca King was killed, he must leave here quickly, otherwise he would be killed by the Inca King. The guards were killed.
After some encouragement from the guys, that dark and vicious idea began to flash through his mind again. He knew that if he didn't do this, he would have no chance of leaving here, and he would be hanged if he caught him. And, his guys are clamoring to get out of here. Once they really left, he could only stay here with Martinez and continue to live this miserable life. On the contrary, if he can kill the Inca King, he will be rewarded for his meritorious service. Not only will he be regarded as a hero by the governor and the Spaniards, but he will also receive one hundred thousand gold pesos. What is the concept of one hundred thousand gold pesos? In Cusco and Lima, there are deep houses and large courtyards, with groups of wives and concubines, vast hectares of fertile land, and many slaves. If he were to return to China, he would become a rich man who was famous far and wide. This is the dream he has fought for after traveling thousands of miles, leaving his hometown, going through many difficulties and dangers, and nearly dying.
After careful consideration, in the evening, he quietly called Martinez to the edge of the forest, told him his thoughts, and expressed that he would secretly cooperate with him to kill the Inca King, and then go to Cusco to surrender to the Governor.
Martinez's heart was pounding as he listened to his words. After hesitating for a long time, he said, "But I feel a little unbearable that the Inca King is so kind to us."
Flores enlightened him and said, "He is good to us, but what is this compared to the dream we are hoping for and fighting for? Besides, we Spaniards came here and killed their men, Rape their women, rob their property, and destroy their homes. They must hate us from the bottom of their hearts. Therefore, we and the Indians can only use each other and never become true friends."
Seeing that Martinez remained silent, Flores continued, "We are here just for the gold. If Almagro couldn't give us gold, we wouldn't have followed him across the ocean to come here and followed him to fight for our lives." Fighting and killing people. It can be said that everything we went through was just for gold. Now we have a hundred thousand gold pesos in front of us, why don’t we take the risk?”
Martinez's heart began to waver, and he said, "But this matter cannot be hidden from other people."
Flores said, "I can slowly convince other people. And they all want to leave here early."
Martinez nodded and said, "However, this matter must be done in a watertight manner and kept absolutely confidential. If the Inca King finds out, our heads will be moved."
The two discussed the matter and then returned to the dormitory. Seven of them lived in a large room. This was originally the dormitory of Inca officers. There were several wooden beds in the house, covered with animal furs and covered with down felt. There are two tables and some stools in the room. Because it was already a little dark, several soldiers were gathering around under the lamp to play dice and gamble. However, they don't have much money in their hands, so they can only play small bets.
Flores and Martinez entered the house, closed the door, and told everyone, "Please stop for a moment."
Everyone stopped and turned to look at the two of them. Flores said to everyone in a serious tone, "I just discussed a major matter with Martinez and I need the cooperation of each of you."
Everyone said, "No problem."
Flores sat among everyone and said in a tone like issuing an order, "This matter is very important and very risky, and each of us must keep it strictly confidential. Therefore, before telling everyone about this, I We must get an oath from each of you to absolutely guarantee that the secret will not be leaked."
Immediately someone raised his hand and said, "I swear on my life that I will never reveal your secret to anyone."
Then, others followed suit and swore.
Flores waited for everyone to take an oath, and then said, "Now the seven of us are a small group. From now on, we will share blessings, share hardships, share weal and woe, and depend on each other for life and death." At this point, he turned to everyone He glanced at it and said, "We have to leave here, but to leave here, we have to kill the Inca King, because the Inca King will not allow us to leave here. Because he knows that once we leave here, he will lead the army. Destroy them."
Everyone was shocked at first, but then nodded quickly, because everyone wanted to leave here early. But someone immediately asked, "But this is the territory of the Inca king, and his guards are everywhere. How should we act?"
Flores told everyone the action plan he had already thought of, and when everyone agreed, he added, "Kill the Inca King, and then we will leave here and return to Cusco to surrender to the governor. When the governor learns that we killed the Inca King, not only will he not sentence us, but he will also reward us with one hundred thousand gold pesos. For this reward, I will give each person a reward based on the risks they took and the actions they made in this action. Merits are distributed.”
Everyone said, "Agreed."
