Elder Ugel walked quickly, ignoring the traces of the war along the way, and arrived at the still-forbidden Herotepec camp, and then walked straight into the commander's tent.
In the big tent, Ocelot was discussing the follow-up reward with the officers. When he saw his old friend who came in directly, he shook his head helplessly and asked the officers to retreat first.
Soon, there were only two people left in the camp. Ugel took off his heavy stone crown, dragged the black bear skin collected by the commander, spread it on the cold ground, and then sat down opposite Ocelot.
Seeing his old friend's unobtrusive behavior, Ocelot's eyes twitched.
"Ugel, this is the spoil of war when I conquered the canine descendants of the north. It is smooth and complete, fine and soft. Don't let me break it."
Because of his name, Ocelot, unlike other commanders, did not like to collect jaguar furs, but preferred bear skins and wolf skins from the north.
Wugel tilted his body, felt the solid yet soft touch, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Yes, this leather is tougher than that of a jaguar, and it makes you sit up strong..."
After admiring, the priests and elders looked at their old friend and laughed.
"Ocelor, are you still short of skins? The king and the high priest want to control the important northern town. You will probably stay here for a long time, and maybe you will be enfeoffed here directly... If you want bear skins then, you can go directly
Just go hunting in the north!"
After hearing these words, Ocelot's face turned serious. He pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
"This is where I hesitate. King Avit sent an envoy to ask me what I thought. I didn't think about it for the moment... Ugel, I haven't returned for two years. What is the situation in the capital now? In the past few months
News is coming in one after another, and I have indeed heard about many important things!"
Hearing this, Wu Geer's fat face became solemn, and he shook his head and sighed.
"What is the situation in the capital now? I can't figure it out. In my opinion, this is a murderous situation!"
As he spoke, the priests and elders stretched out their thick fingers and counted them one by one.
"Look, during the enthronement ceremony, thousands of Otomi people were sacrificed. This was fine, and it was quite exciting. Then on the day the ceremony ended, the chief priest was poisoned and died. This was so terrible. I was there for a month.
Didn't sleep well!
Then within a few days, the Texcoco line was uprooted and thousands of nobles were sacrificed. It was so miserable that most of the nobles had nightmares. And it wasn’t over yet. When the New Year ceremony was over, the remaining
One or two thousand minor nobles and warriors will be transferred to you, and people will be in panic..."
Hearing this, Ocelot thought for two seconds and then naturally interjected.
"This change is actually very good! The 20,000 Mexica warriors will soon be disbanded, and most of the royal army will go south. There will only be 5,000 Mexica warriors left in the city of Hilotepec, and more than 4,000 Ottos.
Mi surrendered. The important northern town is located on the border, and there are hundreds of thousands of Otomi in the country. If I can get two thousand more Mexica nobles and warriors, I will have the core strength to rule this place, and the situation will be more stable.
.
When these exiled noble warriors come here, they will be rewarded with mansions and fields, and betrothed to wives and concubines, and they will naturally settle down. And in the sea of Otomi people, they can only rely on alliances!"
Wugel thought for a while and nodded.
"Yes, the elders are always right!...Listen to me. Before I came, the High Priests had just promulgated the Noble Law, and then the temple guards dispatched thousands of people to arrest two people in the city-state of Tlacopan.
There are more than a dozen hereditary nobles for obstructing the alliance's tribute. These more than 300 people will all be sentenced to sacrifice. When I escort the more than 1,000 Otomi nobles here, the New Year's sacrifice will be another big sacrifice!"
"What? January has passed long ago, and the New Year sacrifices haven't started yet?"
Ocelot was obviously taken aback. Then, he pondered for a moment and said again.
"Eradicate the Texcoco royal family and clean up the Tlacopan family. So, the royal family has unified the lake area?"
The elder priest was slightly emotional. He shook his huge head.
"Yes, the royal family has unified the Lake District, and so has the high priesthood. The immortal sun is high, the young jaguar is good at fighting, and now there is a cunning old fox... This step by step has obviously been planned! Although
There are still many nobles, big and small, but there is no leader among the wolves. Even if these nobles are noisy and noisy, they will not accomplish anything big!"
Then, Ugel thought for a while and continued talking.
"As for postponing the New Year's sacrifice, that was the intention of the elders, and it was not for the new religious reform. This time, many rituals had to be drastically changed, and the priests in the capital were all busy. The elders also requested that the sacrifice be grand and exciting enough.
Waiting for the sacrifices to be sent from the north as soon as possible...
I thought, instead of busying around in the capital and worrying all day long, I might as well take this job and go to the north to see my old friends. Relax here and live a comfortable life... Who knew that this city fell like this?
So fast, I received an urgent call halfway, so I hurriedly hurriedly hurriedly got here last night... but I was exhausted!"
Ocelot nodded clearly. He smiled and handed Ugel a wooden board covered with patterns, and then fell into deep thought.
Ugel looked at the wooden board. On the top were twenty large boxes, which contained various brightly colored gold, silver and gems, feather clothing, herbs and spices. On the bottom were twenty little people with obvious female characteristics.
Seeing this, the elder priest smiled and patted his old friend's shoulder hard with his big hand.
Ocelot smiled and then asked.
"Religious reform? What is the specific idea? I think the priests you brought this time are quite useful. After a ceremony, the Ottomi warriors were a little relieved. How about leaving some more priests for me?"
Wugel thought about it and realized that this question was quite difficult.
"Religious Reform, that is, God is omnipotent, and priests are omnipotent! The high priests are much stricter than before. The division of priesthood is extremely clear, and the basic responsibilities have been increased. The temple guards have been added and new doctrines have been proposed.
, changing the sacrificial rituals... From the upper-class nobles to the middle-class warriors, to the lower-class civilians, the control of the priesthood is increasing, and it is said that it will not exceed the royal family in the future.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! These priests can leave half for you, originally to help you stabilize the north. However, the other half has not yet completed basic literacy, and you have to go back and complete a thousand words.
...By the way, you'd better learn to write. Writing with words will be much faster than drawing in the future, although I'm still not used to it... There is also writing paper, which is better than a wooden board. It is faster and easier to write.
It’s convenient and comfortable to use in certain places.”
Ocelot thought for a while and shook his head slightly. Then he leaned forward and lowered his voice.
"I heard that the death of the chief priest Kechar was related to the religious reform?...The elder met with His Highness, and the high priest then took over and presided over the religious reform..."
Ugel shuddered subconsciously. He looked left and right, then behind the curtain, then turned to look at Ocelot, his eyes widening.
"Where did you hear this nonsense? I personally presided over the funeral as the chief priest. It must have been the poison of the people who died in Texcoco. What is it called ayahuasca? Let's just say these words here.
People will die if they go out and talk nonsense!..."
Seeing the reaction of the priest elder, Ocelot smiled knowingly and nodded slightly. He continued to explore.
"Ugel, my old friend. The chief priest is dead. The high priest is from the Holy City and is old. Have you ever thought about taking over the position of high priest in the future? I can support you."
The sacrificial elder was stunned for a moment, and there was a moment of excitement and greed in his eyes. Then he thought of the tragic situation when Kechar died, and his heart suddenly became cold.
"Don't, don't! What's so good about that position? Above you are the immortal elder, next to you is the extraordinary king, and below you are the dissatisfied nobles. You have to hold power, preside over the grand ceremony, reform religion, coordinate all parties, and...
I was carrying out the teachings and offending the nobles. I was so busy all day long that I had no leisure time. I couldn't eat well, and I couldn't sleep well. Finally, I don't know when, suddenly my head fell off...
I don't want that position, and how can it be so easy to be a high priest? Shuter is old and has only a few years left to live. Now he is ruthless and ruthless, and is not afraid of offending others. I still want to live for another ten years.
Twenty years. Whenever you can let yourself go, it will be a joyful time!"
Ocelot carefully captured the details of Ugel's words and thought quickly.
"King, priest, nobility, royal power, religious power, autonomy..."
After a while, the commander spoke cautiously.
"So, the capital is now a pot of hot soup? On top is the lid of the elders, and below are the firewood of various new policies. Religious reform, the implementation of religious law, the reduction of aristocratic privileges and the struggle between royal factions, these firewood are burning brightly. And
In the middle, in the gradually boiling soup, are the king, priests, royal nobles and local nobles?"
Wu Geer was stunned for a long time. He chewed carefully for a while, and felt that he had heard excellent content again, so he secretly wrote it down in his mind.
"Ocelot, you are indeed smart, and this metaphor is indeed apt! I am just in this soup, and I can't find a chance to figure it out. By the way, you have forgotten someone, Your Highness."
The commander pondered slightly, thinking about the past.
"You mean His Highness Shulot, who killed the king and invented the trebuchet, long bow, writing and paper? What great things has His Highness done recently?"
"That must be him." Ugel shook his head. "His Highness has invented many gadgets recently. These are not important. The most important thing is that he applied to the king to form a new legion!"
Ocelot was startled for a moment. He didn't know much about religious matters, but he was very familiar with military matters.
"New legion? A Hikipili requires a total of 8,000 soldiers, at least more than half of whom are elite warriors. After successive battles, how can the alliance gather thousands of warriors now?"
Wugel shook his head again.
"I actually don't understand this matter. I just heard that most of this new army are just militiamen. Some shoot arrows and some carry spears. Now around the capital, all the workers in the mines and salt fields have been recruited by His Highness. Even
The masonry is somewhat insufficient. So this time, I have another task: to recruit thousands of Otomi people from you and bring them back to work as laborers...
By the way, before the northern army is disbanded, you still need to go to the Huastecs to put some pressure on them, firstly by collecting this year's tribute, and secondly by forcibly recruiting a group of craftsmen and laborers."
Ocelot chuckled first, the militia army...then the commander nodded in agreement with a fierce smile.
"That's natural! You can take away as many Otomi people as possible outside the city. The alliance's various labors always require new firewood. Now the food is limited. In addition to feeding the warriors, we can't give much food to the civilians.
.When you go back this time, you have to help me get more food. The Otomi people are in a great famine. With food in hand, we can not only appease the civilians in the country, but also attract the Otomi warriors and warriors from outside the country.
militia...
As for the Huastec people in the northeast, I am about to send warriors to collect food, grass and property, and also force some craftsmen. With the stronghold here, the alliance's control over the Huastec people will be further strengthened. I will also send legions
, repeatedly raided the canine descendants in the north, captured fertile captives, and eliminated the threat of tribal men!"
Hearing this, the priests and elders nodded with satisfaction and laughed in approval.
"Ocelor, the Huastec people have always been good at dancing and music. Remember to help me bring back a group of dancers and musicians. I will give you a group of southern spices and gems later."
The commander laughed loudly and patted his old friend's shoulder affectionately.
"Ugel, we have known each other for decades, so there is no need to be so polite. Why don't you leave me two literate priests to teach me writing and teach me new doctrines. In addition, I heard that longbows are being manufactured on a large scale in the capital.
, is there any way you can get me a batch? The price is easy to talk about. To deal with those fierce canine descendants with no clothes on, bows and arrows are the best way to hunt them!"
The priests and elders pondered for a moment and then cautiously agreed.
"There is no problem with the priest. When I return to the capital, I will give you a copy of all the compiled classics as a priority. I can also help you get an extra batch of food. But there is some trouble with the long bow, and the king and His Highness are keeping an eye on it.
It is very tight, each bow must be engraved and numbered, and stored in the treasury as preparation for the Western Expedition after the autumn harvest. Now, all the bow craftsmen in the capital have been recruited into the craftsmanship center, and there are no extra manpower to make it privately. However, I
I should be able to get you a batch of Tlaxcala bows, which will be enough to deal with the commoner canines...
Ocelot, judging from your plans and plans, it seems that you are going to run it for a long time. Could it be that you are preparing to accept the appointment and serve as the city lord here from now on, taking root in this border land? "
As he spoke, Ugel looked at his friend carefully and his expression became serious again.
Ocelot nodded solemnly.
"Ugel, after I just heard you talk about the situation in the capital, I made a decision: stay in Herotepec State and accept the king's appointment! I will try to see the king again in a few years to see if I can hand it over.
The land in the capital was moved to the nearest relatives and was instead enfeoffed here.
You think about it, during the enthronement ceremony, the elders were as powerful as thunder, and their blood was boundless. During the religious reform, the power of the king and the high priest expanded, and the nobles were suppressed one after another, causing chaos and chaos. This was already a boiling fire, and no one dared to approach it.
But now, the high priest has taken control of the church, expanded the temple guard, and His Highness has become famous and formed a large number of new armies. These things make me even more uneasy, lest there will be another turmoil between the two royal families, which will overturn this soup.
You all know my situation. Although I was born into the royal family and have been fighting for many years, I am just a remote side branch. When the king came to the throne, he was neither brought back to the capital as a confidant, nor had anything to do with the high priest line. After thinking about it, I still stayed behind.
The border is the safest!
Although it is not as prosperous as the capital, it is not too rough and rough. The Huastecs in the northeast are weak and wealthy. The Chichimecs in the north are loose and weak, the Otomi people in the northwest have just suffered heavy losses, and the Tlaxcalans in the southwest are still separated.
Laoyuan. Isn't it much freer and more enjoyable to be stationed here and control the lives and deaths of hundreds of thousands of people than to return to the prison in the capital?!
How about it, Ugel, do you want to come over and help me and serve as the priest leader here? Let us work together in the north and create a business!"
Wugel hesitated for a while, fascinated. Then, he sighed slightly.
"Ocelot, it's really good to stay here, but I'm afraid the elders won't allow it. Let me find a chance to test my mind... I won't say anymore, Ocelot, I haven't seen you for two years, please come soon.
Bring some good wine and meat and let us have a good time!"
Ocelot smiled and nodded. He called the guards, served wine and food, and opened the skylight on the roof of the tent. Starlight fell from the ceiling, and the two of them no longer mentioned the troublesome things, no longer thought about the future, and just stayed together.
The splendid galaxy, drink to the point of drunkenness.
At noon the next day, Ugel summoned the priests, leaving half of them to form a new group of Herotepec priests. Then, he summoned the remaining dozens of priests, accompanied by two thousand Mexica guards.
The samurai escorted more than a thousand Otomi nobles. Thousands of people boarded the southbound boat, and the boat sailed quickly towards the capital city in the lake.
Soon, under the witness of the Lord God, the new year will officially begin!