Yanfeng Mountain towers into the clouds. The glaciers have not melted for thousands of years, and the cold pines have grown into forests for hundreds of years. And further down, there are steep cliffs, huge rocks, and pungent sulfur mines hidden in them, leading to an abyss that cannot be seen to the bottom.
.
Shulot held the staff with the skull of the God of Death and sat on a volcanic rock. He looked at the vast sky and the magnificent mountains and rivers, his expression as calm as a sacred mountain.
This is 1,500 meters above Shuigu City and 3,500 meters above sea level. The mysterious and ancient Death Temple is located behind the king. In front of the king, there is a vast basin, distant rolling mountains, and
Nearly a hundred miles away, the holy city of Cholula can be seen in the distance.
The priest and elder vizier lowered his head and sat beside the king. He carefully looked at the ancient temple and carefully guessed the reason why His Highness the Mexica chose to meet him here.
"Elder Vizier, this is the sacred mountain of Pocatepetl, and not far away is the ancient Temple of Death."
After a long time, Shulot spoke calmly with a smile on his face.
"The ancient volcanic god of death is watching us here. It is here that I received the staff given by the god of death. I prayed in front of the statue of the god of death and listened to the enlightenment of the ancient god... He gave me the authority of the Tlaxcala people
, also leave the holy city of Cholula to me!"
"...Praise to Death..."
Elder Wezier was silent for a while before he responded respectfully. He is the hereditary high priest of Cholula. He actually does not believe in the divine revelation of death or the granting of authority. However, in such a place full of divinity
, and he had to be careful to avoid offending the unknown and terrible... Elder Wezier thought for a moment and spoke cautiously again, trying to guide the topic.
"Your Highness, the power of the people of Tlaxcala is not so easy to grasp!"
"oh?"
Shulot smiled and asked in a deep voice.
"I have an invincible army, I have the scepter of the noble God of Death, and I have also won the recognition of the people of Tlaxcala...how can I not hold on to the power?"
"Your Highness, people will be blinded by the appearance in front of them and cannot see the reality behind it."
Elder Wezier shook his head. He stretched out his hand, pointed to the pine forest in front of him, and answered calmly.
"Just like this forest! What we see is lush beauty, but we don't know that the forest is full of deep pits and fissures... How could the Tlaxcala people under the sacred mountain identify with the enemy who destroyed their families and annihilated their families?
?”
"Um?"
Hearing this, Shulot raised his eyebrows and his voice became cold.
"Tens of thousands of Tlaxcalans are plowing for me, and almost no one has fled. Isn't this a kind of recognition?"
"Your Highness, this is not recognition. The people of Tlaxcala have never recognized you."
The elder Wezier looked directly into the king's eyes and denied again.
"The Mexica Legion was capturing prisoners wantonly and scattered them across the southern land, killing them at every turn. The prisoners had no way to escape, were afraid of death, and had no food on them, so they had to immerse themselves in farming... In fact, this was just
Obedience after fear is nothing more than seeing a glimmer of illusory light in the darkness of despair and holding it in vain!"
"...darkness and light..."
Hearing this, Shulot remained silent. After a moment, he responded calmly.
"No, the light they saw was real. Everything they did was not in vain."
"Um?"
Hearing this, Elder Wezier was slightly startled. He asked tentatively.
"Your Highness, what will you do with these captives? ... Sacrifice? Or make them slaves?"
"It's neither a sacrifice nor a slave. At least, most people don't do it."
Shulot straightened his spine and confessed frankly.
"I want them to become the people of the Kingdom in the Lake!"
"Ah? This... this is not easy."
Elder Wezier looked surprised. He naturally knew that behind these words, it required financial resources and manpower, as well as the need to overcome people's hearts and conflicts.
"In the Kingdom of the Lake, there are Mexica people, Prepecha people, Otomi people, and Tecos people... I treat them all equally, ensure their food and clothing, and leave a way for them to rise."
Shulot responded with a smile and strong confidence.
"Now, I have enough patience and means to turn the Tlaxcala people into my people!"
"this..."
Elder Wezier lowered his eyes, thought for a while, and then sighed sincerely.
"Your Highness, you have the mind of a king! Just like the creator of the Toltec Empire in myths and legends, you embrace the entire world!"
"The heart of a king?"
Shulot thought for a while and felt more favorable towards Wezier. He said with a smile.
"No, I just know how big the world is."
"Well, the world is so big that even with the might of the Teotihuacan Empire, it cannot be completely conquered."
Elder Wezier responded carefully and meant something.
"Your Highness, the Teotihuacan Empire colluded with the evil in the volcano and has mastered powerful power! They conquered most of the world, two thousand miles from north to south, and more than three thousand miles from east to west! However, what will be their end?
What about? Even with the strength and prosperity of the Teotihuacan Empire, it would suffer the disaster of rapid destruction because it offended the gods!... And today's Mexica people are not the same as the former Teotihuacan.
How does it compare to other people?"
"Ha ha!"
Hearing this, Shulot laughed. In ancient times, it was the most common sophistry technique. When used, there is a lot of wisdom... The young king smiled and shook his head, his words full of confidence.
"Elder Vizier, I have received divine enlightenment and can see both the past and the future! The Mexica people are completely different from the Teotihuacan people. And this era, and the past era, are different.
It’s completely different!..."
"...Conquering the world is not only the mission of the Mexicans, but also the general trend of the times! If we cannot do this, when the new era begins, there will be only destruction and death in the world!..."
"Well..."
Hearing this doomsday prophecy, Elder Wezier frowned, pursed his lips, and did not speak for a long time. He felt very troubled. Although His Highness the Mexica was young, his will was extremely firm, and he had no chance to take advantage of it. Good.
After a while, he sighed, changed his approach, and softly begged.
"Your Highness, the holy city of Cholula has been inherited from the Toltec era and is the light of civilization in the Nahua world! It has extraordinary significance in the hearts of people in the world! Please also keep the legions under your command.
A godly kindness!”
"Oh? The light of civilization... goes deep into people's hearts... keep good intentions?"
Hearing these familiar words, Shulot wanted to laugh inexplicably. He still shook his head and expressed his true feelings.
"In my opinion, keeping this so-called holy city has no meaning for the alliance!"
"...Your Highness, you did not send an army to directly attack the Holy City...that means you have scruples and care about the meaning of the Holy City!"
Elder Wezier straightened up and his words became slightly tougher.
"Every tribe in the world respects the Holy City of Cholula! Those who attack the Holy City will lose their hearts!"
"Haha, people's hearts?"
Shulot asked calmly, still smiling.
"When you talk about the hearts of the people, are they the hearts of priests, nobles, warriors, or common people? Can I get these hearts if I don't attack the Holy City?"
"Your Highness!...You..."
"It is best to have only one holy city in the world!"
Shulot's expression turned cold and he replied sharply.
"I restrained my legions and did not directly attack the Holy City. I was just waiting for a suitable excuse! ... Or, a satisfactory answer!"
"Huh?...Answer...satisfactory?"
Elder Wezier lowered his head, thought for a moment, and decided not to beat around the bush. His eyes were bright and he asked in a deep voice.
"Your Highness, when the wind meets clouds at the right place, it will turn into spring rain at this time, bringing vitality to the earth! ... What is the answer that can satisfy you?"
"Well... the holy city of Cholula is far away from the Kingdom in the Lake, so I don't have to attack and destroy it. You retain the precious inheritance of the Toltecs, and you may be able to make greater contributions in many aspects!"
Shulot thought carefully for a while before answering. He did not know the specific situation of the elders in the Holy City, but only made assumptions based on what the Alliance and the Kingdom saw.
"...However, the premise for all this is that you must hand over your independent financial, military and divine power, and obey the arrangements of the royal family and the high priests! You must integrate into the alliance and serve the Mexica's great cause of conquering the world!
"
"... hand over independent power and obey the arrangements of the alliance?"
Hearing this, Elder Wezier's expression was a little bitter. He gritted his teeth and asked tentatively.
"Your Highness, don't you... not want to dominate the world?... Elders of the Holy City, I am willing to support you, as long as you leave us a way to survive. In the future, if the alliance changes..."
"Huh?! Elder Wezier!"
Shulot's face turned cold and he stared sternly at the thin old man in front of him. All his good feelings disappeared in this sentence.
"I never want to hear such a despicable joke again!"
"...Yes, Your Highness."
Elder Wezier looked at His Highness's cold eyes and could no longer speak. After a while, he sighed helplessly and had no choice but to use the last resort.
"Your Highness, we have a lot of sincerity regarding the future of the Holy City and the Alliance... In addition to the old man who came here, there are also two priests and elders who went to the capital in the lake and the north respectively to meet with the high priests of the capital, and
King of the Northern Route Army!...Please wait patiently for a few days and don't send out your army to plunder outside Cholula City and terrorize the people in the city..."
"Huh? Envoys have been sent to meet with the high priests and the king?"
Hearing this, Shulot pondered for a while and said nothing for a while. It is more appropriate for the fate of the holy city of Cholula to be decided by the high priests or the king. In this way, the powerful method he originally planned would be
It’s not good to execute it immediately...
The young king stood up and looked at the vast and tall glaciers, his heart hardening again. He glanced at the Wezier lightly and said coldly.
"Elder Wezier, I have enough patience to wait. But the premise is that Cholula City cannot become a threat to the South Route Army!"
"Ah? Your Highness, what do you mean?"
"Since the Eastern Expedition, many Tlaxcalans have fled into Cholu State and near the Holy City. Many of them are divine nobles with warriors, and many are ordinary people with their families.
Militia!...These people are a threat to the South Route Army!"
"this..."
Elder Vizier's thoughts turned around. Cholu State originally had a population of 200,000, half of which was in the hands of the local Tlaxcala nobles, and the other half was in the hands of twelve families of priests and elders. Among them, only the
In the hands of the priestly families, the 100,000 people living in the city of Cholula and its surroundings were considered the remnants of the Toltecs.
Since the Mexica expedition to the east, there have been as many as 40,000 to 50,000 Tlaxcalans who have fled into the country! Among them are many warriors who are good at fighting and strong men who can defend the city. If they were handed over, wouldn't it be self-destruction?
city...
The priests and elders pursed their lips and thought for a long time, but did not say a word.
"Huh? You don't want to?"
Shulot raised his brows and waved his hand. He turned around and headed down the mountain surrounded by hundreds of warriors.
"Haha, let's see you on the battlefield then! The South Army Corps will never allow any hidden dangers to be hidden around us!"
"Ah, Your Highness!"
Seeing this, Elder Wezier stretched out his hand and shouted urgently.
"Hand it over! We are willing to hand over these Tlaxcala people to you!"
"oh?"
Shulot turned sideways and looked at the priests and elders.
"How many are they?"
"Two... no, thirty thousand young and strong and old and weak..."
"Not enough, you can't hide it from me!"
Shulot stretched out his finger, shook it, and left an ultimatum.
"Within two months, hand over 40,000 young men and women, and 40,000 children and olds under the age of thirty-five! I will let you go. Remember, the South Route Army is just forty miles away, in the holy city of Cholula.
There is no choice!"
The cold words drifted on the sacred mountain, like snowflakes falling from the sky, making Elder Wezier shiver all over. He knelt on the ground, stretched out his hands tremblingly, and wanted to shout against it, but he only saw the back of the young king walking further and further in the forest.
the further away.
The cold wind blows through the thin clothes and pours into the old body, bringing a bone-chilling chill. A cold era seems to come from the wind and reshape everything.
After a while, Elder Wezier stood up with difficulty and looked at the ancient Temple of Death. He suddenly discovered that dark red dead blood was hidden between the black stone brick walls of the temple. The dead blood was almost dry and deep inside.
Hidden in the ancient cracks, it has long lost its vitality. What's the use of keeping this dead blood?
This chapter has been completed!