Chapter 525: The high priest goes east, farewell on departure
A bonfire was burning in the simple tent, reflecting on the faces of the grandfather and grandson, bringing a bit of warmth. The clear moonlight fell from the ceiling, falling into the eyes of the very similar eyebrows, leaving two soft lights.
After a while, the high priest gathered his emotions and asked with a smile.
"Xulot, my child. You have gathered so many people, will you have enough food?"
Hearing this question, Shulot's expression 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 we conquered Shuigu City, we got a large amount of food. Cholula State is rich, and we plundered several more batches. Together with the demand for Cholula City, we can roughly
Support until the autumn harvest. The southern part of the kingdom is stepping up the construction of catamaran canoes and increasing water transportation. In another two or three months, when the captives are shipped back in batches and the kingdom's grain continues to be delivered, there will be enough surplus..."
Nowadays, the food carried by the southern waterway can only barely cover the consumption of tens of thousands of captives during transportation. The military towns along the Talsas River are all in the fields. After the autumn harvest, the food should be slightly better.
"Well, before I came here, I just issued an edict to deliver a batch of food to the South Army Corps. It's about enough for 20,000 people for a year."
Hearing this, Shulot looked happy. The high priest smiled slightly and gave instructions carefully.
"Xulot, my son. The Southern Route Army has hit here and completely wiped out the south of Tlaxcala. It has completed the requirements of the Eastern Expedition! Next, you slowly accumulate food and grass, transport the population well, and deal with Qiaolu
Pull the city, and be careful of the Mixtec and Zapotec coalition forces... don't rush 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 northern route has an army of 80,000, which is enough to completely suppress the Tlaxcala people in the north and surround the remaining three snake cities. The three snake cities are connected into one, occupying natural dangers, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Especially
Yunshe City in the mountains is located on a mountain one to two hundred meters away. It is an almost unstoppable fortress, even more dangerous than Otopan Mountain City!..."
"...They are the ancestral land of the Tlaxcala people, equivalent to the capital of the Mexica League. The defenders in the city are determined and have no way out. They cannot be easily conquered. As for how long these three cities will be besieged, how long will it take?
If we capture it, it will be the king’s decision!”
"Yun She City is one to two hundred meters high, which is more dangerous than Otopan Mountain City?!"
Hearing this, Shulot frowned and was silent. He had never seen Yunshe City, but he had been to Otopan Mountain City. With the siege capabilities of this era, to attack such a mountain city, even with two pounds of bronze
The artillery bombardment may not be enough. Maybe we will have to rely on a long siege to find an opportunity.
In fact, the later Montezuma II was trapped under several fortified cities of the Tlaxcalans and was besieged for several years. Subsequently, the city-states and vassals within the alliance launched a premeditated rebellion.
, he had to withdraw his troops to quell the rebellion, and failed. Since then, his prestige has dropped to the bottom, and he can no longer command the legions of various states, and even the directly affiliated royal legions are difficult to control. In this situation where the states have lost military morale and rebelled.
, he took the initiative to welcome the white-skinned "Quetzalcoatl" from the East and entered the magnificent lake capital, hoping to restore his prestige in the name of the god...
The high priest looked at the thoughtful Shulot and smiled gently. He thought for a while and asked again.
"Xulot, my child, food is the foundation of everything. You must always pay attention to the army's food reserves... There is a large area of farmland outside Shuigu City. What is the specific situation?"
"Grandfather, the South Route Army has maintained a three-month supply of food. I still have 90,000 young captives in my hands who have not yet been transferred. They have gathered in this area and cultivated a total of 500,000 acres of cultivated land!...It is still six months old.
It's too late to plant corn in the month of September, but it's just the right time to plant pumpkins. The army will continue to use prisoners and plant more pumpkins to satisfy their hunger. As long as they wait until the autumn harvest in September or October, the food supply of the South Route Army will be relieved!
"
Ninety thousand young and strong, cultivated half a million acres, about five or six acres per person. This was the labor of the captives. It was considered very good to be able to do this.
The fact that the Mexica Army was able to use prisoners to farm outside Shuigu City without worrying about attacks from hostile tribes showed that the army's control over this area was very stable. As the commander-in-chief, Xiulote was able to put aside the hatred of his old enemies and let the Mexica Army
The addition of the Tlaxcala people to the Legion further reveals the king's prestige and ambition!
"Xulot, you are a born handsome man and an outstanding king."
The high priest's face showed genuine relief. He stretched out his withered palm and touched his grandson's head again after many years.
At this moment, he looked at the heroic young man, with many emotions tumbling in his heart, and many thoughts that he wanted to express... But when the words came to his lips, he was silent for a long time, but only left a few sincere instructions, with a smile in his eyes.
gentle.
"... My child, you still have a long way to go. Walk steadily and don't be in a hurry. If you are in a hurry, you will take detours... I know that there is always an unknown hidden in your heart.
But you are still young and 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... From now on, you have to go well and walk well.
Go down..."
The high priest's voice gradually became lower, almost inaudible. In the end, he just rubbed his grandson's head lovingly, just like he often did when he was a child.
Feeling his grandfather's touch, Shulot was stunned for a long time, feeling soft 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 was the great festival in the lake capital. He was released by the elders, and his grandfather rushed from the holy city of Teotihuacan.
He came here in a hurry. And further forward, he returned from being captured with Orosz. He sat next to his grandfather, and listened to his grandfather's expectations and arrangements with his father...
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Time flows like water, turning teenagers into youth, and turning adults into old age. When I was born, I held my young baby high and grew up happily.
Smile, the middle-aged priest who named himself is now very old. He has a white head and a slightly hunched back. He touches himself with his big, skinny hands, and a smile appears on his wrinkled face...
He is old...only those eyes are still so deep, full of deep love and heart-wrenching nostalgia.
Shulot stared at his grandfather blankly, and an inexplicable shadow came to his mind. At some point, his eyes became moist, and he whispered in fear.
"Grandfather?...You...will always be here, right?"
"Yes. My child, I will be by your side...always."
Having said this, the high priest lowered his head slightly and turned sideways. His face fell into the shadow of the bonfire, but he could not see clearly.
"Xulot, after a long journey, I'm a little tired... just sleep in your tent."
"well!"
Shulot nodded repeatedly. He pursed his lips and whispered.
"Grandpa, I will sleep with you..."
"No need. You have grown up. Now you are the leader of an army. You must maintain your majesty at all times."
The high priest raised his head, his eyes sparkling and a gentle smile on his face.
"Besides, I want 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, glanced at his grandfather again, and then turned around and left the tent.
The bonfire in the tent has not been extinguished. On the thick cloth of the tent, a rickety figure is projected. The figure sat alone in front of the bonfire for a long time, not knowing what he was thinking.
Shulot returned to the side tent and slept for a while. He thought of his grandfather's eyes, but couldn't fall asleep. Finally, he simply got up again and came to the main tent. The bonfire in the tent was still not extinguished, but the figure had fallen asleep.
Down.
"Well, my grandfather is old. He is probably alone and afraid of sleeping in the dark."
Through the tent, Shulot looked at the bonfire for a while and saw the approximate location of his grandfather. Then he walked to the other side of the tent and lay down outside the tent with his clothes closed. The night in late spring was not cold.
The clear moonlight fell on my face, like a guiding light and a projection of another world.
Shulot was separated from his grandfather by a layer of cloth and could vaguely hear his grandfather's breathing. He then felt at ease and quickly fell asleep under the gentle moonlight. That night, he slept peacefully and did not do anything.
Dream. Because, his grandfather is beside him, just a few steps away...
Early on the next morning, the high priest dressed neatly, holding the staff, and set out on the road to Cholula.
"The High Priest, the South Route Army, 50,000 troops, are just outside Cholula City!"
Shulot straightened his back, confident and high-spirited. He stood in front of his grandfather, held his old hand, and said with concern.
"... Just talk to them! In Cholula City, there is no choice. And with me here, they will never dare to offend you!"
Upon hearing his grandson's words, the high priest's eyebrows arched and a sincere smile appeared on his face.
"good!"
"...Grandpa, please go back quickly and come back early..."
"...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 and left with a smile. Beside him, dozens of temple warriors guarded him closely, just like him
