Aztec Eternals

A bonfire was burning in the simple big tent, which reflected warmth on the faces of the grandparents and grandchildren. The clear moonlight fell from the zenith and fell into the rather similar eyebrows and eyes, leaving two soft lights.

After a while, the high priest calmed down and asked with a smile.

"Sholot, my child. With so many people gathered, is there enough food?"

Hearing this question, Xiulot froze. But facing his grandfather, there was no need to hide it. He pursed his lips and said frankly.

"Grandfather, the food in the army is indeed a bit tight. Fortunately, when the city of Water Valley was captured, a large amount of food was obtained. Cholula is rich, and several batches were plundered one after another. Coupled with the demand for the city of Cholula, roughly enough Support until the autumn harvest. The southern part of the kingdom is stepping up the construction of double-hulled canoes to increase water transportation. In two or three months, when the captives are brought back in batches and the kingdom's food continues to be delivered, there will be enough surplus."

Today, the food carried by the southern waterway can only barely meet the consumption of tens of thousands of captives along the way. And the military towns along the Talsas River are all farming, and they should be able to get a little better after the autumn harvest.

"Well, before I came here, I just issued a decree to send a batch of food to the South Route Army. It is enough for about 20,000 people for a year."

Hearing this, Xiu Luote showed joy. The high priest smiled and ordered carefully.

"Sholot, my son. The Southern Route Army has completely wiped out the southern part of Tlaxcala, which is considered to have fulfilled the requirements of the Eastern Expedition! Next, you slowly accumulate food and grass, transfer the population, and deal with Qiaolu Pull the city, and at the same time, beware of the coalition forces of Mixtec and Zapotec. Don't venture north again!"

"grandfather?"

Hearing this, Shulot opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but was stopped by the high priest's hand.

"The king on the North Road has an army of 80,000, enough to completely suppress the Tlaxcalans in the north, and encircle the remaining three snake cities. The three snake cities are connected as one, occupying natural dangers, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Especially The Cloud Snake City in the mountains, located on a mountain of one or two hundred meters, is almost an impenetrable fortress, even more dangerous than Ottopan Mountain City!"

".They are the ancestral lands of the Tlaxcalans, which are equivalent to the capital of the Mexica Alliance. The defenders in the city are determined and have no retreat. They are by no means easy to conquer. As for how long and how to capture these three cities , that is the king's decision!"

"Cloud Snake City is one or two hundred meters high, more dangerous than Ottopan Mountain City?!"

Hearing this, Xiulot frowned and fell silent. He has never seen Cloud Snake City, but he has been to Ottopan Mountain City. With the siege capabilities of this era, to attack such a mountain city, even if it is bombarded with a two-pound bronze cannon, it may not be enough. Maybe, we still have to rely on the long siege to find opportunities.

In fact, Montezuma II, the later generation, was trapped under several strong cities of the Tlaxcalans, and was surrounded by soldiers for several years. Subsequently, the city-states and vassals within the alliance launched a premeditated rebellion, and he was forced to withdraw his troops to quell the rebellion. Since then, his prestige has dropped to the bottom, and he can no longer command the armies of various states, and even the royal army directly under him is difficult to control. In this situation of losing the morale of the army and rebelling from all the states, he took the initiative to welcome the white-skinned "Feathered Serpent God" in the East, and entered the magnificent capital city in the lake, hoping to restore his prestige in the name of God.

The high priest looked at the pensive Shulot and smiled gently. He thought for a while and asked again.

"Sholot, my child, food is the foundation of everything. You must always pay attention to the army's grain storage and water valleys. Outside the city, there is a large area of ​​cultivated farmland. What is the specific situation?"

"Grandfather, the South Route Army, has been keeping food for three months. I still have 90,000 young and strong captives in my hands, who have not been transferred. They gathered in this area and cultivated a total of 500,000 mu of ripe land! It is still June, and corn It’s too late to plant pumpkins, but the pumpkins are just right. The army will continue to serve the prisoners and plant more pumpkins to feed their hunger. As long as the autumn harvest is in September and October, the food supply of the South Army will be relieved!"

90,000 young and strong, cultivated 500,000 mu, about five or six mu per capita. This is labor as a prisoner, and it is quite good to be able to do this.

The fact that the Mexica Legion was able to serve captives and farm outside Shuigu City without worrying about the harassment of hostile tribes meant that the army's control over this area was already very stable. And Shulot, as the commander in chief, was able to let go of the hatred of the old enemy and let the Mexica Legion accept the Tlaxcalans, which showed the prestige and heart of the king even more!

"Sholot, you are a natural handsome talent, and even more so, an outstanding king."

The face of the high priest showed sincere relief. He stretched out his withered palm, and touched his grandson's head again after many years.

At this moment, looking at the heroic young man, he had many emotions churning in his heart, and he wanted to confide in many things, but when the words came to his lips, he was silent for a long while, but only left a few earnest instructions, with tenderness in his eyes.

"My child, you still have a long, long way to go. Walk steadily, don't be in a hurry, if you are in a hurry, you will take a detour. I know that there is always an unknown mission hidden in your heart. But you You are still young, and you have enough time to realize it. Don’t bear too much alone, there will always be someone who can share the burden for you and is willing to pay for you. In the future, you have to be good, good, and go on.”

The high priest's voice gradually became lower, almost inaudible. In the end, he just rubbed his grandson's head kindly, just like he used to do when he was a child.

Feeling his grandfather's touch, Xiu Luote was stunned for a long time, and softness appeared in his heart.

He vaguely remembered that the last time his grandfather stroked his head was before the western expedition to Tarasco. And the last time, it was the great sacrifice in the capital city in the lake. I was released by the elders, and my grandfather hurried over from the holy city of Teotihuacan. And going forward, he came back with Olosh as a prisoner. He sat beside his grandfather, and together with his father, he listened to his grandfather's expectations and arrangements.

Time flows like water, turning youth into youth, and the prime of life into old age. And the middle-aged priest who once held a young baby high, laughed heartily, and named himself when he was born is now very old. He has white hair, slightly hunched back, stroking himself with his big skinny hands, and a smile appears on his wrinkled face

When he was old, only those eyes were still so deep, full of deep love, and touching nostalgia.

Xiulot stared blankly at his grandfather, and an inexplicable shadow came to his mind. At some point, his eye sockets were moistened, and he called out in a low voice with some fear.

"Grandfather? Will you always be here?"

"Well. My child, I will always be by your side."

Speaking of this, the high priest lowered his head slightly and turned sideways. His face fell into the shadow of the campfire, but he couldn't see it clearly.

"Sholot, after a long journey, I'm a little tired. Just sleep in your tent."

"well!"

Shulot nodded repeatedly. He pursed his lips and said in a low voice.

"Grandfather, I will sleep with you"

"No need. You are grown up, and now you are the leader of an army, so you must always maintain your majesty."

The high priest raised his head, his eyes glowed, and there was already a gentle smile on his face.

"Besides, I have to think about how to negotiate with the priests of Cholula tomorrow."

".good."

Shulot hesitated for a while, looked at his grandfather's normal smile, and nodded. He stood up, looked at his grandfather again, and then turned to leave the tent.

The bonfire in the tent has not been extinguished, and a crooked figure is projected on the thick cloth tent. Facing the bonfire, the figure sat alone for a long time, not knowing what to think.

Shulot returned to the side tent and slept for a while, thinking of his grandfather's eyes, but couldn't fall asleep anyway. Finally, he simply got up again and came to the main tent. The bonfire in the tent was still on, but the figure had already fallen asleep.

"Well, my grandfather is old. Probably alone, afraid of sleeping in the dark."

Through the cloth tent, Xiulot looked at the bonfire and saw the approximate location of his grandfather. Afterwards, he walked to the other side outside the tent, closed his clothes like this, and lay down outside the tent. The night in late spring is not cold, and the clear moonlight falls on the face, like a guiding light, and like a projection of another world.

Shulot and his grandfather were separated by a layer of cloth curtains, and could vaguely hear his grandfather's breathing. Only then did he feel relieved, and soon fell asleep under the gentle moonlight. That night, he slept peacefully without any dreams. Because his grandfather is by his side, just a stone's throw away.

Early the next morning, the High Priest was fully dressed, holding a scepter, and set foot on the road to Cholula.

"The High Priest, the Southern Route Army, 50,000 troops, are just outside the city of Cholula!"

Xiulot straightened his back, confident and high-spirited. He stood in front of his grandfather, held his old hand, and said with concern.

".You can talk to them! Cholula City, there is no choice. But with me, they will never dare to offend you!"

Hearing his grandson's words, the high priest frowned, with a sincere smile on his face.

"good!"

".Grandfather, you hurry up and come back earlier."

".good!"

The high priest nodded slowly, as if promising the oath of his ancestors. Then, he took a deep look at his grandson, then turned around with a smile and left. Beside him, dozens of temple warriors guarded him personally, just like his shadow.

As I write, my eyes are moist (﹏) woo woo