The wind howled, the dark clouds hung low, and there was silence in the big tent. This was the moment that decided the fate of the north, and the flickering bonfire illuminated every solemn face.
Hulot examined General Giovanni for a while. Then, he pondered for a moment and looked at the old priest.
"Priest Ort, what kind of covenant do you want to sign? An alliance, a city-state or an individual?"
Alter was already prepared. He said loudly.
"We have all three. They are all alliances of brothers. How about it? The Mexica Alliance is the eldest brother, the Otomi Alliance is the younger brother, the Holy City is the eldest brother, and Otopan City is the younger brother. You are the eldest brother, Ji.
Owa is the younger brother. The two parties have established an alliance and are in harmony with each other. When one party is attacked, the other party sends troops to assist; when one party takes the initiative to go to war, the other party has the obligation to support!"
Hearing this, Bertard's expression suddenly changed. He took a step forward and shouted loudly.
"Your Highness is the new sun of the Mexica people and the future master of the world. How can you be brothers with the general of the Otomi people?"
Shulot thought for a moment, nodded slightly to the warrior commander, and then spoke.
"Priest Ort, I can't fully represent the alliance now. The alliance will never agree to the fraternal covenant, and the Mexica people are only vassals! What's more, can you represent the nobles of the Otomi Alliance?"
Ort lowered his head slightly, revealing his head of white hair. Since the last time he signed a contract and abandoned the city of Xilotepec, his reputation has been greatly reduced. After a while, the old priest said in a deep voice.
"Yes, I can't represent the nobles of the states. I am a religious leader. I can only represent the ancestral homeland of Ottopan, and try my best to restrain the two states of Guamare and Palmos. In this negotiation, the Mexican Union and Ottopan
The U.S. alliance will still be in the form of a peace treaty. The Otomi will dispatch a complete legion to respond to the war in exchange for food support from the Mexica."
Then, Alter said calmly.
"As long as I live, the peace treaty between the two alliances will be guaranteed. If I die, Giowa will still need your support to control the city of Otopan."
Shulot watched it for a while and nodded.
"I agree. You will send your legion to join the war in exchange for a new batch of food. Likewise, I can support Giowa, but not as brothers. The Holy City cannot accept this condition!"
Alter closed his eyes, his old face shaking continuously. After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes and growled lowly.
"Then the two city-states are brothers. You two are called brothers, but in reality you are vassals! Giowa needs enough fame to control the city of Otopan. From then on, the two states were closely related politically and secretly united. In terms of military
We will respond to the battle and communicate with each other militarily. We will also hand over the protons in exchange for your protection in the alliance!"
Hearing this, Giowa's expression changed drastically, and he clenched his hands tightly. He looked at the young commander, who was about the same age as his son. Then he looked at the Ort priest. The respected old man had a haggard face and almost a strong heart.
Exhausted. After a long while, he lowered his head deeply and said nothing.
Shulot looked serious and fell into deep thought. At this point, the old priest's intention was very straightforward. Giowa represented the city of Ottopan and surrendered to him alone. The Ottopan family used an unequal covenant in exchange for the Holy Spirit.
With the blessing of the city, they have been united with each other since then. This is a direction he has never thought of.
After a while, Shulot laughed loudly. His eyes sparkled and he no longer concealed the ambition and pride in his heart.
"Oult, you can actually do this! You seized the most ingenious opportunity and found the most suitable opportunity for the Otomi people. I really admire you! At this time, I can't refuse you.
Proposal. Come on, with the highest sacred ceremony, under the joint witness of the gods and ancestors, let us conclude a blood oath that cannot be broken!"
Hearing this, the old priest nodded calmly, without any joy on his face. He just performed a solemn courtesy and headed towards the path he had found.
Soon, the priests accompanying the army became busy. The sacred smoke was lit in the big tent, and a blazing sacred fire was lit in the center. The priests played the distant bamboo flute, the generals beat the low wooden drums, and the remaining warriors jumped up.
War dances surround the center of the ceremony.
In the center of the big tent, the young priest danced first. He took the sacred staff that had not been used for a long time, danced the priestly dance of the Holy City, and sang Qingyue's prayers and sacrifices. His movements were slow and solemn, like a stepping jaguar;
The song is high-pitched and sharp, like the cry of an eagle.
The old priest took out an ancient pottery mask. Half of the mask was black and the other half was white. This was a treasure passed down by the Otomi people for thousands of years and came from the ancient Olmec era. He used the mask to cover his cheeks and looked old.
His body danced in a clumsy dance, and then swayed rapidly, like the walking feathered serpent in mythology. During the ancient sacrificial dance, he kept hissing, and the low-frequency snake sound made people's hair stand on end. Sometimes, he
Then he would chant in a low voice, telling ancient legends in an incomprehensible tone.
A mysterious atmosphere filled the tent, and everyone's expressions were serious and focused. In the hearts of everyone, this sacred ritual was real and powerful. Once this highest-level oath was violated, the reputation would be destroyed.
of blow.
The sacred priest's dance lasted for a full two-quarters of an hour before the two priests, one old and one young, stopped. Shulot was covered in sweat, and Ort was shaky. The two walked to the sacred fire in the center and called on different gods.
Coming. As the name of God sounded, the generals and warriors also stopped their movements at the same time, knelt down on one knee, and prayed towards the center.
Then, Alter waved, and Giowa stepped forward with a solemn expression. Bertard also walked to the center and protected His Highness personally. The priests who accompanied the army prepared a large cup of cold cocoa and sent it to the holy fire.
Hulot looked at Giowa opposite him and nodded to his old friend. Then he took out the obsidian dagger, cut off a bunch of hair, and threw it into the holy fire. The same thing happened to Giowa, and the faint smell of burnt food instantly dissipated.
.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Then, the young commander unfolded his left hand. He did not hesitate to use a sharp dagger to cut the palm of his hand. The sting hit him instantly, and blood dripped down, covering the lower part of his hand.
The cocoa was dyed red. Then, he handed the sacrificial dagger to Giowa, and the warrior captain beside him was careful.
Giowa took the dagger and directly cut the side of his palm deeply. More blood flowed down and fell continuously into the cocoa. The sacred cocoa turned bright red, and the blood of both parties merged together.
Then, Shulot picked up the pottery cup on the ground and drank half of the bright red cup in a big gulp. A metallic taste similar to mushrooms lingered in his mouth, accompanied by the unique bitterness of cocoa.
"Under the watchful eye of the Supreme God! I, Xiulote of Teotihuacan, a descendant of the ancestor Akama Pictli, swear by the spirit of my ancestors to enter into a blood oath with Giowa of Otopan!
I will regard Giowa as my younger brother and my loyal vassal. For the rest of my life, I will give him protection. Protect his life, protect the city-state of Otopan, and protect the Otomi people here! This oath is established.
.If you violate your oath, both humans and gods will be abandoned!"
Shulot recited loudly, and the solemn ceremony brought a special feeling. In the distant divine smoke, he was in a trance, as if he really felt the touch of his ancestors and the gaze of the gods.
Giowa was extremely solemn. He took the pottery cup and drank the other half of the bright red cup in one gulp. Then he pressed his bloody palm to his chest, stared at the holy fire with his narrow eyes, and shouted loudly.
"Under the gaze of the original god! I, Giowa of Otopa, a descendant of the ancestor Otopa, swear by the spirit of my ancestors to enter into a blood oath covenant with Shulot of Teotihuacan!
I will regard Xiulote as my eldest brother and my noble master. I will be loyal to him throughout my life. Guard his life, provide Otopan's army and tribute, and let the Otomi people here become his
Obedient people! This oath is established. If I violate the oath, I will suffer divine punishment, blood will be shed, and my limbs will be separated! My ancestors witnessed my oath, and I will carve the covenant on my face!"
Having said this, Giowa's eyes were sharp, staring at the wounds on both sides of Bertard's cheek. He raised the sharp blade, stabbed it into the side of his face, and made the same mark without changing his expression. Then, with a calm expression on his face, he
With a hint of defiance, he looked at the young sect leader in front of him.
Shulot nodded calmly. He took off the sun amulet from his neck and pointed to the ground with his bloody finger. The blood dropped, dust splashed up, and red spread on the ground.
Giowa was slightly startled. He understood the meaning, hesitated in his heart, and turned to look at the old priest Alter.
The old priest's pupils shrank and he spoke softly.
"Your Highness, for thousands of years, the original god has protected the Otomi people. This is our belief from the bottom of our hearts."
Shulot shook his head solemnly and spoke decisively.
"Oort, the main god is supreme! The original god can abdicate and become a saint. If the Otomi people want to truly integrate into the alliance, they must eventually worship the God of War as the supreme one. Of course, this is not a rush, and there is no need for Giowa to change it publicly.
Believe. But at this moment, he must accept the talisman of the Lord God and secretly convert here!"
Alter looked at His Highness, feeling the determination that could not be disobeyed. After a while, he nodded silently.
Giowa was stunned for a long time, as if there was a huge weight on his knees. Hulot didn't rush him, he just waited calmly. General Otopan's face showed a long struggle, changing into different expressions, and he was still unsure.
Next. The old priest finally sighed and patted his shoulder gently.
"My child, I have watched you grow up. Your father died on the battlefield for years of fighting, and your son died of disease after starvation during the siege. Generations of Otomi people have died in war and famine. We are in the north.
We are maintaining the heritage of our ethnic group in difficult circumstances and fighting waves of invaders. For the continuation of our ethnic group, everything can be sacrificed. Precious faith is also a measurable price...how can it be an exception?"
Hearing this, Giowa looked at the usually devout old priest in shock. Complex emotions flowed in his chest. His whole body was burning and he wanted to scream, but in the end he suddenly lost his strength and knelt down in front of Xilot.
Shulot looked deeply at the old priest again. Then, the young priest nodded solemnly, put the silver amulet around Giowa's neck, and then held his hair.
"Giowa, under the witness of the Supreme God, you will swear an oath to Him and obtain the sacred duty to glorify the glory of the Lord God! Come, recite His name with me, Huitzilopochtli..."
"Huitzilopochtli..."
Giowa's face was gloomy. In front of the new gods, he lost his faith and the stubbornness in his heart, like a coyote being tamed.
Hulot stared at Giowa's expression and nodded with satisfaction.
"Giowa, let go of everything in the past, and I will promise you the future!"
The old priest turned around and did not look at this scene until the conversion ceremony was over.
The sky was getting dark, and the oath had come to an end. The two priests, one old and one young, once again stood facing each other, looking at each other's faces.
"Alt, why did you choose me?" Shulot looked at the old priest in front of him. He seemed to be much older.
"Your Highness, I have observed you for a long time and collected a lot of information. I have seen your rapid growth and your infinite future." Alter replied calmly.
Shulot was silent for a moment and asked again.
"Why choose me?"
"The situation in the world is changing, and everything will change. Current events are forcing you to be the continued hope of the Otomi people." Ort thought for a moment and gave the answer in his heart.
"Why?" the boy asked.
This time, Alter also thought for a long time. After a while, he slowly answered.
"Because... you are not a ruler without a bottom line... you are a... good person who can be trusted."
Shulot was silent for a long time. Finally, he waved his hand and turned around. Behind him, Alter bowed deeply.
The oath between the two parties was formally signed. Under the deep twilight, the envoys of the Otomi people left in a hurry. Shulot sat in the big tent, silently looking at the dark sky, and fell into long thoughts. Light and darkness, repeated
Intertwined in the young man's heart, weaving a fusion of gray. Behind him, Bertard stood quietly, watching the vicissitudes of the world.
The Mexica army waited for another two days. An 8,000-strong Chiquipili Army marched out from the city of Otopan, and under the leadership of Giowa, officially joined the Mexica Northern Route Army.
Shulot led the guards and welcomed Otopan's legion with joy, but was speechless for a moment. Among the legions promised by the old priest Ort, only 3,000 lean warriors could actually participate in the battle. As for the remaining 5,000
The Otomi militiamen were all skinny and their eyes were sunken from hunger. They probably hadn't had a full meal in months.
The young commander looked at it for a moment and shook his head with a smile. These militiamen can only be used as civilian laborers, and they need to be given enough food to feed them for at least half a month. No wonder the old priest gave it so readily. However, the Mexican Navy has limited transportation capacity, and the North Road
There are not enough civilians in the army. With these people, many chores will be handled by someone. Some extremely manpower-consuming siege equipment began to appear in his mind, such as taking full advantage of the range, complex structures, and earthen foundations.
Stacked high platform.
After completing the purpose of their trip, the Mexica army immediately turned south and returned to the wooden fort on the Leman River. The Otomi people were dispersed and placed in two camps far away from the main fort. The warriors of Otopan
They maintained an independent organization and formed a self-contained body. Five thousand militiamen were organized to cut down the trees in the mountains and make siege equipment. The continuous wind and rain continued to fall, but the rain began to gradually weaken. The rainy season has passed its peak.
, new fighters are being nurtured.
Time passed quickly, and it was September in the blink of an eye. The Tarascan fleet returned from the west, bringing a boat full of Chapala reinforcements. Seeing the gradually gathering enemies, Xiulote was a little anxious. He sent out a large number of scouts
, reconnoiter the south bank at any time.
It was another early morning, after Shulot finished his morning training, he came to the top of the city and looked out into the distance. The rain gradually dissipated and the clouds became clearer. Under the gradually emerging sunshine, the huge Mexica fleet,
Finally appeared again from the east of the river.
