Aztec Eternals

Wearing a simple cape and a broad hat woven from reeds, Shulot led the messenger Akap through the camp. Bean-sized raindrops hit the wide brim of the hat, and the crackling sound of the rain covered up all the noises between the sky and the earth.

"How did grandfather and Avette meet?" the boy asked curiously. In his previous memory, he had never heard of this information.

"The high priest and the royal family of Tenochtitlan must know each other. He is also an old man of the royal family who came from the time of Montezuma I. He could not have become the high priest of Teotihuacan without Montezuma I. Strong support." Acap explained gently.

"However, the high priest has always kept a neutral distance from the royal family in the capital." Akap sighed softly, looking at the young man with soft eyes. "This time you were taken away by the king, the high priest didn't sleep well for two days. Then he made up his mind, contacted the king secretly, and asked him to help take care of you."

Shulot nodded with some understanding. In the adult world, all kindness has its original source. Under Tisok's suspicion, his situation was once very dangerous. If it wasn't for Avette's secret help, I'm afraid it would have been a disaster.

The two soon came to the big tent. Seeing the boy and the messenger, the commander laughed and strode forward. He enthusiastically grabbed the arms of the two of them and pulled them into the tent, feeling somewhat familiar and informal.

Acap smiled helplessly, obviously he had met Avit many times. He took off his coir raincoat and rain hat, and earnestly paid respects to Brother Wang, and the three of them sat down cross-legged in the big tent.

The thick cotton cuts off the wind and rain outside, bringing people a kind of private warmth and security. The bonfire in the camp swayed in the brazier, and the rainwater evaporated from the bodies, and also reflected the flickering light on the faces of the three people. There was a moment of silence in the camp.

After a long time, it seemed that the rainwater on his body had completely evaporated, and Akap said calmly: "Your Highness Avet, before I set off, I received an urgent message. The Tlaxcalans have already arrived at the northeast border of the alliance. Gathered on a large scale, there are nearly 80,000 allied troops from the four states, and an estimated 40,000 samurai."

"All the city-states in eastern Mexica have mobilized and recruited militias and warriors. Atotonil Cobang, located at the farthest border, asked the Alliance for help urgently. When I came, there were already four of the six legions under the city of Xilotepec Cross the Tampen and transfer to Atotonilco."

Avit nodded calmly, apparently already aware of the news: "Atotonilco is a border area that has been at war for many years. There are many fortresses and strong city-states, so it is not so easy to fall. The Tlaxcalans may not be able to withstand the siege huge casualties."

"It's just that the commanders of the eastern city-state legions have long wanted to withdraw their troops. Taking advantage of this news, there was a commotion in the camp. So Tisok decided to transfer four legions to stop everyone's mouths."

Although he was not in the Ottopan siege camp, the chief intelligence officer was well aware of what happened in the camp.

"It's been more than a year since the battle, and the warriors are eager to go home." Shulot also nodded in agreement. He often talked with ordinary samurai and the lowest-level militiamen, knowing that everyone had lost their enthusiasm for war. During this harsh rainy season, nostalgia abounds in the army. Only by virtue of the commander's prestige and recent victories did the troops maintain normal morale.

"According to the mobilization of the Tarascos and Tlaxcalans." Acap said solemnly, "The high priest judged that our enemies have joined together and are preparing to rescue the ancestral land of the Otomi people and prevent them from Completely conquered by the Alliance."

Xiulot looked solemn. During the spring plowing this year, he was once attacked. The attack already showed signs of a tripartite alliance of the Otomi, Tarascos, and Tlaxcalans.

"So, the high priest believes that the next key point is the city of Xilotepec. He has sent scouts to keep an eye on this Otomi city. Because our enemies cannot forget that this location is so critical, and at the same time A city-state of 8,000 warriors is still preserved."

Avit clapped his hands lightly and praised: "The eyes of the eagle are always the same far away, but the grass rats only look at the food in front of them. Xilotepec City is just pretending to submit. They are poisonous snakes under the stone. Once Move the stone away, and it will definitely come out and bite someone."

"So, the city of Xilotepec may rebel at any time?" Xiulot asked curiously, "The back road is unstable, so the king should withdraw his troops as soon as possible!"

"A weed rat tempted by the food in front of us cannot be driven away, except for the moment when the fox pounces on it." Avit said with a smile, he no longer concealed his disdain for the king.

"Totek has spoken to Tisok several times, but the king insists on not wanting to retreat, hoping to besiege the city for another three months and capture the city of Ottopan. He just repeatedly urged the capital to send a new batch of troops to fill Hilo The camp under the city of Tepec. The king's prestige has almost been consumed, and conquering Ottopan has become his psychological bottom line."

Avit turned his head and looked at the boy seriously: "Sholot, do you remember what I said to you? The bottom line cannot be violated, and it becomes a weakness. A great ruler cannot have weaknesses!"

"Death comes from weakness!" the boy blurted out. die? Tisok's death? He was completely aware of it in his heart, and felt a burst of horror.

Acap nodded: "Thanks to Your Highness for teaching Xiulot, he has indeed grown a lot."

"Sholot is an outstanding young man and a good heir." Avit smiled, looking into the young man's eyes with rare soft emotion, "He is my student and my friend. I am in He sees a lot of his own past, and he sees a lot of his grandfather Montezuma I. He could be a great ruler."

Acap smiled, and suddenly bowed down to Avit: "Your Highness, the High Priest is willing to form an alliance with you and offer the loyalty of Teotihuacan to help you realize your great cause. But we also I hope that you can return a sincerity that is enough to make us feel at ease."

"Sincerity?" Avet thought for a moment, "The meritorious service of Commander Xiusoke is enough to become a third-level honorable nobleman and take charge of the city of Teotihuacan. Xiulot can become the successor of Kechar, the chief priest of the capital's Great Temple. In this way, when he grows up, he can concurrently serve as the chief priest and the high priest, combining the two major priesthoods of the alliance into one."

"In addition, I can allocate 500 hectares to the Teotihuacan family from the 2,500 hectares of Chinanpa directly under the royal family. This is enough to support you to cultivate two new honorable nobles in the capital! "

The young man was a little surprised. One hectare of Chinampas can support twenty people, five hundred hectares of Chinampas means food for 10,000 people, and Tenochtitlan has only 9,000 hectares of Chinampas. In the vast land and abundant resources of the Celestial Dynasty, this is also the treatment of a feudal lord, not to mention the Aztec Alliance with a total population of 3 million.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness, but the reward of 500 hectares of Chinanampa is too generous, and we dare not accept it." Acap shook his head solemnly, and if he took away one-fifth of the royal land, he would become the target of public criticism. The future of death.

Then, he suddenly showed a sly smile: "You said that Xiulot is your student and your friend. I don't know if you have thought about going further?"

"What do you mean? But the priest can't." Avet was stunned for a while, as smart as he was, he instantly understood the meaning.

"If the high priest and your plan come true, there will be no question of whether it can be done." Akap smiled gently, but showed some edge.

"The high priest heard that your first wife's eldest daughter is eleven years old this year. She is gentle, intelligent, and beautiful. She is the whitest lotus in the city of the lake. He specially sent me to ask you: I don't know if the hummingbird in Teotihuacan can Are you lucky enough to land on the lotus flower of Tenochtitlan, waiting for the holy bloom?" After saying this message solemnly, Acap paid homage again, waiting for the commander's reply.

"This..." Avet was in a rare panic. He turned his back, got up and walked back and forth in the camp a few times, looked at Shulot several times with complicated expressions, finally sighed softly, and reached out to touch Shulot's face.

The boy was a little dazed, he hadn't reacted yet.

"My lovely Alyssa is still young and hasn't married yet. Shulot is indeed a good child." Avit sighed again. He finally couldn't help but tightened his hand and pinched the student's cheek fiercely.

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts! The young man sighed in pain.

"When we return to the capital this time, let Alyssa and Shulot get engaged!" The commander withdrew his hand, feeling a little more comfortable in his heart, and then made a serious decision.

"The Teotihuacan family will be your most loyal allies. Under the witness of the Sun God, they will never waver! And your enemy is our enemy, no matter who he is!" Acap raised his head , put his fist on his chest, and swore loudly with the same seriousness.

"Nani?!" Shulot was stunned, shocked and speechless. He rubbed his red face from being pinched, it hurt so much, it wasn't a dream. What did I hear just now, is this engaged? The boy raised his head and looked at Akap, who smiled gratifiedly. He looked at Avit again, and the commander gave him a fierce stare,

"I'm only thirteen years old!" The boy finally let out an unbelievable cry in his heart.